[The Tourist]

I spend most of my time repairing knives from various cutlers, that's what a "tinker" does. However, sometimes a friend or client gives me that "put up or shut up" debate about complaining without actually playing the game. Fair enough. Here's how I would form a company.

First off, it would be small, not big. Never big. If it had to go "big" I'd sell it to Buck or Microtech.

Second, you have to pick a path. We have enough cheap 'black' crap to re-shoot the movie "Red Dawn." I want to be around knives, and I believe Knives of Alaska is on the right path. Besides, Ernie already makes the best hard-use knives, anyway.

Third, no middle managers. My office is on the production floor. Oh, you need a clean space for computers. However, if I cannot smell swarf and jewelers' rouge then I'm too far away.

Each production employee will be issued a "letter set" punch with his/her initials. Somewhere on each knife they are to tang-stamp their code. Each employee is required to spend a certain portion of his day re-sharpening and repairing the knives he actually made.

Each new knife will be packaged with a collapsible box of the appropriate size, imprinted with the factory address and pre-paid postage. After repair, the knife is shipped back with a new return box.

All knife blades will be constructed of proven alloys in the high-carbon, low chromium family. (Technically, this also includes D-2, etc.) All blanks go to Paul Bos. Mr. Bos will be given a special direct line to my office which we will refer to as the "Oh frak!" line. When that ring tone goes off, production stops and a re-inspection starts. The production line is "grounded."

All knives are sharpened with proven, Japanese principles and tools. All of them, every stinkin' one of them.

And the knives will be expensive. No short cuts, no "bulk purchases" of materials, no discounts, no sweetheart deals with distributors, and no slick magazine adds. Soldiers to be deployed may walk onto the premises and choose their own knife and paper-shred their own invoice. They also get a phone number--of the guy who built their knife.

Oh, we'll have music, pizza, motorcyle parking and decent wages. But we won't have time-clocks, Deming tapes, dress codes or excuses. But when a friend of yours sees my pocket-clip on your jeans he's going to ask two questions.

"How did you ever afford that...?"

"How many times have you cut yourself?"

[EHCRain10]

where do i apply?

[RLsnow]

sounds lovely :D

[Striker]

I'd be proud to own a "Tinker Made" knife. When can I place my order?

[Valkman]

Sounds like a place I'd like to own also! All employees could also CCW!

All knives would be guaranteed forever!

[HoosierQ]

I am somewhat aware but can you elaborate on Japanese sharpening methods? Water stones I assume?

[The Tourist]

I am somewhat aware but can you elaborate on Japanese sharpening methods? Water stones I assume?

Yes, waterstones, but that's just the start. I got my start with an Edge Pro "Pro" and actually now use two such models commercially. I must add the word "commercially" because Ben Dale makes lots of special parts, stones and brackets for the work I do.

However, I also study Japanese sword polishing--not for the craft, per se--but to glean out any tools or procedures I can utilize. I now use pastes, larger freehand stones, glaziers glass, leather and numerous products from Keith over at Hand American.

I keep in touch with a loose association of professional tinkers and we share info and products. We also trade knives back and forth for examination.

Sounds like a place I'd like to own also!

Careful what you wish for. With enough angel capital this could be a very real thing. Heavens, we need more cutlers who do this. If you get a chance, peruse Graham Brothers. They are definitely on the right track.

All employees could also CCW!

Great googlie mooglie, the entire place will be an arsenal! If I could build it, I would asquire land far enough out of urban areas to be able to shoot on the premises.

My bike will be in my office, anyone who ever, ever, ever wears a tie (or Dockers) and there ain't a funeral I've been invited to, either gets fired or has to hold the bowling pins steady on a pin shoot.

We complain about our jobs and getting pushed around, but we have freedom right at hand. I started my own company. And if I get enough money I'm not going to buy more health insurance, I want to build a job that is actually fun to come to. Laugh if you want at what the Teutals built, but I'd sweep floors at that place. Oh, you have to have the cajones to make the choice...

[Mandirigma]

Definitely interested in this. Especially after seeing your work :)

Heck sounds like a dream job compared to what I'm normally used to.

[hso]

(or Dockers)

Hey, I like khakis, but unless the temp is below 30 I'll just stick with shorts and boots. ;)

And an Aloha shirt!

[Valkman]

Best thread ever. Now I'm walking around thinking about going "to work" grinding knives all day which will be heat treated by Bos (as they are now) and then finishing them for Tourist to sharpen. Now we need some sheathmakers!

[The Tourist]

Now I'm walking around thinking...

Well, ya' know, Josh Graham makes some beautiful sheathes...wouldn't be the first time that two companies collaborated. Does the phrase Buck-Strider ring a bell? :D

Consider this, several years ago Guns n' Ammo and Shooting Times had some of their writes 'wildcat' some cartridges. We've all heard of the .460 G&A and the 7mm STW. Imagine the knife from an idea like that.

"The THR Valkissimo" A premium cutting implement, sheathes now by Graham.

I almost shed a tear.

(Send me an old knife. Perhaps we'll die millionaire rednecks.)

[Soap]

I get my MBA in 1.5 years so drop me a line when you're looking for your CFO :evil:

[ArfinGreebly]

Dibs on the janitor's job.

Unless, of course, you discover that having a killer database to manage your stuff is a good idea. I make magic with data.

In between sweeping the floors.

[ArfinGreebly]

I get my MBA in 1.5 years so drop me a line when you're looking for your CFO
Only if you promise to forget 50% of what they teach MBAs nowadays.

Only partly joking.

[JTW Jr.]

hmmm an expensive production knife.... dunno if there is a market for that..... need a grinder ? ;)

[The Tourist]

expensive production knife...a market

As much fun as this thread has been, look at the responses. If this company existed today most of you guys would be clamoring for the knife. Heck, it's my thread and I want the knife!

I believe the underliying concept that has long bothered me is also bothering you--except that my field is knives. People don't mind paying for a product, but they want that product to function as promised, they want it to provide some real value and they don't want the company to disappear like smoke after the shine fades from the tool.

Any angel money out there?

[JTW Jr.]

Just saying it would be a somewhat hard ( though darn rewarding ) market to break into , a high end production knife. Not saying that it couldn't be done , heck look at Chris Reeves or William Henry , just saying that market share is smaller as at those prices you are getting into true custom area.

How about offering a production forged knife... now that would be smoking !!

[alaskanativeson]

Besides, Ernie already makes the best hard-use knives, anyway.


Ernie who?

[CWL]

I'm thinking more Randall Made knives, cepting that you don't know who actually makes your knife.

[Soap]

Only if you promise to forget 50% of what they teach MBAs nowadays.

Only partly joking.

Sure as long as I get 100% of the salary! :) I'm sure the real world utility of it probably depends on the program. So far, I've found that nearly everything I've learned has been applicable.

[feedthehogs]

I guess you've perused over the, I'm not paying more than 19.00 for a knife threads.

Good luck on sales to cover rent, equipment, materials, labor, health care, liability, fire/theft, just to name a few.

You ought to hit the blade show and talk to a few mid and high end knife makers just to see how little the market really is. I know I have.

[hso]

FTH,

It's a "fantasy baseball team thread" and we're just having fun with it. ;)

There are folks that do this and make a living at it. Lonewolf, William Henry, Darrel Ralph, Strider, Emerson, and Chris Reeve already occupy this type of niche in the market.

[hopkin]

...anyone who ever, ever, ever wears a tie (or Dockers) and there ain't a funeral I've been invited to, either gets fired or has to hold the bowling pins steady on a pin shoot.

How about making anyone who uses the term 'tactical' dress up as a bowling pin?

[The Tourist]

It's a "fantasy baseball team thread" and we're just having fun with it.

You bet, I've had a lot of fun. On the other side of the debate, we do not know who lurks and reads these threads. Hopefully the owner of a knife company.

However, I'm also serious about 'angel capital' and starting a place where I'd like to work. People always seem to measure things in the terms of dollars--in discussions. As a guy from finance, I can assure you that in a list of priorities, the "cost" aspect usually ranks about third. And even in a stilted list, "desire" always outranks pricing.

What do you think this magic knife would look like?

[Valkman]

Ernie who?

Emerson

Yea, the whole cost thing is a bummer as equipment ain't cheap, especially if you start talking water-jet cutting and CNC machinery. I have so much into my shop and eqipment it'll take far more years than I can make knives to turn a profit - it's a hobby and some hobbies are expensive.

But way more than money the desire must be there or knifemaking gets old fast. It takes many years to get really good at it (I am not nearly there yet) and spending 10 years just getting good at something is not what most people want to do. If you don't love this biz you won't be in it long.

[JTW Jr.]

OK , so now that we know Don has a crap load of tools in his shop with PLENTY of room for expansion. How bout basing this new knife company out of Pahrump NV , there are 2 more BADER3 grinders in the valley here ( one in my shop and one in a friends shop a few miles away ). And there is a CNC on craigslist here..

so lets get started.... Don...sweep up the shop.... company is coming.... a KNIFE COMPANY.

oh and Pahrump is Class 3 friendly , and we can set up a range right out in the backyard ! :)

[coelacanth]

Tinker's Damn Knife Company? :D

[Valkman]

Lots of shooting space across the road on BLM land!

Of course I can only grind 3 knives a week. Lately anyway...

[The Tourist]

I wasn't thinking of "the most," I was more concerned about "the best." And I'll tell you why.

As you know, here in Wisconsin we're known for cheese and beer. And you might think that about the last thing we need is more beer. After all, the big guys like Budweiser can horsepower us to death with volume, and folks like Schlitz can beat the market in pricing. So what's the big deal here in Madison?

It's a thing called "micro brewing."

There are entrepreneurs who have purchased smaller copper fixtures, installed them in restaurant style botiques and cater to people who care about quality.

As a reseller, I can buy any knife I want at half of what it costs the consumer. I open so many UPS boxes of knives that many just sit on the counter until I'm good and ready to face the packing peanuts. "Oh goody, look, another over-chromed, super-hyped five hundred dollar knife..."

Then I put on some crusty Harley jeans, jam a worn Emerson knife in my pocket, fire up a F-150 with a Mustang block, and go see a motorcycle I had ripped apart before it even ran. I've had to surround myself with modified, tooled up, worn down, re-configured tools for decades because I'm dissatisfied. And so is the client who patronizes micro-breweries.

If you're honest, there's a favorite tool of yours sitting there now, within arm's reach. And you've chosen it for the same reasons.

I want to build a knife as a "micro-cutler." If I can't build it, then I want to buy it. And for every ten guys who say it's too hard to survive, there's a hard-azz like Terry Tussey, who has found a way to work without limits.

Wouldn't it be nice to make a knife of such quality that for every singular owner there twenty people who were scared to death of it?

My wife has a time-share in Vegas. Tell me about this little town of Pahrump...

[ArfinGreebly]

I dunno.

For the "irony rules" crowd, a high-end, high-quality, lifetime-guaranteed knife made by a company who's name means "epithet of little or no worth" might appeal.

Me, I'd opt for something a little less ironic.

On the one hand, I'm okay with companies named after the founder (Case, Buck, Schrade, Reeve, Gerber, etc.). On the other hand, I'm fond of company names that are evocative.

You know, Valkyries Forge or something like that.

Name has to be short enough to stamp on a tang or ricasso, have few enough syllables to be said easily, and should (if possible) support a memetic device that's pleasant and easy to retain.

So, Smythe & Lindermann's Cutlery Fabrication Shoppe is right out, thank you very much.

:D

[ArfinGreebly]

Well, it's about 65 driving miles due West of Vegas.

It's not in Clark County, so it's not subject to the funky "blue card" hand gun ordinance they've got there.

It has a fairly well-known training outfit there (Front Sight).

If I remember rightly, that's also brothel territory.

It hotter'n the dickens in summer. It's pretty dry year round.

Population density is low. Very low, in fact.

They do, however, have high-speed internet down there.

And it's only a 90-minute drive from all the civilization you can stand.

[The Tourist]

LOL. I dunno, myself. In my old neighborhood everyone seemed to be quite impressed with "The Mothers And Fathers of Italian Americans." Of course, we referred to them by the acronym...

Rather than the "name make the knife," I'd prefer the reverse. If a micro-cutler made a good product you could call it "sharp stick" and the thing would sell. A lot of old graybeards carried Merc Worx knives before I read anything at all about them in knife magazines. I had to wait years to get a real Emerson handmade knife.

(You might laugh about this, but a few months ago I called Terry Tussey to put money in his hand. He chewed me out for calling in on the wrong phone line. Good night, you have to love a craftsman who has that attitude. I'd stand in line for his work. Ooops, I do already...)

Now back to the debate. Would the phrase "blue eyed biker" fit on the ricasso? And I'm thinking of a drop point with smooth sweeping belly. Oh, and we have to make one chisel grind that comes packed with logo-stamped bandages.

[The Tourist]

Tinker's Damn Knife Company?

Now, this has promise. Might be a good catch-phrase...

"You know, they don't give away a Tinker's Damn..."

Catchy.

[hso]

TT,

Vampire Gerbil from Bladeforums is in Parhump (if that helps at all).

You could open shop in TN and become yet another member of the TN Knife Mafia. Plenty of smiths and grinders 'round here (and no state income tax to dodge).

[Valkman]

Nye County - 2nd highest meth lab county in the country I'm told. Very spread out, where we live it's all 1 1/4 acre lots or bigger.

Got my CCW in 10 days.

We do have brothels and casinos. :D

Yes it gets hot and I guess that'll happen soon as they're calling for 90's next week!

[The Tourist]

Vampire Gerbil from Bladeforums is in Parhump

I believe that he has passed away.

[JTW Jr.]

Pahrump is growing , they got a couple casinos and a WALMART !!

It's hot , not Vegas hot , but close.

[Valkman]

We have a Home Depot being built! Woohoo!

[auschip]

We have a Home Depot being built! Woohoo!

Civilization at last? I lived in Vegas for a year, but never made it out to Pahrump. Furthest West I ever made it was Mt. Charleston.

[ArfinGreebly]

However, don't let that fool you into believing that they let you off without extracting that pound of flesh.

For every nickle of income tax they don't suck from your paycheck, theres a dime fee hidden somewhere in some service you can't live without.

My wife's dad spent a year after he retired researching fees and taxes in Nevada. When he finally did the math, he was fit to be tied.

But there's "no income tax" in Nevada.

(Cue relevant Beatles song.)

[waterhouse]

Of course I can only grind 3 knives a week. Lately anyway..

I'd tell you you need to start charging more, but the evil part of me smiles every time I use one of your knives and think of how little I probably paid per hour of your time :D Keep up the good work.

[JTW Jr.]

Thing I like about Vegas is no SNOW ! cant say that about Pahrump though , as they get more rain and snow than Vegas.

Ok so then where is this knife company gonna be set up at ? Idaho so that you can just drop the blades by to Paul Bos for HT ? :)

[Valkman]

Somebody send me some steel and I'll get on it! :D Oh yea and some bandsaw blades, belts and end mills. :)

[The Tourist]

I hate to stick a pin in the fun, but you guys have to remember that I have started my own company. There's going to be some 18 months to two years of some very serious times before the ship comes in.

My job was a "retirement job." Yikes, I never worked so hard or worried so much. In fact, I called Ben Dale and we discussed the reality of his business model. Some days I made seven bucks. He told me that the first day I made 100 dollars I would never look back. If you can make that nut, then you have enough customers to keep the ball rolling.

My wife and I would painfully count the crumpled ones--sometimes a five--when I returned home. Every night. first an 88. Then a 93. Then nothing. Then another 93.

One night we counted out the money and found 103 dollars--heck, we counted it again. Now, we were both two, highly paid professionals at the peak of our careers. And let's face it guys, you cannot fill your truck with gas and buy two bags of groceries with 103 dollars. But it was more of a benchmark, a sign I was on the right track.

I will tell you this. A few weeks later, my wife cooked dinner--on a Wednesday. I asked her what the special occasion was. She told me that felt like doing it, as she had just returned from the grocery store. I asked her where she got the money to splurge in the middle of the week.

And then she looks up and says, "All of this, every stick of food on the table, in the refrigerator, in the pantry, all of it, came from sharpening money."

Guys, I cannot describe that feeling. I was no longer tied to the whims of a boss, the economy, or even the weather. If I needed more money, out came the stones. And over the following weeks I saw my wife pay an ever increasing list of bills with crumpled money from the swarf soiled pockets of my jeans.

At the end of the second year my wife told me she had something wonderful to tell me. She had made the house payment with her first week's check. But every other bill that month--all of them--heat, light, food, fuel, movies, clothing, the works, derived from a soaking wet stone!

If I built my own knife company, my employees would know that feeling and work towards it. I guess in the end, the knives are the very minor part of the equation. In every debate here we underline the concept of being free men. This is simply the path that I have chosen.

[sixgunner455]

That's quite a story, Tourist. A very respectable one.

[hso]

That's a very familiar story.

[ArfinGreebly]

My wife and I have been through the self-employed model twice.

The first time, we had a good product/service, good customers, and all that. We made some bad choices. When things got tough, our bad choices killed us. Paying too much for office space. Putting all our business eggs in the "one-or-two-big-customers" basket. Servicing people who couldn't stay within a product spec from one week to the next. Spending all the money and keeping no rainy day reserves.

We lived really well for three years, and then went over the cliff when the not-really-a-recession of 1990-1991 hit.

Funny, really, but looking back it's easy to see where a couple of minor adjustments would have made all the difference.

It's really a trick, learning to live on a fraction of what you're making in gross. There's all that money, just sitting there, and there are all those things you just need, and besides, we can afford the payment.

The most evil words in the world of personal finance: we can afford the payment.

We rebuilt, I went back to work. The bubble burst again in 2000-2001, and we took another nose dive.

Since 2002, my wife's business -- remote executive assistant -- working from home, has consistently out-performed my software engineer day job. Still, we listened to promises from the people who wanted to sell us money, and we got killed again. Oh, it won't mean a BK, but we could lose the house we just remodeled.

Hard lessons.

But I can completely understand the feeling that comes from realizing you've just made something from nothing. When we realized, in late 2002, that my wife's business could, in fact, support us both, it was awesome.

Now, if I can just convince her that the words we can afford the payment need to be expunged from our vocabulary, we'll do okay.

If you can't pay for it with the cash in your pocket, you can't afford the payment.

[The Tourist]

That's the nice position in which I work. I have some safety nets.

One, I am officially retired. Yes, it limits how much I can make, but my counselor over at SS has assured me that I won't come close to it with my plans. I only work a few days for a few hours. Summer is short in Wisconsin, and if I have to look at "metal" it's going to be a bike, not a knife.

Even if the restaurant thing fails to materialize over time, I still have the knife sales company. We have no B&M stores around here that offer my niche' for products. I cannot think of another guy in the state that sharpens with waterstones. (The guy on our west side sharpens with one of those "Jed Clampett" spinning grinders.)

So, that opens the door to new possibilities. I want to work at least five more years. My wife will then be fully retired, and it will be time to quit.

During this time it would be nice to build something and train an apprentice.

There's always two, a master and an apprentice. We wear long black robes and are called, "The Dark Lords of Swarf." Everybody laughs until I do a perfect rendition of Ian McDiarmid and teleport a Japanese waterstone across the room into my hand...

[coelacanth]

with any luck those letters will become the sort obscure acronym cherished by the cognoscenti everywhere. If you ever decide to make something with a Finnish accent, put me down for one.

[redscorpion6]

You bet, I've had a lot of fun. On the other side of the debate, we do not know who lurks and reads these threads. Hopefully the owner of a knife company.

I own a knife company and it necessarily fantasy looks like dream building. The economics are also an issue. But even if you produce the perfect product it is then a matter of who can afford it and how many can I sell to maintain cashflow to support all the employees and overhead cost of equipment.
Funny thing about Angel capital, they always, ALWAYS expect a return.
One thing to talk about it, but until you put action behind it with a bit of cash you have, "The greatest idea that NEVER was."
We started on shoestring budget and we are going on 3rd year and now we are in aggressive growth phase, that means skinny income and everything goes into the business! Kids starvin and stuff, but hopefully the return will be there and allow us to actually achieve the dream we started on.

I am always open to discuss projects and do joint projects with guys. Sometimes companies become larger and loose the flexibility to respond directly to customer requests. I will not loose touch with the customer base. I handle most of the customer issues directly or at least at some level if not directly, I know about the issue. I think that ownership does not exclude you from dealing with the daily grind of problems or disputes from YOUR direct audience. I have seen a lot of guys miss that and I have also been on the customer end. I would say 80% of the time the ownership do not know about these issues with negative product feedback until it hits a large percentage.

If you would like to check out what we do visit our website. www.redscorpionsix.com
I have a store but put most of the focus in making our Predator WSK, Predator RAVEN WSK and Companion ESK line.
We are launching other products later this year with a feel for the kali knife fighting arena. This has occurred because of the direct involvement we have had with military and contractors. We are working hard on the design and and the training solutions that will compliment the blades.
I am glad you started this type of thread. Sometimes it is really refreshing to see others share our vision of "HOW things should be ran"
But it is always easier to TELL someone What's What when you don't have any skin in the game. Cheap seats are pretty easy to come by, so I always welcome others to get involved. I did it so what's holding you back?

[redscorpion6]

Tinker,

maybe we can help each other. maybe you can pick up the resharpening service side for us. I would rather not be in this business full time. I get requests to resharpen and not really setup to have fast turn around.
Also maybe we can take some of your knife designs and actually PRODUCE them into a real product that brings in that residual cash flow that can be so elusive.

[sm]

Japanese Sharpening??

Listen this here company needs instead of a "custom shop" a Traditional Shop.

This would require a dumb Southern Boy to oversee, and I just happen to know of one. *guess who*

What we have is, Tool Steels (01), Carbon Steel and Chrome Vanadium blades and these come with nice sheaths for the fixed, and slips for the pocket-knives...no clip, no lock, just a dad-burn pocket knife like one is supposed to have. *curmudegeon*.

Now these here knives are sharpened freehand on Norton stones, and stropped on the most clean piece of scrap cardboard.

Now this company, needs to have benches, and table tops with checkerboards atop them, so customers can whittle and carve, play checkers out next to duck pond.

I mean heck fire! Them folks can bring food, and do pot lucks, and have a good old time whittlin' carvin' and interacting.

This down home, small company, doing this, would be a huge marketing tool and advertising is best by word of mouth.

Positioning: The Battle For Your Mind, by Trout & Reyes would be the guidebook on running this company.

Be first with an idea... - Trout & Reyes

Ain't nobody I know of got a set up like I am speaking of.

Kids...well that pond is stocked, and employees kids get to fish, and invite other kids.

Word spreads, about that company, and that free little knife, key chain, with carbon steel blade and logo of company by the kids, and having fun catching fish and eating hot dawgs and...and...

Ya'll go ahead on with them nasty old stainless knives and using stones you use Sushi water on...*razz*

I get dibbs on property for the pond, benches, checkers, picnic, and BB Gun Range...
Oh yeah, did I mention Red Ryder BB Guns with the Company Logo?
We best have an indoor spot for bad weather, dang how I hate my fried pies to get wet or my rack of ribs to get snowed on...

Traditional, Practical and Common Courtesy, ain't dead yet!

[Valkman]

SM you're killing me!

Redscorpion6, nice knives!

[redscorpion6]

I like this one. Valkman you make a great design.
http://usera.imagecave.com/Valkman/Knives_Ive_Made/6_inch_Super_Camp.jpg

[Valkman]

Thank you! The 7" version of that was just in Blade and Tactical Knives and I keep getting orders! :D

[CZ.22]

Hmm.
First of all, it'd be located somewhere in the South, with no labour union laws, etc.
Secondly, we would use 1095 pretty much exclusively, to keep the price down.
We would make a folder w/ orange G10 scales, axis lock type thing, aluminum trim around the edge, which extended on one side into a pocket clip, so you'll never have loose pocket clip screws.
The pocket clip would be designed with a bend in the middle, as to have the greates retaining ability.
The blade with 2.95" 1095 that's had Duracoat applied to everything but the edge. Blue/Gray color- this helps keep rust down.
This knife would sell for $50 or under.

[sm]

CZ.22,
Good points, and I agree.

Valkman,
Your small skinners, in 01 or 1095 would be great user knives for farm, ranch and hunting.


I think of four areas off the top of my head, that is lacking in todays market.
Knife, Sharpening, Leatherwork, and Service.

IMO/IME a lot of knives are not for the consumer, instead of for the mfg, meaning the mfg drives the market, and not the real users.

Collecting, is another market, and the reality is, many folks do not use a knife since we have become more "civilized".

Yes, we vary in Professions that really honest to goodness use a knife.
Professional Chefs, Butchers and similar, that use a knife 8-12 hours per shift.

We still have farmers, ranchers, and fisherman, and they too need a hard working knife, as they are in "fields" for extended times.
Meaning they cannot just run into to town to have a knife sharpened, instead they need something they can sharpen free hand in the "field".


We have an aging society.

Being respectful, as one gets older, sometimes hands and fingers will not do what they once did.
Same problems younger folks encounter with injury, or post op surgery for Gangelion Cyst or Carpal Tunnel.

I listen, ask questions, and pay attention to such folks, always have, since I grew up with Vets from Wars, and Polio victims.

Examples-

Sodbuster Jr. is easier to open and close, as that blade sticks up above the handle.

One hand opening knives are often more difficult to open for those with arthritis and other problems and then the safety of getting one closed.

Nail nicks, are not as yesteryear, meaning larger, above handles, longer and serrated allowing not only for purchase, also striking matches.

Pocket clips, wear pockets, and some older folks do not want to wear a pocket on a nice pair of trousers, or ladies fashions either.

In my locale, criminals look for pocket clips, and they know a good knife from a el-cheapo knock off, or super knife.
Idea being - to follow that person as they feel/know they are CCW-ing, and either take them down for gun, or follow them home to where more guns are, and the easiest way to open a safe, is by forcing someone to do by gun, or kidnap.



Lanyard holes, now, these are useful, add a nice leather slip to protect from keys and folks really like these.

Sheath knives, small ones, akin to carving or whittling knives are just too handy.

Some of the older ladies and gents, actually use a wood handled carving or whittling knife, fit the handle to hand, and those 1 1/2" - 2" blades do a lot of cutting and the 1095 is great for taking and keeping and edge, and easy to sharpen.

Mini-Sheath knife if you will and this fits the legal restrictions for some workplaces that do not allow a employee to have a knife with a blade longer than 2".

What we used to call a "bench knife" when I was coming up, just a small whittling knife, one used to undo boxes, cut string, open mail and whatever else.
Just scattered in the business, on gift wrap counters, in the break room to open boxes of tea, or condiments, near the cash register, and wherever else.

Ladies can use these in purse, pocket, skirts, dresses, blazers, and the guys do the same in whatever fashion they wear.

Sometimes a grandparent just wants to open a toy for a grandkid, or get that mustard pack open, or package of crackers, or sharpen a pencil or...


Sheepsfoot or Lambsfoot blade is often overlooked for its usefulness.
SAK makes a Pruner, and many like that knife for the large handle to blade ratio.
Fixed version, is what some really want, great for zipping open boxes, working in the yard and all sorts of tasks, this blade shape is "safe" if you will, and many just need the edge, and not a point.

Aging folks are self conscious at times, as their skin integrity is not as it once was.
Easier to get a bruise, abrasion or cut, and kids and others think "what a klutz" or "getting too old to be independent".

My mom is 78, handling a bunch of paper recently, going through files, she suffered a number of "paper cuts".
Her forearms wrists and hands had bruises going through some old stuff in boxes.

This upset her, she looked like she had been wrestling alligators or something.
It embarrassed her, she felt self conscious being in public.


Just a small company catering to needs of the consumer, offering knife, sharpening, leather and service is my take.

[JTW Jr.]

In my locale, criminals look for pocket clips, and they know a good knife from a el-cheapo knock off, or super knife.
Idea being - to follow that person as they feel/know they are CCW-ing, and either take them down for gun, or follow them home to where more guns are, and the easiest way to open a safe, is by forcing someone to do by gun, or kidnap.

dunno where your locale is but I havent heard of that happening here in Vegas ever. Criminals prefer easy targets majority of the time.

[sm]

Criminals prefer easy targets majority of the time.

Criminals vary in "skill sets", or levels of crime life.

Some are your basic wanna be street punks, doing snatch and grab crimeswhile some are professional in bypassing alarms, burning safes, and some have other skills sets such as arson, kidnapping or blackmail.

Reality is, most folks will never know they have encountered some types of criminals in daily affairs.

Nice Couple, dressed in real nice clothes, well groomed, nice jlry, and driving a nice car, - case a business, then later kidnap the wife and /or kids so the owner is forced to open a business after hours.

These same folks can spot a mom with 4 kids, in a minivan, at a gas station, Wal-Mart parking lot, the bank, etc- CCW-ing a Glock at appendix position and knows she is heading to,or returning from the range.

We have some criminals that know how to shoot, It looks like a IDPA or IPSC match.
They know, and they know more about defensive shooting than many that CCW.

It has always been this way, seriously, just for some reason, even with Internet, folks are still not aware.

Vegas-
Yep, the folks are watching folks and always have.
Just like they do other Casino and Gambling locations.

People advertise way too much, and with Internet, and Cell Phones, it is easier to make a Target in Vegas, or Mississippi, or Oklahoma, and then hit then at home while they are still in town , or after they arrive home.

I know, I have spoken to the victims, and have been in on interviews with criminals.

Pocket Clips, Waterman Fountain Pens, Louis Vouton purses, Lexus keys, Leather checkbook holder, BDUs, Firearm stickers and vanity plates, tactical boots...

Not a new thing, just the way it has always been.

If one ever gets a chance to sit and visit with a Prostitute, and a Pick Pocket - do so.
It will blow your mind how much they can tell you, about you, and you did not tell them anything!

These are two types of folks on the Streets, that are a bit more "safe" as opposed to ex cons for some to visit with.

Sorry for the drift.

I have my druthers on some things based on my life experiences, observations and environments such as "street level".

BullfrogKen, Jeff White, others and I have shared in private about all this.