Attend the CNC class at Trinidad State college this summer.

https://trinidadstate.edu/gunsmithing/nra_summer.html

Don't take classes for a degree, take classes for the experience and education you need.  Some prerequisites might be needed, but certainly not elective courses that aren't applicable.

My opinion about knives -

There are two categories, serviceable utility knives and collectible knives with various cosmetic and decorative additions.  

Utility knives have to be priced similar to the upper end of mass production, and without a reputation, they'll be difficult to sell.  Plus, everyone believes they can make a knife, and they're correct after the first or second attempt.

Collectibles can be priced according to the artistic features, which must be exceptional.

Chef's knives are somewhere in the middle, and that's where many makers concentrate because they developed a local market with references from early buyers.

I also believe that there are too many bad knife shapes for sale.

Those knives had better be sold with high quality sheaths, too, unless they are chef's knives.

I've got to agree it is a saturated market, so ease in slowly with minimal non-recoverable investment. If you can take off, great. Expand operations. If not, you tried, no shame, and move on to the next.

Yes, but you have to ask yourself the "why" is that question.

Price is probably the answer. Most people would rather spend $20 on a cheap knives a couple times a year than $100 on a knife that lasts 5 or even 10 years, or even a lifetime if not lost or used as a pry bar.


IMHO, and I'm just me talking, people for the most part don't care about quality, they care about price, and more specifically the here and now price. I would say once you are asking $50+ for a knife, you are selling to a much smaller audience.

Not to discourage you at all, just be aware that what is a great idea may not be mass marketable, even to the group that *should* be all for it. Basically, you have to be wise in how you utilize your marketing budget, and have firm, actual (not theoretical) knowledge of the group that likes your product enough to spend their monies on it, and cater to them.

I invented a training trigger for ARs (still hold the patent) but sales were not strong enough to justify keeping it going at the time. I want to get it going again one day before the next patent fees are due, but I've been busy with other aspects of business. I still think it is a good idea, I've figured out how to improve it even, but what my marketing budget at the time would allow did not bring in enough sales to justify the time spent on the project. That project is actually what got me into 3D printing .

There are also riches in niches, which is my go-to for my mainline business, so if you do have something unique, build it right, market it right, and customer service it right, it can take off beyond your wildest (well, maybe not wildest) dreams.