It takes a minimum of 30 hours to make each knife

It takes a minimum of 30 hours to make each knife, from start to finish. Each knife starts as a simple sketch. Leonard will create a profile and design for the knife, based on any requests the customer has. For example, they may want a thumb notch or a finger swoop, a slight indentation in the blade where their pointer finger is going to rest. The purpose of the knife will determine its shape and size. The longest he’s made is 15 inches. Once Leonard gets the design how he likes it, he creates a cardboard cut-out which he sends to the customer to have them test it out. Once he makes any requested adjustments and gets the goahead, it’s time to cut the blade out of a blank of steel. “I rely on several U.S. top steel manufacturers. They are all U.S. products except for one stainless steel I have that comes from Sweden that’s used to produce the highest quality cutlery,” he said. “I do not use inferior products. I research them and make sure I’m getting the best I can possibly get… I have so many people tell me, ‘My son is going to get this and then his son is going to get it.’ It’s going to go down through the generations. And that’s why I build them the way I do,