Marko Tsourkan
Founding Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2011
- Messages
- 5,005
- Reaction score
- 34
I decided to resume making a few custom handles each month in addition to other work I do. For now I will offer sayas in sets with handles only.
I will however, raise the cost of the service, as I no longer am a hobbyist and I carry overhead - I rent a shop space, I have equipment to maintain (and need to buy some more), and most importantly, I am shifting my time from other employments, so passion alone would not suffice, unfortunately. A lot of my work I do by hand, and I don't time myself - the end result is what matters, but it comes at a high time-cost to me.
I will offer three types of handles - octagonal, D-style and oval (like D-style with tapers on both sides of a ferrule, but without a ridge). I plan on stocking premium ironwood, stabilized premium koa, top grade cocobolo, premium grade curly maple, ebonies and some other woods. I will accept wood provided by a customer, as long as it is stabilized by a reputable source. Style of my handles will stay unchanged - as close to a classic look as possible, but I will be open to doing styles upon request, though I might have to price them differently, depending on level of complexity.
On my part, I will do my best work - custom handles with an excellent symmetry, excellent fit and finish, mortise-and-tenon construction, spacer/s, horn ferrule/end cap, clean installation, well fitted and constructed sayas, with a nice applied surface finish. Also, I will only take a few orders at a time, so a turn-around will be quick - I budgeted time for 2-3 handles per week.
Cost of the Service:
Premium Grade Handles
Arizona Desert Ironwood
Koa
$210
Top Grade Handles
Cocobolo
Ebony
Curly Maple (stabilized)
$185
Handles in Wood Provided by Customer
$175
Sayas - Price per inch of blade
Select Grade Poplar $10/inch
Highly Figured Maple/Walnut $14/inch
Top Grade Ebony $30/inch
Premium Arizona Desert Ironwood $40/inch
All sayas will come with custom-made pins (wood or horn)
Price includes return shipping, materials (wood, horn, spacers), installation and labor. During the process, I will be in touch, providing pictures so you know exactly what you are getting.
I am not including high-cost materials in the current pricing - cow horn, mokume, etc. These will be upgrades.
I will offer custom work coupons through my site shortly. I will list only few at a time, and will list new after old are completed.
I am sorry if I am pricing some of you out, but this is the only way I can offer work to public.
Thanks for your time.
Marko
I will however, raise the cost of the service, as I no longer am a hobbyist and I carry overhead - I rent a shop space, I have equipment to maintain (and need to buy some more), and most importantly, I am shifting my time from other employments, so passion alone would not suffice, unfortunately. A lot of my work I do by hand, and I don't time myself - the end result is what matters, but it comes at a high time-cost to me.
I will offer three types of handles - octagonal, D-style and oval (like D-style with tapers on both sides of a ferrule, but without a ridge). I plan on stocking premium ironwood, stabilized premium koa, top grade cocobolo, premium grade curly maple, ebonies and some other woods. I will accept wood provided by a customer, as long as it is stabilized by a reputable source. Style of my handles will stay unchanged - as close to a classic look as possible, but I will be open to doing styles upon request, though I might have to price them differently, depending on level of complexity.
On my part, I will do my best work - custom handles with an excellent symmetry, excellent fit and finish, mortise-and-tenon construction, spacer/s, horn ferrule/end cap, clean installation, well fitted and constructed sayas, with a nice applied surface finish. Also, I will only take a few orders at a time, so a turn-around will be quick - I budgeted time for 2-3 handles per week.
Cost of the Service:
Premium Grade Handles
Arizona Desert Ironwood
Koa
$210
Top Grade Handles
Cocobolo
Ebony
Curly Maple (stabilized)
$185
Handles in Wood Provided by Customer
$175
Sayas - Price per inch of blade
Select Grade Poplar $10/inch
Highly Figured Maple/Walnut $14/inch
Top Grade Ebony $30/inch
Premium Arizona Desert Ironwood $40/inch
All sayas will come with custom-made pins (wood or horn)
Price includes return shipping, materials (wood, horn, spacers), installation and labor. During the process, I will be in touch, providing pictures so you know exactly what you are getting.
I am not including high-cost materials in the current pricing - cow horn, mokume, etc. These will be upgrades.
I will offer custom work coupons through my site shortly. I will list only few at a time, and will list new after old are completed.
I am sorry if I am pricing some of you out, but this is the only way I can offer work to public.
Thanks for your time.
Marko