With the months counting down to September I find myself coming up with more strange questions. Did you have sheaths for your presentation knives available in case they sold at the show where you presented? I know to keep leather work away from the judging table but did you have sheaths tucked away somewhere for the customer? Or did you just have the knives only?
If the intent is to sell those knives you present for judging, my advice is yes, have sheaths "tucked away" for them. Over the years it's become obvious to me that Makers who readily sell without a sheath are a VERY small in number. I personally have seen that often times a well made/included sheath is often the tipping point factor in making the sale, or the client walking away.
When it comes to test knives for presentation, there are different schools of thought...... some try to sell them individually, others try to sell them as a set, and there are some who will simply keep them. Anyway you slice it, I personally believe that selling a custom knife without a sheath (with some exceptions) is a bit like buying a car with no wheels.... kinda incomplete.
What I found interesting was when I made the jump from JS to MS......literally overnight, those knives marked with JS increased in value 3-4X! Wish I'd had enough foresight to hang onto a dozen of so of my knives that were marked with JS! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
Ed Caffrey, ABS MS
"The Montana Bladesmith"
www.CaffreyKnives.net
Thanks, that was exactly what I was wondering. I plan on selling all but one to keep to get framed with my test knife. Unless of course someone wants the whole set and won't buy one unless they get them all. In that case I might just cave <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
