I’ve been an Orthotist for 42 years, working in plaster, plastic, and metal to produce braces for people and animals. Building things has always been a part of my life and I’ve never shied away from a challenge. I built my first real knife in the 80’s and still use it today in my work as an orthotist.

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I am a part-time knife maker. I am largely self-taught but lean heavily on my mentors when I tackle those projects that exceed my skills. That’s how I’ve grown. Each knife that I’ve made has taught me valuable lessons and I have reached the point where I am now building an inventory of my favorite blade designs.

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I make fixed blade knives in a wide variety of classic and modern patterns and use a wide variety of steels and handle materials both natural and synthetic. I also make my own leather sheaths, Kydex sheaths, and make presentation boxes for most of my completed projects.

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I use no prefabricated material. All phases of design and construction are performed by me.

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Upon completion of each knife, I feel challenged to make another, but better. This is and always will be my motivation. I build each knife better than the previous. That is the true challenge of what drives me today; to deliver the best I can. I will go any length to ensure satisfaction and deliver what is truly a hand- crafted knife.

My choice of materials for my knives are natural and exotic handle materials such as pearl, bone, ivory or fine wood combined with a high carbon, stainless, or Damascus blade. Most of my knives are made by stock-removal. They are designed, hand ground, and hand finished. On occasion I’ll forge a blade and enjoy the special effort that it takes to fashion a knife in this age-old process. All my work begins from a simple idea. This idea becomes a template. This template becomes the start of a blade. This takes a little more time but it also allows me to be more creative and have full control to make slight changes to each custom knife, as a result no two knives are ever identical. I strive to make art knives and all my focus is on the execution of excellence.

 

The Japanese word, Shibui means, “in simplicity is complexity.” My basic designs all start with that organic concept, using balance, graceful curves, and a minimum of straight lines. I maintain sole authorship on all my knives with the exception of the Damascus I use and heat-treating of steels.

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Jim Hoehne Knives is currently accepting orders, please check the Knives page and if you don't see something you like, want, or need please feel free to write to me. I would love to hear from you.

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                                                                                         - Jim