Dear Forum Members,
I have seen this thread up for some time and thought I might clear up a few misconceptions, misperceptions and inaccuracies. I will just respond in random order. Yes, there are old custom orders out there but rest assured they will be attended to. However…
1. We’ve never lost a custom order – not one. Every single order has been logged and tracked since the beginning on a separate custom order computer program. If someone claims we lost an order, please produce the paperwork or proof as we have all of the orders in numerical order placed by date of order. Verbal orders without proper paperwork were never taken – ever.
2. Most people, just like the original poster were never charged any money or down payment in advance. I stopped doing that early on when the orders started to increase. So, a majority of people that may still be waiting are not out of any money and have none invested in their order.
3. No one was ever asked to pay for an order in advance of delivery. Payment was due only when I notified them of completion.
4. I have been filling custom backorders regularly over the years. You are just not aware of them as most are not members of any forum. Bladeforums did not even exist then I was taking the majority of my custom orders.
5. There is no need to “STEP UP” as I have been steadily filling custom orders all along and will continue to do so. No other knife maker in history ever had the volume of orders that I received and that is why I stopped taking orders in the first place when I realized it would take years to fill them all.
6. When I “closed my books” I never stopped producing the custom orders that were on the books. I merely stopped taking any more new orders.
7. I would also note that all of the prices for custom orders are delivered at the price agreed to at the time of the order. This includes knives that are being delivered at prices in the $300 - $500 price range that are now valued at over $10,000.00 in the aftermarket. Not quite Amazon but not too bad. Some of the knives are now valued at over 20 times the price that the customer will pay for them.
I know that there are a lot of people on the Bladeforums who just love to bang on me and wait with baited breath for any chance, perceived or real to come forth. That’s ok, there’s still a lot of good people on the forum and I’ve been hit by much harder men in my day.
Ernest Emerson