Buying The Perfect Custom Knife & Choosing A Purveyor

I Am Mark Sill  
The Owner Of Xotique-Antiques.
I have successfully been in business for 32 years.

I am responsible for every knife that I sell.

I know that you have many choices when it comes to making a purchase of a custom knife.

There are many variables. 

What is your reason for buying a hand made knife?

To use it everyday, some days, occasionally, or as a potential investment to collect and display.

Not only should you ask yourself these questions, you should ask the purveyor, the maker, and your friends.

Always buy from someone you know you can trust.

Trust is built on experience;  yours and other buyers. 
eBay offers a feedback card, review it before making a purchase. 
See how others feel about the knives that they have purchased form the vendor.

Does the knife maker's knife you select meet your needs?

 Ask the vendor, and search the web for the knife maker.
Ask the vendor and the maker any questions that you may have.
 A professional vendor should be able to answer all your questions.

Ask yourself, do you have recourse? 
What if the knife isn't what it said it was in the eBay offering?

All quality purveyors offer a return policy.

  If the seller believes in the product, he will guarantee that it is exactly what he said it was, or refund your money promptly.

They also need to back the statement with a policy for return.
  Read the policies, read the shipping costs, read every word in every offering.
 If the statement is vague, ask for an explicit definition.
Ask the seller if they will stand behind this with "money back guarantee".

In my opinion don't buy anything from anyone that doesn't guarantee
(in writing)
that what they are selling is exactly what they say that it is 
with a money back guarantee. 

Does the seller offer you an easy way to contact them?
How promptly do they contact you with answers to your questions?
Are they polite, do they make you feel welcome, and that your business is valuable to them?  Are they courteous?

Email and phone numbers are necessary. 
If the seller doesn't provide a phone number, you could wait forever to get an email back that will answer your questions, and make you comfortable with any situation.  Most likely a vendor that doesn't make your business feel important to you, doesn't care if they sell to you again.  A top notch vendor has repeat buyers. When reviewing the feedback card, see how many people have returned to buy again and again from this vendor.  All vendors should thank you for making a purchase. 
Without you, they will not be in business long. 

Vendors that state: "I don't know anything about the age or condition."
or "I am not an expert." It is my opinion they should be selling something they know about, and can guarantee.
The only exception may be an inherited collection. 
Complete an advanced seller search for the last 30 days of transactions, see if they have been saying this forever.
 If so, it may be an excuse for not standing behind what they are selling.

Does the vendor attend public exhibitions?  Knife shows?  Author articles?  Are they active in the knife community?

A quality vendor attends many shows yearly.
You should be able to meet the seller in person in national shows, local shows, or in chat rooms.
 All of these involvements make the vendor more accessible, and show their interest in the knife making / collecting community.

I hope that I have assisted anyone in any way with the answers to questions
that they may have about selecting something as important as
"man's oldest tool."

Collecting knives, and meeting the people involved in the business / hobby has given me some of the most satisfying memories of my life. 
I wish you the same good fortune, and look forward to making your acquaintance in the future! 

Thank you! 

Mark Sill  Xotique-Antiques