James Huse first began making knives for fun over 15 years ago, but it was not until about four years ago that he turned his hobby into a business.

In  2001, his first year as an amateur knifemaker, he made four knives for fun—but his new hobby was very expensive, he said. He had to make a knife, sell it and save money before he could move on to the next blade.

“My wife made me promise—she saw how expensive it was going to be, way before I did—she said, ‘If you’re going to keep this up, then knifemaking has got to support knifemaking,’” he said.

But now, years later, he produces 150-200 knives a year, and “knife money” helps support the family, Huse said. It pays for his two daughters’ karate class, braces and family activities.

In 2015, he appeared on the first season of the History Channel show “Forged in Fire” to compete against other knifesmiths. He was eliminated during the first round, but the exposure from being on the show caused his orders to pick up by about 25 percent, he said. He was invited back this year to compete on a special redemption episode featuring past competitors—and he won the grand prize. He received 10 knife orders less than 24 hours after the show aired in June.

One thing that has not changed through the years is his relationship with customers, he said. He first sold knives by word of mouth, and he still finds that effective, along with wearing his own work.

“I sell the most knives when I’m wearing it,” he said. “I’ll pick one out every week or so and carry it around. Usually by the end of the week, the knife is [sold]. People have a tendency to want to buy the one you’re using because you’re using it. You trust that knife.”

Most of the knives he sells are used for chores, skinning animals and for self-protection, he said. His most popular knives have blades that range from 2 1/2-2 3/4 inches in length. Small knives for personal protection are also popular, he said.

James Huse Huse said his knives typically cost $165-$300.[/caption]

Each knife takes about 10 hours of work to create. First, Huse draws up a knife design, which will determine the method he will use to actually create the blade. He either forges it, using a hammer to shape the knife, or uses a method called stock removal—during which he removes the sections of material that will not be part of the blade and grinds down the knife's edge to sharpen it. Then he heat-treats it based on the method he used and the material of the knife.

For now, Huse makes knives in addition to his day job as a welder. In the next year or so, he said he hopes to be able to create knives full-time. 

His work costs between $165 and $300 per knife, and custom orders are usually about 25 percent more expensive. The attention to detail he other and other knifesmiths put into their work makes investing in a handmade knife worth the purchase, he said.

“We make the knives to last a lifetime,” Huse said. “I make sure my knives are the best that I can make them before they ever leave the shop. They’re made one at a time. That’s the difference.”