[futuresoptions]

Sounds interesting, I will have to check into that... I am really amazed at what some of these guys produce... I mean alot of them put some of the custom made/decorated spoons to shame.... For me though, I can't wrap myself around producing works of art.... I want my art to show through in durability and function... I would rest proudly knowing that my items were still being used a long time from now... that is one of the reasons that I really don't like using natural materials for handles... I prefer micarta, but I still need to get my micarta press made so that I can go into production on making my own custom micarta. I have already designed about 30 or so knives, but intend on settling on a catalog of only about 12-15 knives that I will actually produce... and in time will refine the designs and materials used until I consider them "perfect". I don't think I will ever go automated, and intend on producing each knife myself.. lol, I have already had some folks scoff at my attitude and I guess I have tunnel vision on this, but it is what makes me happy... I don't expect folks that I turn down (which I have already turned a couple down) to understand why I won't do "custom" work or "recreations", I just know that doing so would feel too much like work and it is not part of my vision... that is what I like about knife making, it truly is diverse in its make up, and each maker is an artist in his own right... my opinion is you don't go to Picasso to get a Monet..... Which ever artist I end up being when it is all said and done doesn't really matter to me at this point as long as I feel like I have found who I am, what I am supposed to be and found peace in creating... I guess that is all we can really hope for in this life... As far as your knife making goes, I'll tell you what a good friend of mine ( who is also a knife maker) told me... because it truly is the secret to knife making.... You get yourself a piece of metal, and you grind everything off that doesn't look like a knife... lol, I will just add, that you be the artist, and create what makes you happy... as long as you are happy with what you produce, the diversity in the knife industry will always have buyers in your niche... sorry to be long winded in my response, but I am just passionate about the subject...