My single most hated response when the subject comes up, as it often does is, "Do you make throwing knives?" on one occasion I asked the guy what kind of knife he had on him, and of course it was an El'Cheapo, and I took it and chunked it....(it landed in the grass, come on, I'm not a jerk!), he didn't apprecriate it very much, with that I responded, See you can throw any knife! I did get it for him, he learned that there was a lot more to knives than if you could throw them, but I bet he won't ask that question again!!!!
And in 2nd place is and the only reason it's second is because it is not asked as much is, "do you make switchblades?"
For some reason this question bothers me almost as much as the throwing question, don't ask me why I have the problems, as far as it goes around here, it seems like just about everyone knows someone that is a knife maker, or at the very least calls themselves knifemakers, Which is good enough for me, personally as long as their not putting together pre-HT'd kits and standing behind their work, they can call themselves knife makers...., I'm sure there are many exclusions that I could come up with, but I think we're exclusive enough, just having people to carry on with this craft, so that this skill is not lost as it was close enough to, not 30 years ago, but through the actions of a handful of visionaries that took a chance, while I know none of them had a clue it would be what it is today, wouldn't it be awesome if they did!?!?!
I know the ABS's goal in the beginning was about education, if we ALL took the same type of attitude, to TEACH at least one person a year a little of what you know, I promise you will teach more!!! You will generally learn something in the exchange, and you will probably gain something as well, and that would be a new friend! Some will be back, some won't and a few..., very few will make you proud!! No matter how big or small you get a newbie started, that start is generally just enough of a breeze to crank up the ragging inferno that gets an individual desire on fire, and that's when nothing can stop them! Having a tiny part in that is priceless, to me anyway...
Rex
BTW, If we all teach 1 person a year, in 2 or 3 years Boss won't be asking these type of questions, because when you educate one it will multiply! I always make them all promise to do the same thing for every person that they can! I don't try as hard as I used to, ive only got 1 kid that wants to learn...maybe, so he isn't very taxing on my torn body, but much more than that these days is a stretch..., just had my 3rd knee surgery, it has been the most painful, hardest to heal, of them all, along with all my other problems, it's not easy just getting me to the shop as I can!