Ron Lake has been producing custom knives for more than 50 years and has been dubbed the “Father of the Modern Day Folding Knife” by sportswriter B.R Hughes.

In 1960, Lake began his professional career after earning a degree in machine tools. His first job was making models and patterns for an electrical products manufacturing company, where he worked on projects like naval sonar equipment. After that, he spent 10 years creating prototypes for the automotive and aviation industries at a parts manufacturer.

In 1965, Lake set up a small workshop in his garage and began making knives as a hobby in his free time after work.  In contrast to his work just a few years later his early knives mainly consisted of fixed-blade hunting knives. In 1970, he went on to create the very first Tail-Lock “Interframe” folder. The handle material was protected by the design’s use of a machined metal frame, which also strengthened the knife by housing it. Additionally, placing the tab at the end of the lock bar gave the user a mechanical advantage. These design features were seen as significant breakthroughs in folding knives at the time. In 1971, Ron joined the Knifemakers Guild and became a full-time knifemaker the following year. In 1974, his signature knife style was patented, and he was elected to the Cutlery Hall of Fame in 1998.

Ron Lake’s knives have always had a simple and minimalist look with a strong focus on craftsmanship and accuracy. The Interframe folder, for example, has stood the test of time and is still one of the most recognizable knives nearly 50 years after it was created. In fact, the Smithsonian Museum and the Metal Museum in Memphis, Tennessee both have Lake Interframe folders in their respective collections. Ron is also the owner of numerous patents and trademarks, has created knives for companies like Coast Cutlery, CRKT, and Schrade, has been featured in numerous books and magazine articles, and openly counsels aspiring knifemakers.