Fancy vs. bread butter pieces and the time

[M&J]

Was discussing this with a maker about the range of pieces relative to the $ they bring. Mainly folders because he said that for him to make a sheath it takes 4 hours to do. The time offset he dislikes making fixed blades because of that. We also went into the fancy works relative to the bread butter basics.

My question is: do you find the fancy ones to be equal, better or worse in terms of your time into making them up?

I'm debating whether I want to do something fancier or devote that time into making basics.

[Ray Rogers]

Define "fancy" . . .

[M&J]

Curved with carved shaping, similar to what David Broadwell may do.

[Crex]

I do a good bit of both. Love working on the "fancy" just because of the extra challenges to get them right. However, since I do a lot of demo events and teach a few classes, I wind up with a lot of the B&B's to finish up. They do pay the bills.
I also like to make miniatures when time permits, but talk about time consuming. I can make a full size bowie style knife faster. Try tapping 0-80 threads for a fitted pommel in silver or fitting up a nice proportional "S" guard on a 1 1/2" damascus recurve blade, complete with fileworked spine. Yepper, will test your vocabulary for sure. No real money to be made in Minis, but I like them.

[Ray Rogers]

My "fancy" was limited to damascus and burl wood shaped exactly like my more pedestrian knives. That was enough to give the impression of fancy without taking a lot more time to build . . .

[M&J]

Did two tanto blades so was debating making them in a traditional manner with some aged flame birch picked up last summer. Copper, bronze and brass type fittings, etc. As well a slim bowie/fighter that is carved. For the challenge or is that frustration aspect.

Hand tapping 0-80 isn't fun. I typically use the Tapmatic yet there are times setting it up for a couple holes is more time consuming. Of course getting broken taps out isn't fun either and worse with blind holes. Probably a combination of easy and challenge...a middle ground spot that doesn't turn into a month+ project but that happens anyhow with those back burner ones.

Junko did a miniature with a simple ivory handle long ago. It was hard and sharpening it was hard too. She wasn't inclined to do another. LOL

[Crex]

I do heat treat my minis even though it's not really necessary, but think it makes the reworked damascus pop just a bit more. I take them to almost sharp, but quit going full sharp many moons ago. Probably the hardest part is finding handle material that still shows it's character on that scale. That and reworking my damascus scraps so the pattern fits the blade.
The Lorenzo's from Milan, Italy have a little over 100 of mine they have bought over the years they were still able to travel to the Blade Show. Really nice people to deal with. They had an upstairs private collection room in their knife store in Milan with well over a thousand custom knives they collected not to sell. Got to visit it once, truly an honor to even visit them and see the unbelievable collection displayed. Have no idea what's become of all that since the "Patrone" passed.

[M&J]

That's cool! Feels good to have collectors express how much they enjoy your works. Congrats!

Tom and Gwen Guinn were mini collectors here and their collection was amazing. Great couple too. We loved going to shows to see them and talk about knives. We visited them outside the shows too to just hang out.

[M&J]

Originally Posted by Ray Rogers

My "fancy" was limited to damascus and burl wood shaped exactly like my more pedestrian knives. That was enough to give the impression of fancy without taking a lot more time to build . . .

This has been my interpretation for past works too. Attempting to fill a range of levels in the market is challenging. Enough have a range of prices to fit in these segments. That's the way this progresses so that we can have a broader market of buyers/collectors. The bulk of my works in '23 were basics.

Been trying to figure out where I want to be in '24 though we're 1/4 through. Feeling lost ATM so that was why I posted.