Price check on Ax/hatchet cover

[Boriqua]

If its the wrong place to ask let me know. I just finished a very basic tomahawk cover so the gentleman could carry his big ol hatchet into the desert. Pattern time is always the big time eater but I dont charge people because I am stupid and slow and take to long coming to a pattern I think is secure and safe. Took about 4 hours of Fabrication time after design and pattern with dying and all. Its pretty basic but I know the guy and he is going to go out and beat it to death so strength over pretty for him.

Now I remember a boss who told me when I was a teen that he can only charge "X" for an electrical outlet even if it takes me 3 hours sooooo ... what is a fair price for something like this. I was thinking $45.00

 

[CaptQuirk]

Cost of materials x hours? Example, you have a foot of leather @ $7-$10 a ft, $2 for the hardware, so say $12, x 4 hours labor, for $48? Actual costs may vary, because you also have thread and dye, and incidental costs for sandpaper and other chemicals.

By the way, that came out nice. Good job!

Edited April 8, 2017 by CaptQuirk

[RockyAussie]

There is NOOO way I would touch doing that for under $100 au (about $70.00 US) and like you I would still be losing on the patterning time heaps.If I am as equally stupid and slow I think it would take me 2 hours plus to get that pattern as is. Regards Brian

[CaptQuirk]

Look at it this way, once you get the pattern figured out, there are other folks that would be interested in something like this. If it took you 3 days to get the pattern right (I realize you aren't that slow, but somebody else might be), how could you charge that to somebody? It isn't their fault you ate paint chips or sniffed the leather glue, or whatever reason it took you that long, right? They are paying for a finished product, and actual work involved. I like a challenge, even if it takes me a couple attempts to get it right. If I make a holster for somebody, and screw up the first attempt, that is on me, not them. I chalk it up to experience, and only charge for the finished product, not the screw up.

That may have come out a bit caustic, but I wasn't trying to insult anybody. Honest

[Boriqua]

Hey Rocky .. I am glad you threw in a time because you hit the nail on the head. It was about 2 hours of draw it .. cut it out of poster board. realize no way is that going to work and continuing like that with scissors and razor blades until I had it right. One of the big deals I hope sheath and holster makers are thinking about is you are making cases for pointy and or scary stuff. I dont have the same trepidation when I make a bag but when I make a holster or sheath I sweat it. I thought 2 hours might be the crazy man side but ....

CaptQuirk .. I didnt find it caustic at all. I alluded to the same in my original post. Its why I came to see what other guys sell a similar FINISHED product for. My shortcomings don't translate to higher cost. Having said that .. it is a one off which I think commands a slightly elevated price compared to a dude who has a pattern for the Excalibur super hatchet and is just producing them from a working pattern ... maybe? 

I don't think this particular hatchet is something I will find a big market for so its really about a client wanted something special and I provided it. But .. forgetting that .. what can you charge for a hatchet carrier thingy.

I get a fair amount of calls for one of a kind items but people dont usually understand the development cost associated with a one of a kind piece or why its more money than a similar item I offer. Anyway thank you for the replies. They are genuinely greatly appreciated. Keep em coming.

As a potentially useless reference .. I charged $65.00 for the two below but I have done a fair amount of knife sheaths and dont have to think so hard.

Edited April 9, 2017 by Boriqua

[CaptQuirk]

@Boriqua- If they are paying you to make a one off, so that they are the only one to have it, sure, jack the price! But, if there is no reason for it to be a one off, then why should they pay more? Crank out a few more, and shop them around. You already did the hard part, right? I know a few fellas that carry hawks and hatchets regularly. Of course, some of them are into historical reenactment, and would turn up their nose because it "Isn't period". But a lot of them are outdoorsmen.

[Boriqua]

So .... What would you charge for that piece?

There are so many hatchets it would be hard to come up with a single pattern but aside from all that... If you made the above... What would you charge?

[TacticallySharp]

If it's  a repeat item I charge a basic price starting at $75US for either a sheah or holster. All my hawks are one up customs. Anything  custom starts at $100. The first one is a basic. The second one was a custom to start with, but as also a Blasesmith that became repete due to numer of them I do for myself and two other knifemakers. I gave them the pattern for the knife.

 

Edited April 9, 2017 by TacticallySharp

[CaptQuirk]

I gave you my breakdown... without all the exact figures, about $48-$50. What hatchet did he have? I'm guessing it was a SOG... or whatever they are calling the military styled knockoffs? That is a fairly popular hatchet with wanna be badasses and hunters. Knock out another one, and post it on some outdoor sites. One I frequent is Georgia Outdoor News- www.forum.gon.com . They have a forum section for folks like us to hawk our wares. One of the mods has an avatar of his 2 favorite hawks in his belt, but he is one of those historical types.

[Boriqua]

Opps sorry about that. So my thinking at 45 bucks is about right. Its a benchmade 173 tacticak but its about 18" long with a heavy prybar nail puller thing on the end. Heavy as hell! I prefer lighter faster sharper hawks but to each thier own. Life is to short to judge.