About KnifeLegends

In July 2004, I decided to turn my passion for collecting custom knives into a full-time business. I was fortunate to begin that journey alongside my good friend, John Hanlon, who had been part of the custom knife community since the very first American Knifemakers’ Guild Show in 1970. By that point, John knew almost everyone in the custom knife world and had decades of knowledge that became invaluable to me. Before entering the knife business, he had spent many years as a machinist at Milwaukee Twist Drill, bringing the same attention to detail into every aspect of our work.

Before we became business partners, I had already been one of John’s customers. Through him, I purchased knives by respected makers such as Jess Horn and Tony Bose, along with my first Steve Lindsey engraved Jack Busfield knife. More importantly, John introduced me to many outstanding makers, including Jess Horn, Tony Bose, Henry Frank, Joe Kious, Warren Osborne, and Tom Overeynder. Those introductions helped establish relationships that became the foundation of KnifeLegends.

John also shared lessons that shaped the way I approached the business. Two pieces of advice have stayed with me ever since. The first was, “There is always another knife.” The second was, “The hardest knife to get is the one you have already paid for.” Those simple words saved me from many costly mistakes and taught me the importance of patience, good judgment, and building lasting relationships.

From the beginning, I found the custom knife community to be welcoming and supportive. Makers such as Frank Centofante, Barry Davis, and Kaj Embretsen, along with respected dealers including Paul Farina, Gary Levine, Gary and Grazyna Shaw, Steve Berg, Steve Weinograd, Dave Harvey, and Michael Donato, helped make it clear that I had chosen the right path.

For many years, John and I traveled together to knife shows across the United States, often attending as many as twelve shows each year. Those events allowed us to strengthen relationships with makers, collectors, and fellow dealers while continuing to grow KnifeLegends. Eventually, John retired from the business for a second time so he could focus on his long-standing clients. In 2025, he suffered a serious fall and passed away shortly afterward. He was an extraordinary mentor, trusted friend, and one of the biggest influences on both my career and the success of KnifeLegends. I still think about him every day.

As the late 2000s approached, I began looking beyond the United States for new artistic talent. While America continued to produce outstanding knife makers, I wanted to introduce collectors to exceptional work from other parts of the world. That search led me to the Italian Knifemakers’ Guild Show in Milan, which quickly became my favorite knife show outside the United States. I returned year after year because it consistently introduced me to remarkable artists and fresh ideas.

Those visits allowed me to build relationships with makers such as Salvatore Puddu, Emmanuel Esposito, Tore Fogarizzu, Fabrizio Silvestrelli, and Corrado Moro. I also had the opportunity to watch Antonio Fogarizzu develop an exciting new artistic direction. Alongside the outstanding work I was already presenting from Charly Bennica, these discoveries helped expand the selection of fine European art knives available to collectors in the United States.

As interest in these makers continued to grow, KnifeLegends played an important role in introducing many of them to American collectors. Over time, this work helped establish us as the world’s leading dealer of high-end art knives. At one point, KnifeLegends was handling the same volume of business in this specialized market as the next three competitors combined, a milestone that reflected years of dedication, trusted relationships, and a commitment to representing exceptional craftsmanship.

At the same time, I began collaborating with some of the finest engravers in the world to create truly one-of-a-kind art knives. Together, we developed extraordinary pieces inspired by Art Deco, Greek and Roman mythology, ancient Egypt, historic events such as the Battle of Waterloo and the sinking of the Titanic, and celebrated figures including Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo, and many others. These projects combined the talents of master knife makers and world-class engravers into collectible works of art that remain among the most memorable pieces we have handled.

Today, KnifeLegends continues to focus on exceptional custom knives created by many of the world’s most respected makers. Every knife we offer is carefully selected for its craftsmanship, artistic value, rarity, and lasting significance. More than two decades after our journey began, our commitment remains the same: to connect collectors with extraordinary handcrafted knives while honoring the remarkable makers whose work continues to shape the history of custom knife making.