Makers name on knives

Q

Quiet Priest

Joined
Jul 27, 2001
Messages
182
Posted this on the Gen forum then thought of this one. Bought a Crawford Falcon the other day. Nice knife I'm happy with it, but the makers name is nowhere on the knife. Is this a big deal/ Why wouldn't a maker put his name on the knife??
 
Some knives are so recognizable that the maker does not really need a name on it. I am not sure if this is the reason that a maker would give or not, but it makes good sense to me.
 
Actually, having posted the above, I can see a reason that this might not be such a good idea. A distinctive makers mark would make a knife harder to fake. If someones knives get collectable that might be a concern.
 
In the early days I did not put my name on my knives but that was only because I didn't have the ability. Another knifemaker came to my aid by offering to let me use his etching machine until I could get my own.

Names are important in letting the public know who you are and some makers change their stamps regularly to help them and others date the work. The other option of sequentially numbering my knives has never appealed to me but some people do it as well. Does it add to the collectability?....probably not as much as the quality and style of the work.
 
I recently showed Paul Basch a knife of mine, the maker instantly obvious from across a room. The maker uses a stylized version of his last initial for a mark, again, instantly recognizeable to any collector who would be buying such knives.

One of Paul's only criticisms was that the maker should spell out his name, as my children, or their children, may not have the benefit of knowing the style or the mark if they try selling the knife. His suggestion was that makers spell out their last names on all blades, in a way that keeps the mark from interfering with then knife's overall appearance.
 
I agree with Paul and Brian, but for me the mark does not need to be on the blade or can be very subtle. Two of my favorite makers have a neat approach on marking their knives. One uses a micro-stamp that does not affect the design and flow of the knife. The other finds a nice out of the way place for their name and does some other cool stuff that takes quite a bit of study to notice. I have a knife that has a nickname of the maker in three places. This knife has been around the country and on display in several seminars. No one has ever questioned me about it. Few of this makers customers ever make the connection.
 
I like to see the makers name on the knife. Intials or symbols are not for me and is almost as bad as no mark at all. True story, the husband dies and the wife is unloading the knife collecting. Bought a little knife off of her with the intials N J C. I don't know who made the knife and nobody has been able to come up with the guys name who made the knife. As far as people putting numbers on the knives it will help in dating the knife and can help in the ID of materials used on the knife. I number my knives and write down the materials I used on the knife and other information such as heat treat so when some one ask me what kind of blade steel I used I can give a accurate answer.

Yes the mark is everything to me. I like them deep etch or stamped.
 
I am a maker that does not use a mark.The vast majority of my knives are user knives and carbon steel.Etches IMHO would simply not hold up and stamps only a little longer.I give customers a certificate of authenticity and so far everyone is happy.I will probably go for some kind of mark for fancier knives in the near future,but I still feel it is not a must.Dave
 
Originally posted by Gus Kalanzis
I agree with Paul and Brian, but for me the mark does not need to be on the blade or can be very subtle.
Click to expand...

I actually didn't express an opinion, I just relayed what Paul said. I do, however, hold Paul's opinion in VERY high regard.

Personally, I like it when a maker has a "trademark", more than simple initials or a name. It may turn around a few generations later to bite someone when the trademark is forgotten, if it doesn't convey much information, but for now, I just like it. The piece I'm talking about was, like all of this maker's work, unmistakeable. Anyone who would conceivably be buying the knife, at least in the near term, would immediately recognize the mark.

Paul also didn't like Bub Worrell's trademark gold inlay with his name (a relateively new trademark on his dressed up pieces). He thought it looked too fancy and expensive. Now, this gold inlay is a simple circle, about .25" or less across. It costs Bub less than $10. I kinda like it.
 

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I like to have some kind of makers mark on a knife. I usually like to see a logo, initials or name done on the ricasso though. Once, I paid extra for a great logo that the maker hadn't planned on adding...to me, the logo and a little file work make that knife.

I also ask (politely) for a letter that gives the basic specs of the knife and the date of purchase, no one has said no yet. Some knives need little more than a glance to identify, but documentation doesn't hurt.


Steve-O
 
Seems to me the maker would want to sign his work, with his name or logo. Why wouldn't he? Doesn't matter if it's an art piece or a working knife.

A name/logo means the maker has taken pride in that knife and wants everyone to know it. He made it, he warrents it. It's his legacy which will be around long after he is gone. A painting without a signature? In most cases worthless except in the eye of the beholder.

As a knife buyer, I want a name/logo on the knife. Who knows, he may be super famous one day.

JD
 
Very Interesting replies. I have since writen to Pat & Wes asking about it all. I agree I did buy the knife because it was cool and because I value and regard the makers, so showing off their name is part of it. Will keep y'all posted.
 
Pat Crawford does sign his blades. A very light " Crawford " in script on the side of the blade. Look again. If it's not there, I'd call Crawford.
 
This isn't my knife, but I think the way JW marked this knife is very cool.

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