I'm not really sure how to go about this without sounding arrogant, but please know that is not the intent. My opinion on marking your knives with anything other than your name is that you're shorting yourself. I have an article on my website about marking your knives... http://www.caffreyknives.net/Makersmarkarticle.html

The short version is that a knife should me marked in such a manner that anyone can look at it, and know exactly who the maker is. The mark should also be such that someone can take that information and be able to find the maker. I can't count the number of people who have walked into my shop over the years, with a knife that had initials or an obscure logo on it and ask me if I could help them identify the maker, because the wanted to purchase another knife. If customer can't find you, they cannot purchase a knife from you.

I think most of the ABS makers have come to understand this, and most mark their blades with at least their last name. I might be wrong, but I honestly can't think of more than a small handful of ABS rated smiths who use only a logo or mark that does not contain at least their last name.

|quoted:

I'm not really sure how to go about this without sounding arrogant, but please know that is not the intent. My opinion on marking your knives with anything other than your name is that you're shorting yourself. I have an article on my website about marking your knives... http://www.caffreyknives.net/Makersmarkarticle.htm l">My link

The short version is that a knife should me marked in such a manner that anyone can look at it, and know exactly who the maker is. The mark should also be such that someone can take that information and be able to find the maker. I can't count the number of people who have walked into my shop over the years, with a knife that had initials or an obscure logo on it and ask me if I could help them identify the maker, because the wanted to purchase another knife. If customer can't find you, they cannot purchase a knife from you.

I think most of the ABS makers have come to understand this, and most mark their blades with at least their last name. I might be wrong, but I honestly can't think of more than a small handful of ABS rated smiths who use only a logo or mark that does not contain at least their last name.

Thank You Ed,

No- not arrogant at all. I thought that I was being artistic and original by having a mark that the "World" would know me by haha! It hasn't really been an issue until just recently. Symbols can be copied- names cannot. I am going to be digitizing a new stamp today or tomorrow that clearly states my name. I think if any younger smiths -or older ones for that matter, see this thread that they can save themselves grief by taking your good advice. Thank You.

Cheers,

Fuad

My link

I think Ed's take on this is well-founded and should reflect any maker's decision to be known, not only now, but far into the future.

Few - incredibly few - makers can get away with just a logo.

However, that being said, those logos are only recognized within the knife community!

A newly interested collector, or someone in an unrelated field, would have no clue as to how to begin searching for the maker of a knife marked with just a logo.

If you're proud of your work, and want others to know it - use your name.

Even if it's Andersen.

This has been a very productive Topic with good advice and I agree with the points made by Ed Caffrey and Karl Andersen. As Webmaster I receive inquiries from time to time from collectors about the identity of a knife maker and when the touch mark consists of a symbol or initials on a knife, I am not able to assist them in identifying the bladesmith that they want to contact.

When I first started forging knives I looked around for ideas for my touch mark and I saw that our founder, Bill Moran, had several touch marks over the years which sometimes included his town and state (Lime Kiln, MD) but always used his last name as part of the mark.

I learned from his example and decided to use my last name and state and adopted "Cassidy Colorado" as my touch mark.

|quoted:

I think Ed's take on this is well-founded and should reflect any maker's decision to be known, not only now, but far into the future.

Few - incredibly few - makers can get away with just a logo.

However, that being said, those logos are only recognized within the knife community!

A newly interested collector, or someone in an unrelated field, would have no clue as to how to begin searching for the maker of a knife marked with just a logo.

If you're proud of your work, and want others to know it - use your name.

Even if it's Andersen.

Well said Karl,

I am getting a new mark ready at this moment with my name on it. I'll be ringing IMG this afternoon when I've got it done.

Cheers,

Fuad

I got that link fixed! It was me just not paying attention to what I did when I posted the link. It will take you to the article on my website about marking your blades.

Concerning a touch-mark database; I think that it is a great idea. However, I know that the Custom Knife Collector's Association is already working on a project like this. I've sent them my mark. I see no reason why there couldn't be another database. Might even be a good idea in case something happened to the CKCA's records. I just did a quick check of the CKCA forum and couldn't locate information about their database. I will contact Kevin Jones to ask about it and see where they are on the project.

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Concerning a touch-mark database; I think that it is a great idea. However, I know that the Custom Knife Collector's Association is already working on a project like this. I've sent them my mark. I see no reason why there couldn't be another database. Might even be a good idea in case something happened to the CKCA's records. I just did a quick check of the CKCA forum and couldn't locate information about their database. I will contact Kevin Jones to ask about it and see where they are on the project.

Hi Steve,

I can't remember if I already sent one to CKCA. I think I remember them collecting Makers marks on Blade forums a while back, and I'm pretty sure I sent one out.

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I got that link fixed! It was me just not paying attention to what I did when I posted the link. It will take you to the article on my website about marking your blades.

Hi Ed,

Great advice on your page. I had used a hot mark that I made myself for several years . I ruined a lot of work the way I did it. I have been using a resist when I etch my Damascus that leaves me a nice shiny spot to etch with my mark later.

My new mark will be basically the same with my name and company name around it.

Cheers,

Fuad

I contacted Kevin Jones about the CKCA's marks registry. At this time, Kevin is just collecting marks and there is no actual database. Below is his response to me. Send Kevin a close up photograph of your mark for inclusion in his records.

They can send them to [email protected]

The CKCA is not currently storing them in a database, that's down the road a bit. All I'm doing now storing the images in a file.

|quoted:

I contacted Kevin Jones about the CKCA's marks registry. At this time, Kevin is just collecting marks and there is no actual database. Below is his response to me. Send Kevin a close up photograph of your mark for inclusion in his records.

Thanks for the e-mail address Steve. I forwarded my trademarks to Kevin.

Cheers,

Fuad

http://www.AcreMetalworks.com