Cunningham Knives, Gary

My name is Gary Cunningham and I am a self-taught knife maker. I started making knives around 1985. At that time I worked full-time as a machine operator in a factory. I worked there for 28 years, mainly operating lathes and metal forming machines. I made knives part-time for enjoyment and to supplement my income. In 2016 the factory closed, leaving me with career decisions to make. I decided to put my knives first and began working on knives full-time. My knives are completely handmade. I use no pre-cut blades or factory-made parts. I design my own blades, using primarily 154cm. AEB-L ,440c,stainless which has a higher carbon content,W2, as well as 01 and D2 carbon steel, and hand forged Damascus. I perform heat treating of my blades in a digital controlled furnace. I take great pride in designing my blades, utilizing a background of working with various metals in manufacturing, as well as knowing what a "good" blade feels like while working as a meat cutter. I feel these career choices contributed to my ability to create useful, as well as beautiful knives.