if you make and sell knives how many knifemakers have some type of liability insurance or is it necessary. have made a few for relativies there is a benefit auction though i would donate a couple knives and was wondering if i need insurance.  thanks jackie

wondering  if i need insurance  thanks jackie

I doubt if Wal Mart has any liability insurance for selling kitchen knives and someone gets cut.
You're not going to get sued.
Everybody knows what a knife is, as well as what its function is.
It would never stand up in court.
It would be like suing Craftsman if you hit your thumb with one of their hammers.

There are people crazy enough to try it, but for now at least, I dont think they would be very successful. Lin

I don't carry any.  Can't see how someone would sue successfully.  I also don't work on anything when people visit the shop.  All tools are turned off and they are kept well away from the forge.

From an insurance perspective it would not be the success or failure of the suit you are insuring against but rather the "cost to defend"

Regardless of how rediculous the suit is they are always costs on your(defendent) end.  

Just making a point - I work in the insurace industry and get this question all the time.  I do not see much real exposure from the knives themselves(finished product liability) but, like Clay mentioned, be careful whom you let in and around your shop.  There are some real sue happy yahoo's out there.

Bob Urban

Insurance in the shop is one thing, but I uderstood, perhaps incorrectly, that the question pertained to whether or not one should be insured to sell his or her knives. Lin

If your shop is open to teh public, I'd buy a policy.

If it isn't....or its a hobby, then your homeowner's policy will protect you.

I'm in the insurance business, but I'd recommend not spending the money.

Talk it over with your homeowner's agent to be sure. they won't sell you something unnecessary unless they're a crooked agent...and if they're crooked, you ought not to be doing business with them anyway.

Now don't tell them about your doberman, rottweiller, or pit bull puppy when you call- you might get canceled.