Patch Lot

Hoback, Jake

Jake Hoback had a variety of jobs and experiences before turning to full-time knife making and becoming a prominent figure in the industry. He studied and worked as a fish and wildlife scientific technician, was a machinist at a turbine engine company, and fabricated rock-crawling 4x4s. Jake started creating knives in 1990 in his back yard, pounding them out on a huge chunk of steel with a framing hammer and fence post nails. By 2003, Jake had sold his very first knife, and in 2009 started making knives full-time from his workshop in Northern Idaho. Jake has learned many techniques and skills from other knife makers throughout the years, but his initial work was completely self-taught. Jake’s knives are known for many innovative features, including the Hoback Roller Detent (HRD), internal lightening pockets, hardened stainless lock inserts, hardened bearing races, and smooth blade movement with no blade play. Jakes specializes in folding and fixed blade knives; but he especially enjoys the thought, design, and engineering that goes into folders.

Nell, Chad

Chad was fortunate to gain his custom hand made knives knowledge and skill under legendary knife makers Steve Johnson and John Young. He watched and learned, with great admiration as those two masters created works of art. He has been a full time maker since 2011.

Bawidamann Blades

"Bawidamann Blades is a 100% American owned and operated company. We construct our knives out of the most advanced and highest quality materials available. Whether you are an actively deployed Soldier, Law Enforcement Officer, Trainer/Instructor, or simply looking for a comfortable every day carry knife…Bawidamann Blades strives to meet and exceed your operational needs. We pride ourselves on our unique design vision that flows from tip to pommel."

Heretic Knives

"All of our knives are made in the USA and we will keep it that way. When you purchase one of our knives you can have confidence in your tool knowing that it is backed by an American company. Our knives are made in small production runs to ensure you receive a quality knife that has been given the attention other mass produced knives don't receive. In 2015 my wife Jessica and I founded Heretic Knives. As a second generation knife maker, applying the knowledge that has been passed to me, I want to bring designs and certain elements to the craft that haven't been tried before. In closing, I look forward to passing the same knowledge, plus what I've picked up on my own, down to the next generation."

Challenor, Clyde

DSK Tactical

Dan Sullivan, of DSK Tactical, was born and raised in Arizona. After 9/11, Dan joined the Marine Corps, a lifelong goal and desire. After graduation from boot camp, Dan went through the School of Infantry and became a 0311, rifleman. During his time in the Marine Corps he deployed to Iraq and many other countries. With his service complete he left the Marine Corps to pursue other desires directly related to his service. He began to learn the trade of Blacksmithing, as knives and weaponry have always captured and intrigued him. Knife making is not just a business for Dan, he treats it as a pursuit to honor those he has served with, and those who have given their lives in service. At times Dan has described this work as therapeutic. His long term goals with his craft are to equip knife enthusiasts with custom knives that are functional, tactical and distinctive, and as tough as the individuals who carry them.

Curtiss Knives

"Curtiss Custom Knives is a veteran owned small business. When I decided to create this business, I had one standard in mind. To make the best knives and give the best customer service possible. I am the only one in our shop. No magic mini shop monkeys or anything. I start with a thought and turn it into a CAD drawing. If I like what I see, I create run files and cut my parts on our waterjet machine. Yes we have a waterjet in our shop. After the materials are cut into the basic shapes, I use our CNC machining center for the secondary processes such as milling, drilling, pockets and tapping. I do my blade grinds by hand on 2″x 72″ belt grinders that I designed and built. Other shop equipment includes heat treat oven, blast cabinet, vibe machine and misc. other machines. Anything else is done by hand by me. I do all of my sharpening on a belt machine I built. All knives receive a 20 degree polished edge. I do currently outsource for some hardware but we hope to make that ourselves soon. So I do not put my knives in a “mid-tech” or “production” classification. I call my knives “CUSTOM”. We own and operate all machinery in house."

Keanison Knives

Keanison knives are hand made custom knives from the heart of Texas.

Terzuola, Bob

Bob Terzuola was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended New York University. Upon graduation in 1967 he went to Panama as a Peace Corps trainer and later became a jade carver and gemologist in the Motagua River Valley, Guatemala. In 1979, Terzuola began making knives and joined the Knifemakers' Guild in 1981 on an endorsement from Bob Loveless. Terzuola's first knives were fixed blade designs made for soldiers in Guatemala. Later that year moved to New Mexico and began making folding knives. Seeing a need for a knife that could be carried discreetly, he developed a model featuring black micarta for the scales and bead-blasted titanium bolsters. Innovations in desgin for which he coined the term "Tactical Knife". Bob attends many of the largest and well known custom knife shows across the world. Bob Terzuola Knives are known for their trademark design and high quality workmanship. Terzuola's most popular model is the ATCF, a folding knife design. This was his first tactical folding knife, although he also makes it with non-tactical materials. Other knife models that Bob Terzuola is popular for are the 3A, TT-1, Model 7, Eagle Rock 514, TTF3A, Model 26, Starmate, TTF3B, Pathfinder, Century Starfighter, Starmate, Battle Guard, TTF6, Model 18 Combat Master, WEE T, and Battle Mate, just to name a few. Bob Terzuola also designed a very popular knife for Spyderco, the SLIPIT. The SPLIT is made of the finest non-locking tactical folders on the market. Bob Terzuola has authored a book about the design of tactical knives named, 'The Tactical Folding Knife.' When you hear people say that Bob Terzuola literally wrote the book on tactical folding knives, he really did! Many custom tactical knifemakers have his book in their shop, and highly value his opinions and designs. Bob Terzuola has also authored articles about tactical knives and knifemaking for Blade, Soldier of Fortune and other publications.

Skike Knives

My name is Pieter VanSchaick and I am a full blown self-taught steel addict. Nothing quite feeds my addiction like grinding a chunk of super steel or titanium on a 3 Horse Power, knuckle ripping, ceramic belt grinder. It's the smell of burnt steel - that constant and lingering aroma that never seems to leave my shop. It's white hot titanium raining down on my hands - occasionally igniting into a 6000 degree flash burn. But I know if I just hold steady for a few seconds longer, I will achieve perfection I've ground knives all the way down to final edge just to have them ripped from my hands and consumed by my grinder's insatiable non-bias appetite. I know I've put in a good day's work when I am covered in steel shavings and my hands ache with productivity. The stereo type of being left handed and creative is very true - custom runs deep in my blood and shows with every blade I make. I like to think that grinding my blades by hand breathes fire and soul into the steel. It's almost like there is a magnetic primal attraction when handling a custom knife - it's truly a page in the maker's life and a tribute to all things hand made. Knives and knife-like tools go back 2.5 million years. Due to its role as humankind's first tool, certain cultures have attached spiritual and religious significance to the knife. A lot of my designs are inspired from sharks. They are the most evolved apex predators on the earth, and you can see shark-like styling cues throughout most of my builds. I only build my knives with the absolute best technologically advanced materials on the planet, period. My approach to design is a no-bullshit kind of attitude. I build every knife with the intent that someone's life will depend on it. My goal as a knife maker is to provide the highest caliber knives using the best of my abilities at all times, and to create legendary bad-ass blades.

Kelly, Steven

S.K. Knives is located in Bigfork, Montana. "I built my first knife in 2000. I was determined to create my own hunting knife. Even before it was finished, I had realized that I had been bitten by the knife making bug. Soon after that fist knife was finished, I began building the knife I carried while performing my duties, as a Deputy Sheriff. Before long I was building knives for friends, relatives and co-workers. In 2001 I was introduced to the forge. I have been forging blades ever since. In late 2002 I began building my own Damascus. I did it the old fashioned way, using a variety of hammers and a 125 lb anvil. I learned many valuable lessons by building my Damascus this way, but was relatively limited in my pattern capabilities. In April of 2005 I completed my 50 ton hydraulic forging press and am now making an array of mosaic Damascus patterns. In June of 2008 I successfully passed my American Bladesmith Society, Journeyman Smith test. This accomplishment completed the next step in my continuing quest of making myself the best knife maker I can be. In 2009 I decided to fall back on my roots from 15 years of Law Enforcement experience. I began building more tactical style knives with a strong focus on folders. And an emphasis on what I would carry if I was still working the streets. Most of my tactical knives and folders are built with CPM-154 stainless blades, Titanium and composite handle materials. I fully believe in and use the designs I produce. My knives are used in and subjected to one of the toughest environments in the Country, the Montana outdoors. Montana has some of the most severe weather challenges and the best sporting challenges anywhere. My knives have stood up to the challenges time and again. I also perform regular testing on the knives I build. Because of this philosophy, I limit myself to using a select few steels, that I have tested, time and again. Most of my straight steel working knives are built from 52100 or 1084 tool steel. I also use other steels such as CPM-154 when the need and function of the knife require a stainless steel blade. I build the majority of my straight laminate Damascus patterns from 1084 or 1080 and 15n20 with the occasional addition of that something special for added effect. I also build a variety of canned Damascus patterns which incorporate several different steels and shapes. This process provides some of the most unique and diverse patterns imaginable. I am very proud of the fact that I can claim sole proprietorship of my work. I do all of the work that goes into my knives. I perform all of my own heat treating, with differential edge quench being my choice for the majority of my knives. I am convinced that this provides the best combination of edge holding ability and toughness in most applications."

Merriken Knives

My passion is in custom folding knives. I stumbled upon custom knife maker videos on you tube and instantly fell in love with the idea of making my own frame lock folder. In 2015 I bought a few pieces of machinery to make it happen. I have not stopped since. I like to keep it as original as possible and evolving with the times and materials. My workshop is always growing and evolving for the better. Most of my designs start out in CAD. I spend a great deal of time doing one off creations from scratch. I have also utilize water jet to profile many of my designs. I do not consider water jet profiling to take away from the true custom experience. I still spend hundreds of hours on CAD perfecting my designs. I like to use quality high end stainless steel and Damascus. I use many handle materials; Titanium, Zirconium, Timascus, Carbon Fiber, Mokume, Wood, and the list goes on and on! I am a full time Firefighter for Seminole Fire Rescue in the Tampa Bay Area. Knife making is my part time obsession. My other hobbies include Diving, Fishing, and Off-Roading when I am not making knives. I have a beautiful family with two children.

Weeks Knives, Ryan

I have always been passionate about knives… As a young boy my fascination grew from playing Cowboys and Indians with the neighborhood knuckleheads. Sticks found their way under my belt taking the form of a stag handled Bowie. With my trusty 6 Shooter (cap gun) strapped to my right hip I terrorized the surrounding back yards. Hiding behind anything that would provide adequate cover, waiting to ambush an unsuspecting adult or pet that happened to be in the area. As an adult, knives became something that I used on a daily basis. I gained an appreciation for the skill and art found in many custom knives. Dad was right, that Gerber started what later became a very expensive habit of buying custom knives! I started collecting high end custom knives from many famous makers. Over the last few years of making knives I have become friends with some of those amazing makers. They have played a huge role in the type of knives I like and make on a daily basis.