History

My name is Jake Hintze. I've always had a passion for metal work. I've always been the guy that says "I can make that". My passion for knives came from the need for a better knife made the way I wanted it. I started making knives in early 2015. I had never really intended to sell my knives and certainly never thought someone would pay good money for one. I was very surprised when after seeing some of my work people started asking how much for me to make them one. My craft quickly grew and I knew I had to follow this path.

I'm currently making knives part time while still working as a full time Paramedic. I pump out knives as fast as I can while still working. It is my goal to make every knife better than the last. To most my knives look great and have no imperfections. To me there is always something I could have done better and I will never stop seeing my knives that way. I truly want the best product to go to you. These knives are meant to be used and abused while asking for more. Looks are important but function is number one.

The Process

I make my knives using what is called "material removal". I start with a bar of steel and use a sanding belt grinder to shape the steel into a knife. I then heat treat the steel. This process involves heating the steel to a crucial temperature and then rapidly cooling it. This hardens the steel making it able to hold an edge. The knife must now go through a temper. At this point the steel is hard but very brittle. If you drip it before the temper it will shatter like glass. To temper, the steel is heated to a lower temperature than the heat treat faze and held for up to 4 hours. I then fit a handle using very strong epoxy and pins making the handle a permanent part of the knife. Sand paper and buffing wheels are then used to finish the steel. Putting a finish on the knife can take hours of manual hand work. After the steel is finished an edge is put on the knife and it is stropped to make it razor sharp.

You can't have a knife without a sheath. I make two different kinds of sheaths. I use Kydex which is a moldable thermal plastic. This is form fit to each knife by heating it and then pressing the knife into the plastic to give a perfect fit. This material is great for knives that will see a lot of moisture and dirty conditions as is it easy to clean and doesn't hold moisture. I also hand make leather sheaths. Leather is a beautiful material as well as a classic favorite. I hand cut, stitch, and stain the leather to a specified color. The leather is then conditioned with Mink oil paste which shines, softens, and makes it water resistant. I'm happy to make either kind for your knife to best fit your needs.

To see a closer look at the process check out Hintze Custom Knives on Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to follow, like, and share!