Does Selling Knives Make Money? Shop Talk

A lot of people ask me if selling knives makes money. Is it a viable business venture? How much should I sell my knives for and how many do I need to sell in order to make a profit?
While there is no one magic number or answer to these questions, I'll talk about the financial side of making knives and go into the details of how to figure out if the custom knife business is right for you.
I love talking shop and knives are one of my favorite topics. Let me know what you think. Do you make knives for a living?
Check out my Instagram to stay updated on my projects:
/ fe.r.o_chris
Email me at [e-mail] if you're interested in have a custom knife built.
Oh, and be aware of fakes out there. I've been alerted that some people are using my pictures and videos to try and sell knives. Crazy, I know. I suppose it's flattering in a way......
As promised, here is my pricing guide for my knives. Feel free to copy it and make it your own. My prices have changed over the years, and will probably change down the road.
Prices start as listed, and can increase based on desired options:
1084 blade steel is standard with saber grind.
$150 for a blacksmith's knife or paracord wrapped knife (2-3in blade)
$200 for a full tang edc/belt knife w/ wooden handle (3in blade)
$250 for a full tang hunting knife w/ wooden handle (5in blade)
$350 for a hidden/full tang knife w/ wooden handle and steel guard (6in blade)
$450 for a hidden tang knife w/ an antler handle and steel guard (6in blade)
Custom Options:
File blade $10
Rasp blade $20
Added length $25/inch
Leather sheath $35
Name on sheath $15
Black blade $25
Rock textured blade $30
Polished blade $100
Name/inscription on blade $25-$50
False swedge $20
Jimping $15
Hammer textured blade $40
Damascus blade $200
Damascus guard $100
Full flat grind $40
Brass guard $15
Mosaic pins $30
File work $30/section (spine, back, and front of handle, guard)
Spanish Notch $25
Brass liners $35
Copper liners $45
Steel liners $25
Compound wood handle $45/segment
Exotic/stabilized wood (varied cost)
Shipping is free to the lower 48, international shipping is available at cost.

[@Mikey4808]

I agree. I also make knives as a hobby, and I've sold most of them and kept some, but the price I've sold them for has honestly been a thumb-sucked price that sounded fair. The price I sold them for wasn't even worth my time to make the knives. It just sort of barely covered material costs with some profit as beer money. I could never do it as a living. You have to be very very good at knifemaking to make a decent living. Most people do it as a hobby that just happens to bring in some money to keep it going.

[@tonypatey5669]

I hear you loud and clear. Very good info on the behind the scenes costs with knife making. I enjoyed this video. Thanks for sharing. Tony.

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

My pleasure, glad you liked it.

[@daveh777]

As soon as you started talking about it being a hobby first I subscribed! Kudos! I let folks know it's a hobby and not a business. I re-invest the money from any knife that I sell into shop tools so it's really a not for profit thing. My shop grows.👍

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

@@daveh777 thanks!

[@anthonycapo1998]

I feel like one could almost make more money sharpening knives than making them. I'm only talking about small time makers.

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

That's probably true. Mobile knife sharpeners I guarantee make more money than most knife makers.

[@kimcokevin]

If you perfect your craft (become more efficient) you should see all the benefits of that.

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

Absolutely. I have no doubt that if I put my mind to it, I could do this for a living. That's just not the life style I'm after. I love this hobby, and transforming I into a job would stifle that affection.

[@kimcokevin]

@@ironridgeoutdoors 100%. Same reason I didn’t want to be a mechanic. Working on minivans and econoboxes all week would take the fun out of a hobby car.

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

@@kimcokevin absolutely. There is something really rewarding working on your own car, but you'd have to make me a millionaire to work on them all day. Nothing but respect for those that do. It takes a toll on your body.

[@3riverblades]

You can save on shipping boxes by getting the USPS or UPS boxes from them. Its free if you use their service.

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

I like to make a wooden presentation box for my customs and those won't fit in a flat rate box. I don't do that as often anymore due to shipping costs.

[@davidmansir8469]

Loved your video. My wife has been suggesting that I start selling my knives and other woodworking projects, but I have told her that there is no way that I could charge enough to cover the cost of materials and time. I make my knives using hand tools, not because I’m a snob, but because that’s what I have to work with. I lust for a 72” belt sander but are 1k just to get in the door. I found that I make knives for my friends and family, occasionally I make one for someone that is paying me for it, but I have nightmares thinking about having someone not satisfied with my work. When people are spending money they tend to be picky. Thanks for the advice and information. Cheers

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

My pleasure! Inflation and the $600 tax threshold have not made doing this any easier. It's still a passion of mine, but I'm glad I don't do it for a living.

[@trainwon5699]

Awesome job thanks

[@hammurambi]

Thanks for sharing this. Lot of people aren’t willing to share specific numbers on cost of materials, labor, and profit margin for a given knife. My goal with knifemaking is basically to make things I enjoy making and sell them at a price sufficient to pay for the materials and equipment to sustain my hobby. If I do better than that and make a little extra cash, then great, but I’m not going into it expecting to do it full time.

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

Same. I love making knives as a hobby. I've no intentions of attempting to make it a full time occupation.

[@hammurambi]

@@ironridgeoutdoors If I had the cash to burn on a CNC milling machine to automate machining the bevels/drilling holes, I wouldn’t mind trying to make a profitable business out of it, but doing everything by hand would kill me.

[@user-cs3hi8zp7p]

Thank you for making this video.. I've wanted to hear all this info by a real maker for some time now! Muuuuch appreciated man👍 Btw, I'm also in Oregon..Baker County..are you on this side of the state by chance?

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

My pleasure. I'm in central Oregon, few hours from you. I have been to Baker City though. My father and I used to have a friend in Sumpter and would visit every summer. Beautiful country out there!

[@norcalbowhunter3264]

I’m just getting into knife making so I don’t have experience in this, but I think the issue is people see others making knives and think they can do it so they get all setup and start start making knives and out them online for $200 and wonder why they’re note selling. I think any businesses, be it knife making, electricians, landscaping, KZbin, and so on where you start out from nothing trying to sell yourself and a product will take time to establish yourself. I think we have to understand that when we start we are nobodies in a sea of nobodies and that what we will be until we build ourselves into somebody. That means we will have few sales, it means we will have to charge nobody prices, it means we will have to do work to advertise and promote ourselves. My goal is to start making knives, then when I get to 100 knives made I’ll start making videos trying to build an online presence, once that starts working I’ll just keep making knives until people show an interest in them. When that happens I’ll establish myself as a sole proprietor and start an online store. Once I sell a few knives that way I’ll look into selling at local farmers markets, gun shows, swap meets, flea markets, and so on. Then after a few years doing this I hope to build a name for myself at which point I’ll start charging more heavy prices for my knives. Now I have a plan but there’s three caveats to this plan. 1 I expect this to take years for me to get to that point. Honestly I think it’ll probably be a good 5 years before I start selling my knives. 2 when I first start selling knives I’ll be selling them at a low enough prices that I’ll cover the cost and time it took me to make the knife. I’m not expecting to get rich quick making knives. Heck I don’t expect to get rich ever. 3 my focus is making knives and being a bladesmith. While yes I do hope to eventually make and sell knives, I’m not going to be focused on it. If my focus is on making a business I’ll be sad when it doesn’t take off. If my focus is on being a bladesmith, that regardless if I’m selling knives or not I’ll see myself grow and enjoy the journey more. Again I know this is all hypothetical as someone who doesn’t even sells knives yet, but I think you got to be in the right mindset from the start. It’s like KZbin, if you make a channel expecting to blow up in a couple days like mr beast and make millions of dollars. You’re just setting yourself up to fail and burn out really fast.

[@racecar9910]

Gough Custom might be making knives for a living.

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

There are lots of guys making knives for a living. Guys like Ken Onion, Chris Reeves, and plenty others are out there doing not every day.

[@darksi226]

Very interesting video. Thanks for sharing.

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

My pleasure, hope it helps you in some way.

[@buzzsah]

I think you forgot the cost of materials (sandpaper, metals, leathers, cleaners, past, sealers,), utilities, (lights, heat, fuels,...).

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

I address all of that in the video and in my itemized list. I don't include utilities because it's my home shop. I'm paying those fees wether I'm making knives or not.

[@ramonversteeg9647]

Very insightful, thanks! kind regards, your new subscriber

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

Much appreciated, and welcome aboard!

[@MeatPez]

Underrated video

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

Much appreciated.

[@mybearhands1479]

Great video but you forgot propane price.

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

Thanks. I had a miscellaneous category that included propane. You don't use a lot if you're just heat treating and not forging.

[@grahamcook6883]

Lol That’s some crazy timing, I guess I didn’t need to make that comment on ur other bud😂😂

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

Haha it all worked out. Plus I love talking about this stuff.

[@grahamcook6883]

@@ironridgeoutdoors hey when your that good and have that much knowledge about a topic people enjoy hearing your advice. And for when I make my first knife this weekend I’m gonna try and replicate your Bowie from the file (it’s probably just gonna look like a chunk of metal lol)

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

@@grahamcook6883 Thanks man, I appreciate it. Good luck on your build!

[@grahamcook6883]

@@ironridgeoutdoors yeah no problem, thanks, and I’m probably gonna have a bunch of questions after this weekend, so you’ll probably see a super long annoying comment on your next vid lol

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

@@grahamcook6883 haha no problem.

[@sIitted]

This video has FAR less views than it deserves, I'm gonna start sharing it for you.

[@itssak2141]

Hello sir I am from INDIA 🇮🇳 ....actually I have a nepali war gurkha khukuri ...at that time only 100 were made and I have 1 of them ...can u please help me out in selling it ...

[@ironridgeoutdoors]

Sorry man, marketing is not my strong suit.

[@blade.masterz8299]

Hello shad Danish...

[@joeydiesel227]

Its like everything it depends on what you are making/selling like an average cookie cutter hobbyist knife isn't going to bring in the money like something more unique and higher quality