This. I recently had a guy buy an estate billiard basket pipe and rusticate it to be like the Moon Rock Rustication I've been doing. It's reminiscent of my finish, but it's not my finish. I think this guy is also a little different because he asked and gave me credit, which is always nice.Sasquatch wrote:I don't think "trade secrets" has anything to do with this phenomenon. Unless a guy makes a pipe with my hands, using my tools in my shop, it ain't gonna be much like my pipe, really.
I understand the immediate reticence though. It comes down to a question of credit for original work. Unfortunately, there's no stopping people from copying. Just make sure your work, the original, is better than the knock offs.