DESIGNERS

Grzegorz Grabarski

Grzegorz Grabarski "Kombou"

Knife designer and gear photographer from Poland. Addicted to drawing, photography and creating stuff from an early age.
Sharp tools and edged weapons have playing a major part in his life for a very long time.

Grzegorz is known in knife community for his extraordinary, heavy filtered knifeporn edits
posted on Instagram as KOMBOU. You can find it here - <link> Instagram - @kombou

In 2014 he decided to design his first serious folding knife and stepped into the game.
Perfectionist Working only with the best, he takes care of every detail of his design.

His inspirations are Sci-fi, fantasy, architecture and ancient cultures that he delivers with his designs.

The best is yet to come.
Ostap Hel

I'm a full time designer and custom knives & gear maker from Poland.

Since I was a child I've always loved drawing things - probably because of genes. My father is a

graduate of Academy of Arts, so first years of my life I spent with my parents in dorm surrounded

by students from all kind of art faculties. My first "design" was also created then - when I was 2

years old I drew a really nice concept of car. On a TV screen. Using mom's lipstick. Parents weren't

very pleased when they discovered this masterpiece...

Knives in my life appeared when I was a teenager, due to my growing interests in Middle Ages and

all kind of weapons and knights equipment. I spent a year in armorer workshop as an apprentice

where I've learned basics of traditional medieval metalworking methods. Since then I've been

looking for more reliable, repeatable and precise way of creating things than using basic hand

tools - that's how my own workshop and journey with manual machining and CNC was started.

Funny thing is that my next level of education was almost completely unrelated to designing

or machining. The only connection between my studies at Faculty of Law and knives was my

master thesis about "Knives, knuckles and other dangerous items in Polish legislation". After

5 years of studying my need of creation became too strong and I've decided to turn my "hobby

workshop" into full time job.

Now I spend my time on things which I really like - designing and making custom knives & EDC gear.

All my designs are based on basic geometry, smooth transitions and Golden Ratio concept.

However in my collaborations I'm always trying to experiment with new shapes and ideas to

fit my partner’s company unique style and manufacturing capabilities.
JAKUB

My name is Jakub and knives are my passion since around 2004. After some time I realized that in almost every knife I have I would like to change something - a detail or two.
That's why I started to draw some designs in my sketchbook and when I was studying computer graphics I got into 3D modelling (CAD) aswell. I got to the point where I had a nicely tweaked design that I called the Poltergeist, and I was looking for a local maker that would make one for me. I had no luck with that and about 2 years later I bought my first little sander/grinder and started off creating small neck knives. I named my shop after the design that got me into knifemaking - Poltergeist Works (I also am a fan of old Horror/Thriller movies). I started Poltergeist Works because it lets me combine a few of my passions - knives, design and making something out of nothing. It always makes me happy to think I will leave behind so many pieces of my work all around the world, and people will enjoy them for many many years to come. This is why I put my heart and soul into every knife, I always put myself in the place of my customer and ask "would I be happy with this knife?".
The answer has to be YES, otherwise the knife will never leave my shop.
TODDKNIFEANDTOOL

Todd Knife and Tool was started in 2015 by Teryl and Seth Todd as a way to make the knives that they really wanted to carry. They have collaborated over the years to create a truly unique design language that is instantly identifiable and now available to the public. Their Dad started them on this journey as young kids. He was a Truck Driver by trade, but in the small shop behind the house he was a machinist, fabricator and designer. He worked on furnishings for the house, built from scratch motorcycles, custom hand tools, old tool restoration and a plethora of other things. "If you cant't afford it or cant't find it just make it".

The brothers have collaborated on creative projects ever since, from digital initiatives to the cold hard steel and titanium of knives, where they found their passion. Their instantly recognizable design language strays from the norm while checking the boxes for usability and ergonomics with purposeful designs for everyday carry. These tools are just as satisfying to look at as they are to handle, carry and use. The brothers are also active in the community and make a concerted effort to incorporate community feedback into the design process.
Nick Rogers

Knife Designer, Sharpener, and Maker from the United States of America.

My first knife was a Gerber LST I got when I was 14. It was a simple lock-back with a drop point blade and plastic handles, and I won it at a white elephant gift exchange. Growing up in suburban southern California, a pocket knife was never something I thought I needed, but it wasn’t long after starting to carry one that I felt naked without it.

After that first knife, I bought more knives than I care to admit and learned more about knives than I ever thought there was to know, all the while just scratching the surface of this crazy hobby. Whenever I wasn’t studying for college exams I would be watching knife reviews on YouTube or scrolling through dealer sites pining after knives I couldn’t afford. I love that knives are the perfect intersection of art and material science, design and engineering; that you can spend countless hours learning about the composition and heat treatment of steel, lock mechanisms, manufacturing techniques and edge geometry or just scroll through Instagram appreciating the aesthetic beauty of a few well-placed lines and curves.

I spent some time teaching myself how to use 3D CAD software because I figured what better way to learn more about knives than to try and design my own! I’ve never considered myself an artist, I design and manage systems by trade; databases and automation are my bread and butter, but in many ways a good folding knife is just a well-functioning system, an edge with a well-designed user interface and minimal operational bugs. Gathering as much data as I could about what good knife design looks like and how it should perform, I’m striving to design well-functioning systems, knives that the enthusiast in me would enjoy carrying.

Additionally, I operate a professional knife sharpening business and enjoy maximizing the performance of edged tools with proper sharpening techniques and abrasives. More recently, I have dove into knife making, working on custom kitchen and outdoor knives of my own.
Keanu Alfaro

A fulltime industrial designer, knife designer and entrepreneur from San Diego, CA, U.S.A.

Keanu’s interest in knives and tools started at a young age when given a folding knife by his father. He and his father bonded over knives, gear and many other things. Together they dreamt of making a difference in the world.

Tragically, his father passed away when Keanu was 14 years old.

From that moment, Keanu devoted his life to fulfilling that shared dream.

In 2019, he earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

In 2020, Keanu taught himself computer aided design (CAD) and began developing a portfolio of innovative products, pocketknives and tools.

By mid-2020, he collaborated on nearly 10 different projects.

And by 2022, Keanu totaled over 40 different project collaborations.

His designs are simple and straightforward. He adapts his designs based on feedback from his

fans, customers and supporters; those who use his knives daily.

To this day, Keanu continues to develop new products and continues to make his dream a

reality!
Frank Grissom

Frank Grissom
Part time knife maker and designer from the United States of America.

As with many knife enthusiast I started at an early age handling knives and was fascinated by them. Even as a child it was rare to find me without some type of sharp object. And if I wasn't out playing and hunting snakes and frogs with my friends I was home drawing or coloring something.
One of my biggest influences in life was my grandfather Frank Wright. Every time I visited my grandparents it seemed my grandfather was working on something weather it was rehabbing a camper working on his boat or motorcycle and he always let me help. I'm pretty sure that's where I get my desire to make and fix things.

Started making and designing knives part-time around the end of 2015 beginning of 2016.
I'm a big fan of smaller fixed blade knives.
But also love the complexity of the folding knife.
I currently have one design in production with many more to come.
I'm recently retired from my full time job as asphalt road construction laborer and took a year off to reflect.
Now I am back at it and love every minute of it.