How many make their livings as knife makers?

.The number of full time people suprises me. I was exchanging email not too long with one of the best knife makers I've run across and made a comment about how he could do such time consuming work and still have a decent income. I guess the answer is that it's a labor of love. I expect a good number here will become well known and make a lot of money but you really pay your dues. My hats off to you.
 
Mike I hear you,when I get good ( when ever that is)I can go full time
with my illness i can't go out and work full time.The lord has blessed
me and my wife she has an awsome job with great benefits or i would not even be able to think about knife making she is the one who told me to go ahead and give it a go,So I say to all full time makers
who have great wives give them a big hug for letting you do what your heart truly loves(even with all the grit and burns):D
 
I went full time several months ago. It's a little scary, but I'm getting a lot more knives built than when I had a "day job." :)
 
Very, very part time. I think I'll complete about 10 knives this year. My plan is to accumulate skills and tools over the next 11 years until I can retire, then do what I love. I've been fortunate to sell everything I've made, usually $90 - $150. I have a ways to go before I'll be making those $800 knives! Aside from tools, which suck up a lot of our money, there's supplies...belts, steel, handle materials, epoxy, drill bits... I bet I've spent $250 the last couple weeks on supplies, and still need steel! But so far, and I know I'm blessed, I'm always working on ordered knives. There's a knife dealer who buys some, others go to coworkers etc. My next two big plans are rent a welder so I can finish off my freon tank forge to start doing my own HT, and get a 9" disk sander and start dovetailing bolsters. I learn something new everytime I come to this forum and every time I spend a day in my shop. It's fantastic!

Dave
 
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