Tom Krein
Newly Enlightened
......I THINK! HOLY CRAP this is a cool forum. I can already tell I am going to need some new lighting!! :devil: Thanks Sasha and Candlepower for setting up this forum to show case custom knives/makers.
Spencer asked me to sign up and introduce myself and my work. Here goes...
I started making knives in 1994 and shortly got a chance to go to work for knifemaking legend Bob Dozier. I ended up working for Bob for about 3 1/2 years. It was like going to knifemaking school. Bob is a GREAT guy and one seriously talented knifemaker! I owe Bob a HUGE debt of gratitude! After my first son was born I needed to make a bit more money and have benifits so I ended up going back to work in the ER (I am a Registered Nurse).
After a year of working in the ER full time and part time on my knives in my little bitty shop. A.G. Russell contacted me and asked me to start up their custom shop. I worked under A.G. and Goldie for a little over 2 1/2 years. I had a good time and made some neat stuff under the A.G. Russell ShopMade logo.
I have been working full time as a knifemaker for the last 6 years. I have been working full time as a nurse for all but the last 4 months of that. I recently was able to cut back on my nursing hours and only work 12 hours in the ER every 2 weeks... thats ENOUGH!!
Sooo.... what types of knives do I make?? For now I only make fixed blades. I have a few folder designs on the books, but really don't have enough time for my fixed blades. I really enjoy the strength and simplicity of fixed blades. My moto is Form follows Function in my work.
I make knives made to work and cut. They are thin, this makes them slice better and also makes sharpening relatively easy for the high wear resistant and hard steels that I use.
I work mostly in D-2 and A-2, this is good stuff!! I also use a good selection of the CPM steels like CPM M4, CPM 3V, CPM 154, and CPM S30V.
I make knives using the stock removal method. Most of the steels I use are extremely red hard and don't benefit from forging.
Here are some pics of my work....
TK-4 Drop Point in Crimson Bone.
French Chef Knife with a 5" blade in green canvas micarta with red liners.
Here is a group of Micro Chefs with all different handles....
TK-11 Tanto in green jigged bone, mosaic pin, and red liners.
This is the Beast in amber canvas micarta with black liners.
Ultimate Caper with brown canvas micarta with black liners.
TK-8 Defender with textured black/blue G-10.
TK-7 Airman in green canvas micarta.
Ultimate Boar Knife in textured black/blue G-10.
I also do a bunch of regrind work on factory knives. Its amazing the transformation that happens to a HEAVY DUTY FOLDER when the edge is thinned down. The turn into great little cutters!
I do a bit of kydex sheath work also...
Here is a new venture that Dan Koster and myself just started. We started a new production company called K9 Knives. We just finished up this prototype and have started on the first run.
Thanks!
Tom
Spencer asked me to sign up and introduce myself and my work. Here goes...
I started making knives in 1994 and shortly got a chance to go to work for knifemaking legend Bob Dozier. I ended up working for Bob for about 3 1/2 years. It was like going to knifemaking school. Bob is a GREAT guy and one seriously talented knifemaker! I owe Bob a HUGE debt of gratitude! After my first son was born I needed to make a bit more money and have benifits so I ended up going back to work in the ER (I am a Registered Nurse).
After a year of working in the ER full time and part time on my knives in my little bitty shop. A.G. Russell contacted me and asked me to start up their custom shop. I worked under A.G. and Goldie for a little over 2 1/2 years. I had a good time and made some neat stuff under the A.G. Russell ShopMade logo.
I have been working full time as a knifemaker for the last 6 years. I have been working full time as a nurse for all but the last 4 months of that. I recently was able to cut back on my nursing hours and only work 12 hours in the ER every 2 weeks... thats ENOUGH!!
Sooo.... what types of knives do I make?? For now I only make fixed blades. I have a few folder designs on the books, but really don't have enough time for my fixed blades. I really enjoy the strength and simplicity of fixed blades. My moto is Form follows Function in my work.
I make knives made to work and cut. They are thin, this makes them slice better and also makes sharpening relatively easy for the high wear resistant and hard steels that I use.
I work mostly in D-2 and A-2, this is good stuff!! I also use a good selection of the CPM steels like CPM M4, CPM 3V, CPM 154, and CPM S30V.
I make knives using the stock removal method. Most of the steels I use are extremely red hard and don't benefit from forging.
Here are some pics of my work....
TK-4 Drop Point in Crimson Bone.
French Chef Knife with a 5" blade in green canvas micarta with red liners.
Here is a group of Micro Chefs with all different handles....
TK-11 Tanto in green jigged bone, mosaic pin, and red liners.
This is the Beast in amber canvas micarta with black liners.
Ultimate Caper with brown canvas micarta with black liners.
TK-8 Defender with textured black/blue G-10.
TK-7 Airman in green canvas micarta.
Ultimate Boar Knife in textured black/blue G-10.
I also do a bunch of regrind work on factory knives. Its amazing the transformation that happens to a HEAVY DUTY FOLDER when the edge is thinned down. The turn into great little cutters!
I do a bit of kydex sheath work also...
Here is a new venture that Dan Koster and myself just started. We started a new production company called K9 Knives. We just finished up this prototype and have started on the first run.
Thanks!
Tom