Any other questions you have about pricing or evaluating knives? Did I miss anything?

@mcrich1978

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Denis! 🤘😎🤘

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

@@mcrich1978 thanks for watching, buddy!

@mcrich1978

2 жыл бұрын

@@TyrellKnifeworks sure thing! 😉

@aiden.t1776

2 жыл бұрын

Do you think you could make a video on where to sell knives when getting started?

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

@@aiden.t1776 best to start at local gun shops or something similar. They’ll probably take a cut, but it’s a decent place to start.

I have been waiting until my skill level is good enough to start selling them. I have followed your advice without even knowing what your advice would be. 10 knives given away until they are good enough to sell. Your a wise man Sir. Thank you for all that you have taught us!

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad it's beren helpful, Jon! Thanks for following along.

Its relatively easy to break-even on knives, steel is cheap especially if its a carbon steel or a simple stainless, same with handle material if you're not making anything out of precious stone, fossilised critters and other big lumps of expensive material. Belts are horrendously expensive if you're making a lot of knives, my best advice there if you're making just like 10-15 knives in a batch like I do is to buy expensive belts, a belt cleaner and they do tend to pay for themselves in a way. Not all belts are made equal and if you're just doing 1-2 a month- cheap out! Buying in bulk is another way to save money, make a lot of knives or really like a steel- buy a plate. Same with your abrasives, you use a lot, buy a lot at a discount from wherever is cheap. For the most part though, once you've got tools its time. Often a lot of what makes a good maker is not necessarily how well they can do something as a 1-off, sometimes its the hail mary, long throw were you can salvage something from the shit pile into a salable object. Maybe you won't make as much on that one, but you've saved some time and time is very much money. Bolsters and guards are just going to be far more expensive as there's a good 'days work' or two in getting them good enough, even if brass or a lump of stainless is cheap, you will sink time into it that has to be recovered somewhere and that is at the price point. So just as a business experiment if you're starting out- itemise your costs 10 bucks in steel, 20 in a handle, some pin stock or fasteners, how much glue and finishes you used, belts and sandpaper along with any other bits of bling like liners and bolster material. Electricity, propane and consumables like anti-scale, foil, acids and other treatments Then add in your baseline time at the minimum wage for your country- chances are it will usually be between 10-12 hours for something basic including your heat treat (just as an example) Now you have a knife cost, now no one's doing this to become a multi-millionaire but we're not out to go backwards financially either and the better you manage it, the less of a burden or detriment to your other lifestyle enjoyment too.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Some good info in there, Kris. Thanks.

your honesty is refreshing my friend

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for checking out the video!

Just built my first 3 blades, each time the finish has gotten ever so slightly better. It's fun to get into!

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 ай бұрын

Each should be better than the last. That’s the goal. 👍. Thanks for watching

This is great. I have been waiting till I got good enough to sell knives and I think I am finally there but I did not know how to price them.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

I’m glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching

A great video!! I've had this pricing question in my mind lately and now I see what to do to make my knives worth more. Thanks!!!

Good way to evaluate. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Denis!

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for following along, Dan!

Incredibly valuable information on your channel!!!!!!!!!

@TyrellKnifeworks

Жыл бұрын

I’m glad you’re finding the content useful, Alex! Thanks for going through the video library. 👍

I grew up in knife shops, my uncle had 8 stores along the west coast, my Dad managed a couple of them and I spent my days sharpening. So needless to say I’ve seen a lot of knives snd I have to say I think you have the coolest, best looking knives I’ve ever seen. All aspects of your knives are impeccable.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much, Joseph! I really appreciate that.

@richardbranton2780

2 жыл бұрын

I'll agree his work is awesome

Another great video Dennis! Very valuable information for sure! I hope that you and your family are well!

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

We are doing great, thanks! I’m happy the video was helpful. Thanks for watching, Stephen.

That’s some really good advice Denis!!! I’ve been pondering all this stuff for a while now… I really want to get to the level of craftsmanship that you have and Kelly… and she’s getting so damn fast at it…I’m truly in awe… Thanks for the great video!! ✌️

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Pushing to do my Journeyman has certainly up'd my level. There are things I look for now and processes I follow that I wouldn't have spent as much time thinking about before. Thanks for watching, Mike.

Very cool. A lot of good information. Definitely looking at the same things that I look for. Thanks again for all your awesome content.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for following along!

This is a good piece of advice. I have been doing exactly what you just advised. Some knives that are similar go for a lot more even though their workmanship isn’t much better

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

There’s sometimes a difference between the market price and what something is worth. The situation and marketplace has a lot to do with that. Selling your knives at a flea market expecting Blade show prices and you’ll be disappointed. Thanks for watching

Great advice as usual. Thanks

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanhs for watching, Stephen!

Great video man. We need more of this across KZread

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for checking it out, James.

I dig your honesty about your own work

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

If you can’t be honest with yourself, who will? 👍. Thanks for watching

Went to blade show Tx this year (not as a seller). It was a great experience. I saw knives that fit and finish were outstanding but also saw others that I found many flaws in and still selling. I learned a lot by handing my knife to really good makers and asking them to critique it. I asked what they liked, disliked and what they would do diffrent. Got a lot of great feedback and put it to use. Everyone was kind and helpful in the feedback. Great education for the price of admission!!!

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

I was there at Tx to do exactly the same thing with my JS knives. Feedback is key. Thanks for watching.

This is awesome. I think it's easier to make a video of glamour shots to make your work look good than it is to pick apart your own work. You are holding it in your hand and can see things that would be hidden by the camera. You also focused on things that all knifemakers (and knife buyers) can look for when determining the quality of their knives. I immediately like the dark-handled hamon knife aesthetically, but you broke down qualitative rather than subjective strengths and weaknesses in each of your knives, which is not what I was expecting. Great video.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Going through testing for Journeyman will certainly humble you. All this that I've talked about is what they look for in the JS testing. Thanks for watching.

The workmanship in your knives is outstanding, something you should be proud of no mater how the American Bladesmith Society would judge them. Their standards do not promote innovation among knife makers. A handle aligned with the blade forces the user to twist their wrist 40º horizontally to align the blade with the lower arm. I am a perfectionist & like aesthetically pleasing tools but not at the expense of user safety & ergonomics.

@TyrellKnifeworks

Жыл бұрын

The ABS does not dictate anything like blade/handle alignment requirements. That is up to the maker. Thanks for watching, Daniel.

Great info bud.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching, Travis!

great video 👏👏👏👏👏

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching

Great video

@TyrellKnifeworks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching, Greg!

That is another great video !!! It is one of the hardest things to figure out when you make anything. Years ago I made two matched knives for a father and son. This is Jim by the way. I was asked to make them to their design and told them it would cost them 100 dollars. This was back about 1978 which was quite a bit. Blackie Collins hardened them for me and with the cost of materials I lost money !!! That was ok they were the last and finest I ever made. Moved and quit making knives didn't have the time anymore to make any. But my point is I didn't know how to price anything. Not a salesman to start with and did not know how to value myself LOL. Those knives turned out great in fact the last time I talked with them they had dressed out 5 deer and never sharpened them. Blackie had them so hard that when I got them back my files would not touch them. Another cost I had was buying diamond files to sharpen them. I really lost money on those LOL. I sure love your videos and would be better today at pricing if I was young enough to make things again. Thanks for the great videos.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Yup, so many people undervalue their work. You need to get paid for your efforts. Thanks for watching, Jim!

very informative

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching, Greg!

Great video! This is exactly how i price my knives. Since I’ve started making knives and started getting people that wanted my knives I’ve based my prices off of my skill set and try to cover my cost. I’m a ways from becoming a journeyman smith but i educate myself with every knife i make, especially the ones i don’t finish. I love your videos and keep them coming. Good luck on your journeyman knives! I’m sure you’ll pass

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Daniel. I appreciate your support!

New camera? Really good points here! When I picked up some of Adam Desrosiers knives I wanted to stand in a corner and cry!😂 but definitely helped getting a idea of what master quality is.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Same camera, new lens. 👍. Yes, it helps to see some MS quality knives for sure!

Perfect knives are hard to come by and actually not many exist, strive for it and always try to improve your art. I do love the idea of being honest with yourself and understanding how this should affect your pricing. Love your videos and have learned new ideas thru them, keep them coming.

@davidpugh4527

2 жыл бұрын

I have had the pleasure of holding one perfect knife in my hands it was made by mr. Stanley Mitchell he is a master smith a master engraver a master scrimshaw artist The Knife included all three it had some scrollwork on the guard and had a bass scrimshaw on the bone handle and believe me when I tell you I tried to find a flaw and I could not do it

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

I too have held a few “perfect” knives that I could not find a flaw in. I’m sure the maker thinks there are though. Thanks for watching.

@rickpoteet371

2 жыл бұрын

@@davidpugh4527 bet it was nice, sounds like it. Wasn't meaning that there were none out there, but in my opinion only, they are far and few

What a difficult decission! I sold my first knife for 80 euros after gifting other 3, but i was so insecure about the price. Good video and thanks!!

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

You’re not alone. I think most people struggle over their pricing and most underprice their work. Thanks for watching.

Good video, this kind of video needs more

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Han!

love ya vids

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

I'm in the give away fase right now Lol !!! Thanks, excellent video!!

@TyrellKnifeworks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching, Carlos!

Ваши видео во многом помогли мне когда я только начинал изготавливать ножи , теперь я уже продаю их в магазине . Спасибо вам.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Поздравляем с продажами! Спасибо, что следите за каналом.

This is a very good video with some simple principles to apply when making knives or anything for that matter. I will say that most of my knives are not perfect and I price them that way. If I want to make the perfect knife for a client I price it accordingly to how much time I think it will take me in finishing. The very first camp chopper I made for a client I priced it so high because I didn't really want to make it since it would be the biggest knife I would have made at that point. I didn't think I was to that point yet. He didn't even balk at the price. Took me 3 weeks to make out of CPM-4V (not including sending off to Peter's since I can't do a cryo temp). Hand sanding the blade to 1000 grit after heat treat took 3 - 8 hour days alone. The client was ecstatic when he received it and even though this was over 2 years ago he still contacts me from time to time to rave about the blade and its edge retention. If I am just making some knives to put on my website then I am more focused on making a good field blade that will hold up and do what the customer needs it to do and keep its edge. But if someone commissions me for a particular blade then I spend much more time in design and finishing and the price reflect that. Pricing can be the most difficult part of any craft but don't sell yourself short. If you price your knives too high and no one is buying them then drop the price and see what the market will say. If you go too low and not making enough profit to make sense then it may be your skill level needs to improve. I have never been to a blade show to sell my knives but I do go to a fair close by and I sell out every year. So make some knives, develop your own style if you can, go to a fair and get a table/booth and try and sell what you make. That, sometimes, is the only way you can accurately see what the market will give you for your work. Lastly, get into leather work if you haven't already. I have been crafting leather for over 20 years so I can make my own sheaths which is a bonus. Just wrapping a piece of leather around a blade and calling it a sheath is just not gonna work. If I make a custom blade for a client then the sheath is also gonna be custom made as well. I start with natural veg tan leather and dye it myself to the color the client request if he/she hasn't given me some leeway which they do often. Work on stitching and burnishing the edges. A nice finished sheath that has clean edges that have been burnished goes a long way to getting more for your blade.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching and commenting!

you are trully a humble knife maker..

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Great video basically that’s what I did thanks

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear it Barry! Thanks for watching.

Great video man, i have been making knives for 1.5 years now and your channel has helped me so much with improving the quality of my work. Thank you so much. One question, how much would you charge for that hidden tang Bowie knife? Just curious.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

I’m glad the channel content is helping you. Sorry, I don’t discuss prices in comments. Send me an email. Thanks for watching.

Great explanation Denis. I always find it annoying when someone asks how much a knife is or what I would charge to make one. Expecially a Damascus knife. Your average person doesn’t understand why it cost what it does. No I’m not making $1,000 knifes lol. But just because they see smiths on forged and fire finish a knife in 6 hrs or they see a “hand made” knife on eBay or Amazon for $80 and expect mine to be cheap or priced the same. It’s no where close to the same. 🤦‍♂️ I tell them to go buy the one they found and see how they like it. Several have came back and asked me to build them one and didn’t question the prices again.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Yup, we are selling ourselves and our reputation more than just individual knives. Thanks for watching, Erik.

@tinsoldier5621

2 жыл бұрын

Are you serious snowflake? You get annoyed when someone asks how much your blades are? How much to make them a knife? Who do you think you are? The god of blade smiths? That they should be honored and hand you their life savings? You need to get out of this profession and get a reality check. I find you an embarrassment and probably a snob. I happily answer questions and take time with customers and potential customers. I primarily make battle blades for professionals and I'm currently under contract for a government agency.

Good vid and very informative to see your own critique on your work. I would be curious if you plan to sell those knives with their flaws and all, with an idea of price range, but if you prefer not to say I understand that as well.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

These will all be for sale at Blade show next weekend. I don't discuss prices in comments though. Thanks for watching.

I absolutely love your channel 👍 when I started making knives I had no intention on selling a single one but this is turning out to be an expensive hobby. I want to sell some just to get some of my money back. I'm just not happy making knives out of old steel and free wood. For some reason I got to make the best knife I possibly can out of the best materials I can get. I went to blade show and spent wayyyyyy to much money. If anyone out there hasn't went don't go I even spent my gas money to get home LOL

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah my first year at Blade I think I spent almost $1k in materials. 😜

Just subscribed and you do awesome work. I think though that there is a big difference in museum pieces and a blade someone is gonna use daily or a couple times a year skinning deer at the hunting camp! Prices can go stupid, not that it’s not worth it but it’s all up to the maker.

@TyrellKnifeworks

Жыл бұрын

Welcome to the channel. Many of my builds would be considered collector pieces that would not get used but I do a fair amount of hunting knives and kitchen cutlery as well. I do gravitate more to the collector pieces though. They are more fun to do. Thanks for watching

Have you ever done a walk around tour of your workshop ? Id be interested in seeing a (basically full) list of some of your purchases and whether or not you would have done it differently starting over with the order you upgraded. I know for me I purchased a evenheat kiln before buying a 2x72 and that was definently a mistake.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, I've done a shop tour, look back about 6 months I think. I've added a few tools since then, the rolling mill being the biggest. I'm about to do some retooling (new forge, slightly new layout) in a few months so maybe I'll do a new shop tour video after that. Thanks for watching, Stephen.

I made a lot knifes for learning, when they were good enough so I would buy one of mine I started to give them for free to good friends. When I had my electric kiln and total control of my heattreat I started to sell. I calculate the costs for ALL materials used and the time I spent. When someone is interested in the knife, I send him the knife and tell him the minimum price he has to pay, which is the costs for material and tell him the amount of time needed to create it. He can decide if he takes the knife or send it back and he can decide how much he adds to the material costs to honor my work. So far I´ve not been disappointed. Trust vs trust.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

I’ve heard of others doing this approach as well. Thanks for your input!

@UweCaspart

2 жыл бұрын

@@TyrellKnifeworks Thanks for your answer. Some called me crazy doing it this way. Nice to know I´m not the only one.

No all I want to do is spam your email with pictures of my knives and ask you for an appraisal, 😂... Thanks for the cool honest chat... This community could use more like this...

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

You wouldn't be the first to ask for an appraisal. 😜. Thanks for watching, Dan.

Really heart felt video, Thanks for pounting out your mistakes, takes a real man yo do that. Im a bit anl on details too, but for now im trying not to let it ruin my day, like when things fly across the room unintended...;-) Some of my handles shrank a tiny bit after becoming completely dry, hecause I milled my own black walnut last year, so now I bcut boanks and let them dry all the way first. My preasure pot is not made yet, so honestly having great results for now until I get that together. I love those blades you have made, and as you inow im not a fan of hand sanding, and this we both have our own views, and I respect that as you as well. Personally I will never be a certified knifemaker, which im fine with, but I am a certified mig and tig welder, so that will have to do... lol Anyways if you want to send on messenger for the price of your bowie if you sold it I would like to know, im assuming its close to a grand, because its a mono steel blade, if it was a mosaic, I would like to know the price range too if possible. Thanks again, and Greetings from Deutschland fellow Bladesman...;-)

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Every knife price is different. For me it depends on the time I've spent on it. My prices are not your prices and there are a lot of other factors involved. I have a range for my bowies so if you're interested in knowing that, drop me a line. Thanks for watching.

@Dragoon.knifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Will do Denis, and may you keep the joys of knifemaking close to you, as do I.... Also let the three million + views on your elf sword spread to the rest of your content, youve earned it my Friend...;-)

I have a question I am a chef here in Australia and I have fallen in love with your work how do I go about purchasing 4 custom knives???

@TyrellKnifeworks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much, Frank! I’m afraid I’m just a hobbyist who focuses on KZread mostly. I just don’t have the capacity to do custom orders, I just sell what I make for the channel. Thanks for watching.

Denis, how are you?, a question, what is the total and blade length of the knife hunter that has a black handle? Ty Cheers

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

The blade length is 4.5” with a total length of 9”. Thanks for watching.

That carving knife looks like a GREAT addition to My kitchen ( for a scratch & dent special ... just kidding ) ! Your , it's not perfect , would probably be MY it's damn near PERFECT ! ( I'M pretty sure the turkey won't like it either way )

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for taking a look, John!

It was so polite for you not to say, "when you first start your knives aren't really gonna be that good"

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Haha... I had to retake that clip. I'm pretty sure I said it in the beginning and thought I'd soften it for those that don't have thick skin. 🤣. Thanks for watching.

Do you price your knives according to the type of steel you used as well.?

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Sometimes. Most carbon steel is the same price but when you get into stainless steels, the price goes up dramatically. Thanks for watching

Very interesting, your knives look like they have been made for a king. Everything is perfect, the slightest scratch has to be removed etc. I think aiming towards that is a good way of mastering the craft. If you can remove all of the clues that a human made it, if your hand achieves the precision of a machine, then you know you're at the very top. Tho these aren't really the finishes that correspond to my personality. Don't get me wrong, i want the best for my customers. But i am a messy man. My grandfather was a jeweler. I wouldn't have the patience to be one. I love medieval stuff. And while there are plenty of fine and exceptional medieval pieces, there are so many that have their flaws, rough finishes, so many clues that some working man who wasn't the very best but was proficient and good enough actually made it. An average knife for an average man. I like that. You won't see me wearing fancy clothes, i put efficiency in front of looks. And my work is shaped by my personality. So, in that sense, it can be hard to evaluate the price of what i make with a very high level scale. Usually i ask for 10 euros an hour of work, plus the coal and the used files. That is cheap. But i want people to be able to buy my stuff. My stuff might not be mirror polished, but it's made nicely enough to be kept with pride while using it and not being scared to scratch or dull it. The problem with museum level pieces is that you just don't want to use them, and it's so sad for me to see a handmade knife sitting on a shelf without having cut anything in its life!

@TyrellKnifeworks

Жыл бұрын

Everyone has their style. Some people love the brut-de-forge look, sone line the clean finish look. We can all coexist and have our own customers. 👍. Thanks for watching!

it would be great to know if there is a group like discord or any other community to post pictures of knifes and ask others to evaluate it and talk about the problems .

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Well, the problem is that you aren't sure who is actually evaluating them. There are FB groups where people post knife pics but a bunch of noobs or just plain impolite people will comment and that doesn't help. Everyone has an opinion on the internet and wants to ram it down your throat. 😜

Mr. Tyrell can you make a feather copper Damascus knife?

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

No, feather Damascus with copper isn’t feasible, you’d have copper n the edge. You could do feather Damascus as a cladding but I think you’d lose the pattern. Thanks for watching

I have a nice knife that need some work done to it and the Case on the knife it as some Surface rust and The case is coming undone please get back with me thanks for your time

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

If you’re asking if I do repairs, sorry I don’t. Thanks for watching.

I find that I value my products far more than most people. So I priced them by putting one up for open auction and see how it does. If it brings in enough then that is it's price. If it doesn't, I make no more.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

That’s an betraying approach. Thanks for watching watching.

Why are knife handles symmetrical when the human grasp is not symmetrical ?

@TyrellKnifeworks

Жыл бұрын

Mostly because when we make knives we don’t know if the buyer will be left or right handed. There are some makers that will customize the handle for the user’s hand. Thanks for watching, Daniel.

I absolutely don’t like to take a blade order. I would rather make a selection of knives. There is always that one person that wants something way off from the norm, and explaining the price to them is almost impossible.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

I rarely do custom orders and only if I get full creative control. I'd rather make what I like and if people want to buy them... that's great. Thank for watching.

Ref

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching

"Dont think if your knife isnt perfect you cant sell it." This is exactly how I think, but I am still in the giving away stages. . .

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

As you get better you’ll just up your game and find new “flaws”. They are never perfect. Thanks for watching

@michaelmurphy2112

2 жыл бұрын

I'm looking forward to being in the "giving away" stage. Right now I'm still keeping my RR spike knives

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

@@michaelmurphy2112 We all move at our own pace. If you want it, you'll get there.

🦍

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching.

Disgusting butcher weapons. Not sure how I got here, just want to say that you should trust in the LORD instead of in these blades! JESUS is coming soon!

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching

Your repeated use of the word perfect is inhuman. No human could ever make a perfect knife by hand.

@TyrellKnifeworks

2 жыл бұрын

I would disagree. “Perfect” in this instance means that a human couldn’t perceive any discrepancy in the symmetry and finish. Master smith knives need to be this “perfect” when judged.