You are a successful business owner, and you want to give your employees a special gift. You chose Engraved Kershaw Knives with your corporate logo. Here are 3 things to watch out for when you order…………..
Is laser engraving included in the price? Some online knife companies charge you extra, over $6 per knife for that service. Reputable knife engraving companies always quote you the price that includes free laser marking. Some companies do electro etching instead of laser engraving. Electro etching is a good way to apply your logo, but is considered semi-permanent. Why settle for anything less than professional permanent laser imprinting.
Kershaw Chive 1600
Is online ordering easy to do on their website? Do they give you an option to call in your order instead of typing it into the shopping cart? You may prefer to do it one way or another. Some people like to talk to a human being. Some enjoy reacting with their computer, and like to automate their ordering. Easy online ordering is characterized by a neat-looking, attractive, and well-organized website. It is a website that makes it easy to find your product, and to add it to a shopping cart and check out. Most people don’t want to “register” and “enter a password”, and have someone else’s computer “store” their credit card number for future use.
Kershaw 1620 Scallion-Blue
Do they offer “personalized service”? Can you talk to the same person each time you call in, or do you get a different person each time? You would probably like the same friendly person handle all your questions each time you call or email.
The history of Kershaw goes back
1660CKT Kershaw Leek open
to 1907. Then in 1974, they opened for business in Lake Oswego, Oregon and started their no-hassle, lifetime guarantee. Today their product line includes the finest USA-Made and imported knives in the industry. That’s why Kershaw knives is a household name. Every Man Wants a Kershaw.
When was the first time that someone used pocket knives to deliver an advertising message? When was the first Logo actually put on a knife, a logo not belonging to the knife’s manufacturer? What is an old advertising knife worth today? All these questions are answered in a unique book, ADVERTISING CUTLERY, by Richard D. White, c. 1999. It’s published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd, Atglen, PA.
It’s an amazing book to me, but I’m partial to company logo knives. I sell them for a living. I’m glad Mr. White decided to assemble this valuable information and present it in a fun, easy to read way. You can tell he loves knives, and has been collecting them for a long time. The book divides the collectible knives into categories:
Advertising on knives began about 100 years ago. That was long before laser engraving. According to Mr. White’s pictures (and the book is loaded with color pictures), the early logo knives were imprinted with the die-struck method. That’s when a heavy stamping machine forces the imprint from the die into the metal handle. This imprinting technique is still used today on name plates and key tags. I haven’t seen it used currently on knife handles.
Die-Cast Imprint
Die cast was another early way to advertise on a knife handle. This provides a 3 dimentional look that is very impressive.
Then hot stamping and screen printing were used. Hot stamping uses a heated die, which pushes the color of a foil ribbon into the plastic handle of the knife. The heat makes a slight indent into the partly melted substrate. This method is still used today, but not so much on knife handles.
Screen Printed Handle
Screen printing is familiar to most people. That’s when the ink, or paint, is pushed through the porous areas of a screen onto the knife handle. This is still very much used today on knives.
Today we use laser engraving, machine engraving (like a jeweler’s), electro etching, screen printing, pad printing, and laser engraving followed by a color fill.
If I had a quarter for every time someone has emailed me that question, I’d be rich by now. Mr. White’s book has these guidelines for determining the answer to your question.
THE 5 FACTORS WHICH AFFECT THE OVERALL VALUE OF ANY COLLECTIBLE CUTLERY ARE:
Condition
Brand Name
Style
Handle Material
Age
The advertiser is also a factor. If it was a company that used to make asbestos, or any other obsolete product or service, that knife has more appeal to a collector. Barlow style knives have their own special appeal.
Old Imprinted Logo Knives
Do you have an old advertising knife? Tell us about it, and email a picture. I’d be happy to see it. So would everyone else. Thanks.
There are 3 main misconceptions when it comes to ordering Buck Knives for your corporate gifts.
1. Permanence. The way that reputable companies imprint your logo on the blade is done by LASER ENGRAVING. This is a permanent imprint, because it is engraved deep enough into the stainless steel blade. It won’t wear off. It won’t scratch off. It won’t fade. Engraved Buck Knives sold by Logo-knives.com are imprinted by this method. Some inexpensive knife companies use the cheaper acid etching method, which is not considered permanent.
2. Pricing. Free engraving. The quoted price includes laser engraving in one location. There is no added charge for imprinting your company logo on the knife.
3. Perfection. One of the goals of the Buck Knives company, since 1902, is perfection. The greatest care is put into the design and manufacturing of each knife. Likewise, the laser engravers strive for perfection in engraving your logo on each knife.
Let’s say that your boss wants you to be in charge of ordering Christmas presents for all the employees, or all the customers. This could be a huge task. Fortunately he has narrowed down the gift idea to custom engraved knives. Great. Now you have to go online and find the perfect pocket knife or hunting knife that will get the job done. If he hasn’t given you a list of criteria, I’ll help you make that list. Here are the points that he should want you to look for. If you and he can narrow down your wish list, then you will be able to find the perfect Personalized pocket knives:
Price. Which knife will fit into your budget? This is a good place to start your list. Knives sell for a range of $5 to $200 each. So you can narrow down your search using this parameter.
Tech Colors by Case
USA-Made. Is the country of origin important in your decision? This is something to keep in mind when you are looking for the perfect gift knife.
Size. Would an 8 inch hunting knife become a cherished gift? Or would a small “Every Day Carry” (EDC) pocket knife be the answer.
Brand. Some brands have universal recognition, like Buck, Case, Gerber, Leatherman, and Kershaw. How important is the brand name in your giving campaign?
Color. Knife handle come in different colors of bone and synthetic. Also stainless steel and wood. Does your corporate logo require a certain color combination? Would Laser Engraving your logo into the blade work for your purpose?
Method of Imprinting. Laser engraving is the most permanent, and most popular. It can be done on metal and wood. If you need a color imprint, Case offers the imprint colors shown above.
Production Time. How soon does your boss need the knives? Production times vary from 24 hours to 5 weeks, depending on the brand and current availability.
If you can help your boss with the answers to these 7 things, you will make him happy. And one step closer to a Promotion (I hope). At least the two of you will be able to promote your corporate name to a group of key people.
Countless business owners have attested to the fact that promotional products have increased their business. That’s why business owners repeat their promotions on a regular basis. One group of products that is reserved for high quality customers is Pocket Knives. Pocket knives have long been considered a quality gift. They are usually hand made, made of steel, a valuable material, and are a useful tool. Other features are: mechanically intricate, rust resistant, valuable handle material, and long-lasting.
The creme-de-la-creme for pocket knives is the fact that they can be imprinted with your company logo. This assures the longevity of your logo on a useful product with usually a lifetime limited warranty. Personalized pocket knives can be imprinted in many attractive ways. Laser engraving, acid etching, machine engraving, screen printing, pad printing, and laser engraving with color fill are the common ways to apply your logo or message to gift knives. Each of these methods has its own reasons for being better suited to your logo. If color is not needed, laser engraving is the most permanent way of imprinting your personalized knives. Machine engraving is good for printing plain text using the fonts available at the printer. Acid etching is a quick, less expensive way for engraving, but is considered semi-permanent. If color is important to your logo, then screen printing, pad printing, and color fill are your only options at this time. Case is the only company that can do all of these types of imprinting. However, these methods can only be done on certain materials. If color is critical for you, we can submit your logo to the art department for an expert opinion. The intricacy of your logo sometimes might be too fine, and might need to be modified. Most logos can be used as they are. You always receive a proof before your knives go into production.
Sample of Case color printing
Buck knives, America’s favorite knives, are laser engraved with your imprint. So are Gerber, Kershaw, Boker, Barlow, Bear & Son, Dakota, Kershaw, Leatherman, SOG, and Starline knives. Kutmaster uses laser engraving and acid etching on their knives. Swiss Army knives are pad printed. By far, most promotional pocket knives are laser engraved with you corporate logo.
