Maker Etiquette

[electrathon]

Bruce,

Your work is a perfect example of what I was trying to say. Your work is stunning, your mark is subtle. You have signed your art like an artist, as oposed to adding a logo to mass produced luggage.

Aaron

[Tina]

My view/2 cents in general is that:

If you're a brand (Ford, LV, etc), then the makers mark can be "in your face". This feels more like a type product line item with small changes from one item to the next.

If you concider yourself to be an artist, then the mark should be more suttle, you don't want to destroy your artwork right?...Picasso did not incorporate his signature into his artwork, it's just a suttle signature in the corner

[TwinOaks]

I think it would really depend on the individual piece. I wouldn't change up a carving or stamping pattern just to incorperate a maker's mark. When that is the case, I'll put the mark on the back.. On some things the isn't a place for it, or you'd have to add a piece of vegtan where it shouldn't be just to place a stamp there...like on things that don't use veg tan for the product. For example, i recently made a small 'doctor's bag' to the doc's specifications. There really wasn't anywhere to put my mark so I incorporated into a zipper pull. He never mentioned the use, or not, of the stamp; but I felt that the design would have been lessened by making it a billboard for my stamp...so I made it ancillary to the design.

On holsters and sheaths, I usually place the stamp centered on the back of the piece, or in a corner if there's a pattern. On belts, it's between the screws / snaps for the keeper.

If You're trying to get you 'brand' recognized, keep in mind that stamps can be copied pretty easily...craftsmanship, not so much. Though i do admit that i wouldn't mind having popular enough items that someone felt the need to counterfeit them.

[immiketoo]

This is an interesting discussion. I feel like the maker's mark adds to the finished, professional look of a piece. I actually agree with both Electrathon's side and Beaverslayer's side on this one. Garish detracts, subtle adds. However, on my tooled purse I made for my mom I left it unmarked. She told me this was unacceptable! In fact, she begged, pleaded and literally whined in joking way to get me to put my mark on it. So mom get what's she wants and my mark is on the strap of her purse. So is this garish? Does it detract from the the overall product? You tell me...

[electrathon]

This is an interesting discussion. I feel like the maker's mark adds to the finished, professional look of a piece. I actually agree with both Electrathon's side and Beaverslayer's side on this one. Garish detracts, subtle adds. However, on my tooled purse I made for my mom I left it unmarked. She told me this was unacceptable! In fact, she begged, pleaded and literally whined in joking way to get me to put my mark on it. So mom get what's she wants and my mark is on the strap of her purse. So is this garish? Does it detract from the the overall product? You tell me...

My opinion is that you are standing on a line here. If the mark in the above image was on a belt I personally would never wear it. You made it for your Mom, she wanted it to be in your face, my Son made this for me. If I was going to mark it I would have moved the mark to the area near the buckle so that it was covered normally but would be spotted when a close look was taken.

Aaron

[billymac814]

I have several stamps and each one I get usually gets smaller and smaller. All I use now is a small one that says "McCabe" in a italic script to resemble a signature but legible. That is all I need and I usually place it somewhere you'd expect to see a signature or somewhere tactful.

I recently got an email from a guy who purchased a used gun and it came with one of my holsters that had that small simple stamp on it, he was very impressed with the quality and googled "McCabe holsters" and it quickly brought up my site and contact info and he was able to send me the email. That stamp did exactly what it was supposed to and it didn't matter where it was at so it would have been pointless if it were "in your face" so to speak. It didn't have to say "maker" or "McCabes custom Leather" or Altoona Pa or any type of Logo or picture or anything else (yes I have those stamps too). When I first started I wanted them to be large and have all that on them and be right out in the open, now I I just do the best job I can on the item and let the quality show because that's the real makers mark but people need to be able to track me down if need be, for this reason I don't think initials really do any good although that's exactly what I used in the beginning.

Also none of what I said is saying there's anything wrong with putting a stamp front and center or wherever, we can all do what we want,I'm simply sharing what works for me, your results may differ.

On belts I put my stamp on the back side between the Chicago screws along with the date that way if they ever come back for any reason I know exactly how old it is, this mainly only applies to the single layer ones I sell in my store, I don't date the double layer gun belts I sell online since I have a better tracking method for those and make them to order.

[Craftt]

thanks for all the respones. i just did a guitar strap and did put it where the adjustment strap covered it. i do like the way it was incorporated into the pattern on the back.

thanks all

[J Allen]

I will not sell a "sterile" piece. Even if the customer asks. If they want something that is not marked then they can find someone else to make it. I believe that the product is MINE until it is theirs. As I do not do many custom orders and make and sell stuff I want to make, it will be made with my mark. On custom orders, my price is much higher and I still mark it. I choose to place my mark predominantly yet not to distract.

As for the Ford Debate... I agree that Ford has a name and brand. That name and brand was developed by selling a product that was identifiable and marked.

Coach and the others... same same... they built the brand. In many cases it is the name that sells. How did buyers know the brand? Duh.. they were marked.

This argument either way should be not if you should mark or where the mark should be but do I do the best job possible on every piece, stitch or carving and does it deserve to be identified with my mark. If so, then yes you should SELL the item. I got a ton of stuff in the trash with my mark on it.

[billymac814]

I would agree with that although if I was being asked to leave my mark off an item on any type of regular basis I would take a long look at why, is it too big, in the wrong spot, not attractive etc.. Or is it possible they are trying to re-brand it.

I wouldn't sell anything without my stamp but that has never been an issue, I've only had one person ask me if I could leave it off and his reason was because he thought it would leave an imprint in his skin(it was an IWB holster). I assured him that would not happen and told him I would make sure it wasn't on a part that would come in contact with his skin and he was fine with that. I will admit that the stamp I was using at the time was much bigger than the one I use now and right around this time is when I had a smaller one made.

This brings up the fact that if you're making a lot of different sized items you really need several stamps so you can use one that's appropriate to the piece. I would also like to get one of the branding types for some items that can't be stamped.

[JJs Leatherworks]

I also agree with Billymac. I have personalized virtually all of my work for years, but only in the last couple years purchased actual makers stamps. With all the thoughts and considerations mentioned in this discussion, I had three different sizes of stamps made as well as a very small one with just my initials. I try to place as discreetly as possible, but always make a point of marking. It's my work, I try to do my best, and I am proud of my projects!