From Collector to Maker: A Meaningful, Truly Custom Knife-Making Journey

My dad was a lifelong knife collector and a true craftsman who could build anything with his own hands. After he recently passed, my wife surprised me with a class at AK University as a tribute to him—a way to step into the craft he loved and build my own custom knife from scratch.

As someone who collects knives and appreciates fine tools, this experience gave me an entirely new level of respect for handmade cutlery. The real eye-opener was grinding the primary bevels. I’ve used belt sanders before for basic woodworking, but freehanding clean, crisp bevel lines on hardened steel with precision body control and eye alignment is an intricate art form. You quickly realize how many tiny nuances dictate whether a grind comes out flawless.

The private, one-on-one setup with Andreas is second to none. Rather than forcing a rigid, cookie-cutter schedule, Andreas gives you the freedom to explore, dial in the details you care about most, and learn by actually doing. He has the master-level expertise to guide you through every hurdle while letting you create a blade with your own distinct personality.

Whether you have previous tool experience or you're stepping into a knife shop for the very first time, AK University delivers an exceptional, personalized hands-on education. I recommend it without hesitation.