Sold my first knife.

[Fsawyer]

Well today.. I was blessed with selling a knife. My first sale. My third knife.

I've Only made actually 3 knives from scratch. But many more from blades I bought.. or knives I've re-finished.
All of the knives I bought the blades or re-finished.. I kept for myself. The first Knife I made from steel stock on my own... I will always keep..

Today.. I was at a job market company looking for a job. I had a couple of my knives that I had just completed in my attache... in their Sheaths. I was talking to this lady and her son. I had mentioned that I had a hobby of making knives. The Son (about 25) said he had been collecting knives and wanted to see some of mine. I pulled out the 2 I had on me.
He immediately looked at one of them.. and whipped out his check book (I know I can trust these people because his mother worked for the company). He asked how much I wanted for it.
I didn't have a clue what to ask. So I just said, $125. He wrote me a check on the spot. I was overjoyed. I know it isn't much.. but I never dreamed I sell my 3rd knife...

Unfortunately.. I didn't take a picture of this knife before I sold it or I'd post it.. all I can do is describe it. It was a drop point skinner of hand rubbed mirror finished (2000 grit and mothers metal polish afterwards) 1095 steel, with a palm swell.. full tang.. with Blood wood scales. I made the pins out of copper.. and they looked great inside the red blood wood handle. It was small about 8 inches overall. I did put in a diamond pattern file work all over the back of the blade.. (not in the tang area). It had no guard. I made a nice double stiched chocolate brown pouch type sheath.
$125 isn't much.. but it's my first sell.. and considering I'm out of work.. This has made my day a little brighter.

[Chris Daigle]

Frank!

That's awesome news! Really! I am more than happy for you on more than one account. For one, you see that people hold value in something handmade. Second, you will have a hobby on the side that you will be able to make money from.

Great story.
Chris

[Ray Rogers]

It is a great story and it shows you to always keep your eyes open to an opportunity - you never know where that next customer will come from.

As for the $125, that is nothing to complain about! That's quite a good price for a knife such as you described from a novice maker. Many makers with many more years of experience still sell knives in that price range. I remember that I sold many of my first folders for about $40 .....

[Darren Ellis]

hmmmm.... weren't you talking about selling all of your equipment just recently? Hope you plan to rethink that idea now! Congratulations on your first sale, it's a great feeling isn't it!



-Darren

[Fsawyer]

Originally posted by Darren Ellis
hmmmm.... weren't you talking about selling all of your equipment just recently? Hope you plan to rethink that idea now! Congratulations on your first sale, it's a great feeling isn't it!



-Darren

Yeah I was thinking of selling it.. and may not have a choice.. You see.. I of course use my garage as a workshop. If I don't find a job in the next few months.. that will pay my house payment.. I will probably lose my house.. or have to sell it. Then I will have to move into some small apartment.. where I will have no place to work on knives.. and no place to keep that equipment... THAT is only when I will sell my equipment.

[Ray Rogers]

Maybe you can get lucky and find a small rental house. Even if you don't, you'd be surprised how small some knife shops are.

When I started making knives I was living in a motor home (for 11 years!). I built my shop in the front of the vehicle in an 8 x 8' space. In that area, I had a Grizzly belt grinder, a 12 speed drill press, a 7x10" lathe, a mini mill, a metal cutting bandsaw and a scroll saw as well as all the usual hand tools and an 18" square table to work on.

When I first decided to make knives I thought it would all have to be hand work. No way I could get full size machines in there, I thought. In the end I found a way because it was really important to me. If it's important to you, you'll find a way too.....

[Michael Sanchez]

Frank,

believe me, I know what you're saying about having to sell the equipment to make your house payment, but don't sell the most important pieces (you probably figured that part out already).

Like I said before, if you want to stick with it you will find a way. When I started out everything I used was on wheels because my wife and I wanted her to park her truck in the garage--safety thing. So everytime I wanted to work on thigs I would move the truck and wheel out the equipment. Not the most stable platforms but it worked and I got the practice I needed.

You can find a way, just think outside the box--and ask as many questions as possible. There are a lot of people who will try to help.

And by the way congrats on the sale.... you will find out that they all feel that way.

just my small 2 cents worth
Mike

[Stephen Galperi]

Congratulations! Well done.

[Heavy]

I'm glad you were able to get that first sale!

I hope it's the first of many. Hang in there buddy!

[mikec]

Congrats' on the knife sell.

I feel your pain on the finances. All though I have a great paying job my wife is out of work for medical reasons so the med bills plus other bills don't add up to my pay check alone.

Enough about me though...I see you're in Texas, see if some one could at leaset store your stuff while you're out of pocket, maybe volunteer a little labor to make up for it. I've done the very same thing but used my computer skills as payment. I know there are a few people in Texas with plenty of space.

Hope everything works out, I'll be thinking about you.

[John]

Great news on your first sale. I hope this little piece of good luck is just the start of new era for you. ATVB