Ken Onion is an American custom knife maker known for his own custom made pieces and his work with knife brands like Kershaw and CRKT. He has also with Work Sharp to create a knife sharpener. Onion is an innovator in the knife industry and has created systems like the Speed-safe mechanism used in spring assisted Kershaw knives and the Field-strip technology used in his designs for Columbia River Knife & Tool.
Knife industry leaders: Kenneth L. Onion. Born January 16, 1963 in Ohio, United States of America.
Ken Onion Quotes
Though I have been a devout knife collector since childhood, collecting mostly production knives and anything else I could find, I was unaware of the custom knife industry until 1989 when I saw an issue of Knives Illustrated at a local drug store.
Ken Onion
I’m just one of those very fortunate people that get an opportunity to do what I love to do.
Ken Onion
I try to look for new and different ways to interpret knives. There’s no shortage of knife makers and brands out there, so you’ve got to take a different approach to stand out.
Ken Onion
They told me it was a switchblade knife but technically it really wasn’t a switchblade. I’d studied the law and was convinced that I was right. There is a huge difference between pushing a button on the handle and manually opening the blade. (talking about his Speed Safe assist mechanism)
Ken Onion
I started the mid-tech trend to create a category of knives in between custom and production, and hopefully have created some clarity in the marketplace.
Ken Onion
It’s been a privilege to be a part of this (knife) industry, and I’ve been fortunate enough to not only make a living doing what I love, but to have had friends and mentors help me along the way.
Ken Onion
I wanted to make a knife as smooth as Stan’s (Fujisaka) or even smoother. I figured the only way I could even make it better was if it had an assist. So I had that word in my head when a friend came over to have a cam machined for her Harley. I put the concepts of “cam” and “assist” together and a light bulb went off.
Ken Onion
I try to make the craft of utilizing a knife, mankind’s second oldest tool, as simple and easy as possible. Materials, form, balance and ergonomics are all part of the equation, but essentially it’s ease of use and utility that we’re after.
Ken Onion
I made my first knife in November 1991 and have continued the craft since.
Ken Onion
I think one of the most exciting parts of knife design is the public reveal. You have a feeling but you just never know if you’re going to hear — “Wow, what a great knife,” or “What was he thinking?”
Ken Onion
More on the American Knife Maker
Let us know what you think about Ken Onion in the comments below. Do you own any custom knives by Ken Onion? What about a Ken Onion design from Zero Tolerance, Kershaw or CRKT? I love the old school look and feel of his Homefront folder from CRKT using the Field strip technology that he developed.
Find Ken Onion designed knives on Blade HQ or Amazon Here
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