What Is Needed To Make A Knife? Crafting a knife is always an adventure for me. I start out with a nondescript bar of steel, a block of wood, and maybe a few other bits and pieces, and then I end up with something that is beautiful, elegant, and useful. A lot has to happen. . . Read More
At a minimum, a knife has two parts: a blade that cuts, and a handle to hold. A handle is simple and straightforward, just something you can hold onto with some degree of security and comfort. Back in the Stone Age, the earliest cutting tools were just chipped stone, the blade and handle were only. . . Read More
Centuries before I was born, blacksmiths were regarded with reverence and wonder by the communities they served. In some cultures, like the Celts across Europe, and the Samurai of Japan, the work of the smith’s craft was perceived as near magic. Hardenable steel was literally the cutting edge of technology, and men who could take. . . Read More
If you’ve ever seen a knife made of handmade damascus steel, I don’t need to tell you how exciting the material is. There is something innate in us that almost automatically makes one wonder, “how did that pattern come to be?” I’ll let you in on a secret: even knowing precisely how, the material is. . . Read More
If you google the words “best chef’s knife”, you’ll see a selection of knives that look fairly similar to the untrained eye. The differences between one and the next will be subtle—a bit more curvature to the edge, a slightly narrower handle, maybe a different finish to the steel—but in most cases these subtle differences. . . Read More
The short answer? Anywhere from $100-$10,000 or more. A look through my work will help to give you some sense of my pricing. The price of any given knife is based primarily on the labor involved in producing it, and that can vary dramatically as the parameters of a project shift, often in ways that are. . . Read More
I take great pride in my work, and I build my knives to last for generations. If you manage to break one, it probably I haven’t done my job properly. Should this ever come to pass, please reach out to me here so that I can make arrangements to repair or replace your knife. It. . . Read More
Caring for your custom knife is simple: Wash & dry the blade after each use. Oil the blade periodically to protect it from ambient moisture/humidity (which can lead to rust). Mineral oil is my top recommendation. As the handle’s finish dulls, apply a new coat of polymerizing oil. Boiled linseed oil is a good choice,. . . Read More
The intricate patterns you see on many of my blades are the result of two contrasting alloys of steel being folded together in specific ways. This process is known as pattern welding, and the resulting material is called damascus steel. You can learn more about this unique material here.
High carbon steel is the original blade steel. In its most basic form, steel is a properly balanced alloy of iron and carbon. Other elements are often also present and may have a significant impact on the performance characteristics of the alloy, but the carbon is what enables the steel to harden, and that hardenability. . . Read More