Stealing a Design?

[CJS Knives]

hey guys wanted to get your opinion on something....

a customer has contacted me and wants me to make them a bird and trout knife just like the Tops BTK Knife. this knife can be bought from Tops for about $100, but he wants a certain handles and stuff....

so what do you guys think about knife makers stealing designs from production knives.

besides legal reasons, is there some kind of makers code that goes against this?

how do you handle customers request like this?

thanks guys,
Captain

[Ray Rogers]

There is very little that is new in knives so whatever you do has likely been done before. There is no problem with copying a production knife ONCE as a special order but cranking out a lot of them wouldn't be right. Partly, it depends on how 'average' the design is and how much change you make to it. For instance, the Loveless hunter has become the standard for 4" hunting knives and we all make them. But, most of us intentionally DON'T make them as exact copies of Loveless' design. He uses green micarta, we use fancy wood, etc.

Copying someone's signature work is flat out wrong even if not exactly illegal. Example, the Spyder-hole opening system Spyderco uses. Some guys ####### the right to use it, others just copy it because it's just a hole for Pete's sake but Spyderco feels strongly about that. So, it's best to change it up rather than make an exact copy of anything but it doesn't take much of a change to stay out of trouble in most cases. However, extra consideration should be given before copying the designs of another knife maker (as opposed to a production knife). That's just bad form...

[ARCustomKnives]

I agree with Ray. Very few designs (even from custom makers) are completely original, and in fact, many of them are based off of very traditional designs.

When somebody mentions "barlow", "trapper", "skinner" "drop point hunter", etc... pretty specific designs come to mind. In my opinion, a "bird and trout" knife lends itself to specific design features as well, and the Topps B&T knife is far from a unique design IMO. When it comes to these types of knives, I say make your own, put your own spin on things, and have fun.

Now, if it's a particular knife/unique design that a maker is "known" for, (i.e., signature work) I'd ask permission before making anything closely resembling the same design, and I'd limit the number made if I did get permission.

[Brad Johnson]

Looks like a 100 other semi-skinners I have seen and made over the years. I agree with Ray there are very few "new" designs. My 2 cents

[Frankallen]

I wouldn't worry about it. Think about how many people has copied the "Loveless" design and the style of his Logo, probably thousands....

[Crex]

Put a wooden handle - sycamore or birch with brass cutlers rivets - looks amazingly like the old "Professional Guide's Skinning Knife" that Herter's used to sell by the boatload back in the 50's.
Wonder where they (Herters) got the design............?

Note: Had one for years...great design for taking animals apart.

[Doug Lester]

Frank, I agree that there are probably no original knife designs but I think that I would draw the line at copying someone's maker's mark. Just my opinion.

Doug Lester

[Frankallen]

Originally Posted by Doug Lester

Frank, I agree that there are probably no original knife designs but I think that I would draw the line at copying someone's maker's mark. Just my opinion.

Doug Lester

I agree Doug!! I stated that people HAS copied his Logo (Maker's Mark) (with their name) ...Not that I agree with it!

[Doug Lester]

Frank, and I wasn't saying that you were in agreement with it, I was just stating that I felt that it was over the line. Glad we're on the same page.

Doug

[Frankallen]

Doug......We are on the same PAGE Brother!!!

Frank