How to be a Knife Maker with Ken Onion | Knife Banter Ep. 90

Zac sits down with Ken Onion to talk about everything from Speedsafe to Veterans charities. Check out Ken's Leek Design here: bit.ly/2Yih1s7
Check out the Blur here: bit.ly/2YkftOf
You can look at all of Ken's designs here: bit.ly/2YiKL8n
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#BladeHQ #KnifeBanter #KnifeLife #CutAnything #KenOnion

[@silvercrank999]

This was a great one. Ken is such a positive, humble, passionate dude. It's easy to get behind a guy like that! 🤙

[@natebennett6123]

I met Mr. Ken Onion a few months ago at a tool show event in Orlando Florida and could not have been more enthused that this is who he is if you walk up to him and say hello with no cameras watching or anything. A good genuine guy! Loved talking to him!

[@saentia]

Absolutely LOVE this style of Knife Banter with the makers. Would love one showcasing some new/smaller knife makers to watch.

[@macdelttorres3366]

It’s awesome to see someone talk with so much about a subject with such pasión...thank you for posting

[@BladeHQ]

Ken is a really genuine and passionate guy!

[@DRNKonTIDE]

What a legend. Ken Onion is on to not just a way to make knives, but a way of life that the world needs. Awesome video!

[@lobotomite9767]

“How to make a knife with Ken Onion” (Ken starts drawing recurves on everything) Ken what are you doing? Onion man- “recurve is love... recurve is life”

[@TheMartialist]

They grind right off

[@jordanmyers1450]

@@TheMartialist fuck off

[@glenngoins3100]

That assisted opening knife that you created I think it's one of the biggest things in the knife industry that is ever come about. Thanks Ken. It was a awesome contribution!

[@Spacebarf]

Came for knives, Got story time instead. Not even mad Probably the coolest Knife banter episode so far

[@I0nlyRunFactory]

This

[@jonduncansakurawallknifegarden]

I just got the chills from this video. I always knew he was such a rad guy. I’m half Japanese and my Japanese friends love him and idolize him- I love a lot of his designs too but I thought they just loved him being that he had roots in Hawaii... this man is a living legend AND a guy that could just have a great conversation with anyone and his little secrets about metallurgy are inspiring.

[@petroscephas]

I would listen to Ken for hours. Zac, you have outdone yourself brother. Amazing conversation.

[@billbailey1517]

What an inspiration is Ken Onion great job Zac honest words to live by the man just keeps on giving. Well done

[@GIJoeFactotum]

Enjoyed hearing from Ken. I'm a big fan of his designs. I've given more than 20 Ken Onion Whirlwind or Blackout design folders to new BSA Eagle Scouts I've known over the past 20 years. They are always excited by the knife, and it became their EDC for years to come. Keep up the great work Ken.

[@ryantoone785]

Ken Onion is the damn man. He’s one of my favorite knifemakers/designers of all time and the one that opened the door to making a living with knives. I’ve been a fan since the beginning and always will. What a great guy with such passion for this world

[@SeemsLogical]

Wow. It's something special when you get to meet someone who is as passionate about what they do as Ken Onion is. Zac, I am jealous you got to do this. This is going to be one of the experiences at BladeHQ you're going to look back on and be like "man, I'm really glad I got to do that." Also, great job on that intro. That was a fun and creative way to introduce this knife legend. It made me smile. Definitely one of your best videos in a while.

[@matthewkressley6168]

Best interview on the channel and probably in the community as a whole to date. Very interesting to hear his take on things and his perspective on life, I will be picking up a Ken Onion designed blade.

[@andrewf.lasseter4214]

YES! The only Ken Onion knife I own is the CRKT Swindle. That's pretty cool it's one of Ken's favorites, what a stand up guy. I truly enjoyed this video BHQ and thanks Ken for your support and help in the Veteran community!

[@rickyhurtt8692]

Much respect Ken for your charity or group that gives 100% to wounded vets. I don't know much but never heard of any group that dedicates 100%. Thanks so much for what you're doing. Also by the way you make a pretty decent knife. The leek is my all time favorite of your knives

[@craigfuhr]

When you look and listen to Ken Onion, you’re looking at fully realized man who is truly LIVING his passion and purpose. It’s an AWESOME thing to watch. He’s completely fulfilled by his vocation. How many of us can say that? Just awesome.

[@anthonyp7051]

Ken Onion is the champ! Skipped over his worksharp endeavors,I know he gave us a lot and still so much he could say. Need to hold a special 2hr bio

[@geesuperb2]

This guy is such a inspiration. It's hard to believe I only have of his knives.

[@stoutdog56]

This is a superb interview. Ken's stories and life's work are priceless.

[@shadowknight833]

ken your one of the legends,thanks for the inspiration

[@CrpMag]

Ken Onion has always been my favorite designer. Watching this interview brought to light he is also one hell of a man.

[@JEEROFUKU]

Ken is a great guy! His ZT0350 always in my pocket for years and I love that little tank👍🏻🍀❤️

[@kevb2785]

Best video in a while. Not at all a normal BHQ video, I almost didn't watch it but I always love the interviews with knife makers so I clicked on it. This IMO is now in my top 3 BHQ videos. 30 minutes and I wanted more, sucks it had to end but that last set of advice from Ken Onion was borderline magical!

[@hankr1980]

Being a firefighter going on 13 years it's awesome to hear about the ZT knives. This is the first I have heard about it surprisingly.

[@hyssean12]

First you heard about zt?

[@hankr1980]

@@hyssean12 sure is.

[@hyssean12]

You will be blown away if you have handled any Kershaw knives. World of difference.

[@hankr1980]

@@hyssean12 I'll check them out ASAP

[@steely2012]

Wow!!!! got chills a few times. Legend of a guy amazing vid thanks

[@xxaustiexx]

Ken onion and gavko were the reasons I became a blade smith 8 years ago. This guy is a hall of fame legend

[@jolness1]

Ken is a wonderful guy. Every interview I see he makes me admire him more. Great content, Zach did a great interview.

[@garrettgiesler9052]

i was laying in bed and this video inspired me to develope a knife design, thanks ken onion, thanks blade hq

[@wmhsdoor]

Damn, Awesome interview, Ken is a very humble and honorable man! He has a great personality and pays it all forward.

[@johnkeck1025]

Love this video! I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just opened a present from santa that they had asked for!

[@curtisfox4917]

Wow I’m all over this one...just bought the blur from these guys...so cool

[@hankr1980]

Loving the interview! The leek inspired my love of pocket knives. It was a patent pending design at the time and is still my favorite EDC.

[@RookieLock]

I love how he explains the story of a knife, or thinking of a story to help design a knife.. Thanks for the inspiration Ken! Wow..

[@TechnicallyCharpy]

What a legendary interview... wow. Just wow.

[@ParagonIndustries]

Very enjoyable interview! Thanks so much. We are hooked.

[@SoldMyKidsForKnives]

Wow!! This was fantastic. Loved it.

[@FrankenBeanzzz]

Great video with lots of information. Loved it!

[@03_austindrake88]

Such a great video/Interview. Ken Onion is such a legend in the knife world.

[@scottallen6058]

Genuine guy. Genius designer. Great American. This veteran has nothing but respect for Ken.

[@tkettle13]

This was a phenomenal video awesome conversation with an amazingly positive message. Great Job to the homies at BHQ.

[@BladeHQ]

Thanks👊

[@craigbertram6223]

Brilliant video lads. Loved it. What a legend

[@alexanderweaver4838]

Wow...so nice to "put a face onto my knife" so to speak. My favorite pocket knife is a a Kershaw Ken Onion that I bought from the mobile Snap On dealer that came to the heliport hangar in Kahului, Maui, once a week. I was the parts manager for a non-touring helicopter company and needed an inexpensive knife that I could use to open boxes, packages and other containers. I hadn't planned on spending $85 for an EDC pocket knife but fell in love with the Kershaw as soon as I saw it. That was in 1995 and carry it to this day. It still works like new and cuts with ease, especially my juicy ribeye steak in camp. Backpacking and overland camping are my hobbies (along with fishing). The only misfortune I've had was losing the pocket clip on a hike in the West Maui Mountains. Somehow the three tiny screws had worked themselves loose and dropped somewhere on the trail. Thankfully the knife was secured in my hip pocket.

[@Night_keen]

Nothing short of inspirational!

[@bobbymilk5540]

Ken is so awesome so down to earth

[@petroscephas]

“If you see everybody gone right, go left. Don’t follow the trend, create the trend. Open your mind, expand your mind. Learn all the rules, break every single one of them.” Ken Onion, 2019

[@zachstuff]

Great video and insight into Ken! Thanks!

[@Leo-pi2qp]

We want BladeHQ in Europe :(

[@TheSilvertrigger]

Poor guy I forgot lock backs and fixed blades are banned in Europe I feel for ya

[@KellyRobinette]

This was the best Knife Banter I've seen yet and I like most of them. Wow! And a hometown guy, too! I really the knife designer banters. I was wondering what you guys would think about doing a knife banter about deployment methods, eg thumb stud, flipper, thumb hole, etc. What are the current trends, advantages/disadvantages etc. Thanks for the videos!

[@joshmlawson]

I watched this video when you published it. It was great. So great that after a lot of thought I bought a ZT 0456.

[@azhawk516]

Great interview. Very interesting, and some great advise.

[@tylerwebb1900]

Ken is truly a awesome humble guy just a good ol boy from west Virginia! Where I have family and he reminds me of alot of good folk from down there .

[@jackzijdenbos5496]

Thanks for those inspirational words at the end there Ken

[@iyn1911]

Great stories from Ken.

[@modernarnis4867]

What a true inspiration...

[@Tree_Stabbing_Troy_Lmafo]

About halfway through this episode Ken Onion starts stabbing me in the feelers. I didn't realize what a good guy he is.

[@BladeHQ]

He's one of the very best. The first time I spent any really time with him we were at dinner with CRKT. He'e just come out with his Chanceinhell machete. We spent most of dinner laughing about how he wanted to go cut down a tree in the Gerber parking lot for the machete's promotional video. Ha! Huge heart, and he's hilarious to boot. -Ben

[@TheMartialist]

Great interview!

[@warpedone2]

Thanks for filming

[@aquaericlala]

His concept and thinking are barn none but the aesthetic design got much headroom to be fulfilled.

[@hyssean12]

Bar**

[@Dale_Higgins]

While I admit I'm not really familiar with anything hes designed in the last several years, Ken Onion was without any doubt my gateway into enjoying knives. My very first EDC knife was a Kershaw vapor, which i carred exclusively for a couple years, until i got my second knife, the leek, which then itself became my exclusive carry knofe for another couple years. I literally referred to my knife as "ken onion" always for years, because he was THAT ubiquitous with knives themselves to me. I don't often carry either anymore, but because of my introductions to knives, he will always seem like THE guy in the knife industry to me. I really should look into getting one of his customs as an ode to that entry into loving knives. Hopefully one day.

[@Squab27]

Gotta check out his custom knives, rather the production designs!

[@tonylamadora1200]

If John Goodman was a legendary knife maker

[@GrimReaper-ir2ke]

That is exactly who I thought of

[@cherrysoda232]

John Goodman and James Hetfield put together!

[@eskee1]

If he wore oakleys and a hat...

[@SgtKong]

One helluva interview fellas

[@yeshmmm4004]

Love my Leek and my Blur, Ken Onion is one of the greats

[@joshrayburn5534]

Ken is such a humble man

[@jps3b]

What an incredible man!

[@deadbeyonddeath9325]

just ordered the Ken Onion edition of the work sharp, if this man put his name on it, it has to be a great product.

[@jpgr8937]

Terrific advice. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@WhatsthePOINT_EDC]

Hands down the best edc knife I’ve ever owned is a ken onion blur 1670oblk with drop point. It’s got sand, hydraulic fluid and crimson grease in the pivot and it’s crunchy when opening but the assist has never failed me in any way. It still cuts even after the tip broke and my local knife shop re ground it.

[@davidwolicki3684]

For episode 100 we need inventory of every knife at blade HQ (and Ben needs to be there)

[@mattadler4710]

I didnt really know anything about Ken before this, besides the fact that hes been hugely influential and majorly innovative in the knife world, but this guy clearly has a big heart, and an artists soul. I hate to say it, but I guess I had made some preemptive judgements (not bad ones) I just didnt expect him to be so great. Ill always back this guys work, be it a knife, sharpening equipment, or a non profit...should he do something else, Ill support that too. I salute you Ken

[@saxcobra895]

Ken is such a cool human being.

[@dakotasparks2038]

WOW Ken Onion you are one amazing dude

[@Evergreen1400]

Ill buy any knife this man makes after hearing his story. Sounds like a stand up individual.

[@prod.lilsip5904]

I was literally just watching a BHQ vid lol

[@gabrielayala718]

ZT 0301 Just went up on secondary market now.

[@Squab27]

Good luck finding a Stan Fujisaka knife too!

[@KingLoopie1]

Got a Kershaw Leek in my pocket that's been there everyday for about 17 years. 14c28n black diamond coat steel. It's been my trout and splinter knife for that long. My primary edc's change but that one stays in my other pocket as my backup for fish, splinters and emergencies! 👍

[@guitarhero8110]

Love Ken Onion. My Homefront is a regular in my EDC rotation.

[@Lrussell6871]

I have always said I won’t but a custom level knife. After seeing how down to earth he is and how cool his knives are might need to take that back

[@ocomegashadowstacking5886]

Wow really really amazing/awesome BladeHQ video!!! :D

[@jojojaykay]

OcOmega Shadow :D

[@darylhicks7008]

Love Ken Onion Designs. I made so many orders from blade hq in last three weeks, I forgot to throw a Carbon Fiber Leek in there in D2. I will wait for my wife to get past the fact I made four orders in 3 weeks.. But Next is a Hogue, Microtec, Giant Mouse, Benchmade, and that farout Spyderco Yojimbo. Man that thing is cool. I think I have a problem. lol I have given away over 30 knives but keep my more high end knives of course as well as gifts from people. I do believe my next Hillbilly Fancy will be a Benchmade Crooked River. I don't have a Gucci Tactical yet.... Need to think about that one. Ken Onion is such a great guy as well. Would love to meet that guy one day. Carried many Ken Onion designs over the years and loved Kershaw for a lot of years/.

[@wild1835]

Holy shit I’ve never heard anyone but me ever mention Otts name I have two of his knives to this day and have had them since I started cooking

[@ethanpierce8567]

Duude. Thumbs up from Anderson 👍

[@paulomarcellus]

Amazing guy!!

[@keenanschouten2582]

Remarkable. More interviews with designers.

[@Warlord2029]

When Ken talks everyone listens!))

[@TheMode541]

This guy is my idol.

[@DEVILDOGDIVING]

I absolutely want a ken onion original from ken onion.

[@rickyhurtt8692]

I really try but wish sooooo much I had 1/100th of the foresight that Ken has. In just about anything mechanical be it knives architecture or construction it means everything

[@lilfroag4048]

Do an episode on Top knives for self defense. Would love to see that!

[@TKO593]

The Leek is the knife that started my knife addiction. This man is the worst enabler.

[@DG__3]

Ken Onion is awesome.

[@SnerASDF]

U know i had many knives and took no care of them and lost them many times until i bought the ripple and damn i abused that thing but it was so handy it was a 6 year or so EVERY DAY carry i cut griptape with that thing and after 5 years i sharpen it for the first time one of my all time favorites and the one that really started me getting into knives i liked knives befor but from that knife on i never left home without one

[@92egturbo]

Awesome.

[@bryanedwards9464]

Ken Onion is what I think the American dream is. I wanna be Ken Onion.

[@Draxxx2k]

0:15 damn this bass gave me goosebumps

[@salokcin69]

This video was awesome and should totally become a series like Wow! Meet your maker Mondays, every first Monday of the month anyone? I have one question after this video. What IS Ken Onion's TV/fidget knife?

[@theonionpatch4905]

salokcin69 a Tony Bose zulu

[@Battlegris]

Ken's designs have had far more reach than he thinks. I live in a place with very strict laws regarding knives. Before Ken, the law was (simply put): "any spring assisted, swissblade etc is illegal". Along came the assisted knife, and the lawmakers where like: "....... F... this! All knives that can be opened with one hand are ILLEGAL!)

[@stringtwister7654]

Ken is the best knife designer on Earth. What I would give if he was my neighbor! Lol What is the super Cobalt steel he's talking about? I can't really find anything?

[@guitartec]

Still got me 2003 Chive serrated. Looks brand new.

[@brianhilligoss]

guitartec then use it.