Zero Knives
In 2004, I started making knives as a hobby under the tutelage of Larry Davidson, a veteran tool and knife maker. The following year, I began making and selling knives under my own brand, Zero Knives. In 2012, I left my job as a technical trainer to finish my education and made knifemaking my sole source of income. I make high-end handmade knives for the collector market. My work has been featured by top dealers and published in industry magazines (BLADE, December 2005). I regularly exhibit at trade shows, including BLADE Show, the largest knife show in the world. Operating a custom job shop as a sole proprietor has taught me the power of efficiency. Keeping materials and parts flowing through quickly while remaining financially sound requires a keen sense of discipline and project management. Knifemaking is a low-yield, high-labor effort and requires advanced planning for constant income. Each year, I have to simultaneously plan to produce monthly income while also creating a stockpile to display at a show. This requires working with other vendors and coordinating schedules with outsourcing houses. |
Project: Production Collaboration with Böker Knives.
In November of 2014, Böker Knives will be releasing a factory-made knife based on my design, the Zero Sulaco. I met Böker's product manager, Marc Goetzmann, at a trade show in 2013 and he showed interest in a couple of my models to be adopted. I was offered a contract to license in October 2014 and learned intermediate contract language in order to protect my brand and understand their royalty schedule. Based on a handmade prototype, Böker replicated my design with sturdy materials while maintaining an MSRP under $70, allowing collectors to own one of my designs for a tenth of the price of a full custom. |