How Karam Knives are Made

Each knife I create is first drawn as a pencil sketch in my design book and then carefully hand crafted using no mechanical jigs, milling machines or lathes.

My blades are forged from annealed precision-ground tool steel bar stock, and ground "freehand" with a convex grind. Then polished to a satin finish. I mostly use 01 tool steel, but will use other steels if specifically requested. Sometimes I will reshape an old tool, such as a drawknife or saw blade, to create a unique blade.

Every blade is heat treated, and triple tempered before final assembly.

Almost all the knives I create are hidden tang fixed blades. The tang is held in place not only by a pin through the tang, but also by using 2-ton high weld epoxy on all stacked pieces that form the handle.

I like the unique look and warm feel of sheep horn or antler guards which feature a hand-mortised joint (which is done by hand filing), but will use traditional brass, nickel silver or stainless guards as well.

For the handles, I carefully select warm materials such as wood, horn, bone or antler that fit the character of the blade and feel comfortable in your hand.

When the knife has been finished, I bring it to my sheath maker for a custom-fitted hand made sheath. Once in a while, I will create my own rustic sheaths that reflect a specific period in history.

While I get satisfaction out of creating a functional tool, I also like to use my artistic background to create a one-of-a-kind piece that can be passed down to future generations.

Each knife I create is signed and numbered. The numbers correspond to the original sketches in my design books. Any knife purchaser may request a copy of the original sketch of their knife.

I am always happy to discuss a custom piece if there is a design that inspires you.