Steve Janik Interview with USAKnifeMaker.com

This week we interview knife maker Steve Janik.

Steve Janik is our featured Knife Maker this Week. He is a part time maker that works in spurts. He doesn’t do anything in the knife shop for a while and then puts out several knives in a short time frame. His attention to detail, fit and finish will stand up to anyone’s, anywhere. To give you an idea of what a good guy he is, I met Steve through KnifeDogs.com when we first opened it. We (I did anyway) got a wild hair to have a KnifeDogs booth at the Blade Show. Steve volunteered to help out in the booth the entire weekend. All he charged was a lunch and a couple beers. He wanted a foot rub but he didn’t get it from me. We talk at least once a week on the phone to see who can make the other one laugh more. I am definitely funnier but don’t tell him that. Steve is in the high end custom cabinet business. He also has made several trips to Africa as an accomplished dangerous big game hunter and Safari Club member.

-Tracy Mickley

• Are you a full time or part time knife maker?
• Part time
• Generally, what kinds of knives do you make the most of?
• Fixed tang hunting or tactical
• Do you forge, stock remove or both?
• Stock removal
• What made you decide to start making knives?
•  I’ve had and loved knives all my life
• Do you sell your knives? If so, how do you sell the majority of them via internet, dealer, shows, word of mouth, etc?
• Word of mouth
• What advice would you give to a brand new guy just getting into knife making?
• Join a forum immediately. The amount of knowledge that is available to share is amazing. Take advantage of it.
• Whose shop would you like to spend a day in and why?
• Bruce Bump. The Master’s Master in my opinion.

• Who has influenced you the most?
• Bruce Bump
• If you are part time, what is your “day” job? If you are full time, what was your job previous to knife making?
• Custom cabinetry
• What do you like most about knife making?
•  The satisfaction of making a working tool that other people appreciate.
• What do you like least about knife making?
• Grinding dust
• Do you make the sheaths also? 
• No
• What is your Every Day Carry?
• Bump Slippie, Boker Magnum Auto, Buck 110
• If you are full time, what surprised you the most about being a full time maker?
• Which shows do you attend to sell at?
• AKA in the past.

• It seems every knife maker is working on a new skill, what are you working on that is new or you are just working to get better at it?
• My next big push will be slippies.
• What has been the hardest lesson to learn about knife making?
• Go slow, be patient and listen.
• Do you have any knife making heroes? Who are they?
• Just Tracy.
• If you actively sell your knives, how do you market them? What has worked best for you?
• If I had any to sell, I would show them on a forum first.
• Do you take orders or commissions? If you take commissions, what is your current lead time? Do you charge a deposit?
• I currently don’t take orders.

• If you don’t take commissions, what is the best way to buy one of your knives?
• Currently you would have to buy from a collector.
• Is there a knife you are most proud of? (why, if so)
• The Vigilante Bowie. This knife was shown in both Blade Mag and 2014 Knives Annual.
• How long have you been making knives now?
• 5 years
• Do you make anything else you sell?
• Kydex tactical sheaths.
• Do you have a quick shop tip to share?
• Always, always wear eye protection.
• What would you suggest to anyone wanting to learn how to make knives?
• Contact a local maker on a forum and arrange a visit to his shop.

• What are you working on now?
• Slippie patterns
• Have you gotten hurt making knives?
• Burned, bruised, junk in eye and some hurt feelings.
• If you are not in the USA, tell us a bit about knife making in your country.
• What equipment does your shop have?
• No Weld grinder, buffers, drill press, metal band saw, surface grinder, mill many hand tools.
• Most makers love their shop tools. Which is your favorite shop tool?
• Cordless Dremel
• What is your design process? Do you draw it first or just go with the force?

• I do draw first and plan everything out mathematically if I am doing any machining or milling. If not machined, I usually free hand it.
• How long does it take on the average for you to make a knife?
• 8 to 12 hours
• Can you give us an idea of what some of your knives sell for lately?
• Lately $500 to $700 but have gone for as much as $3900
• Knife making isn’t always great every day. What was the lowest point in knife making for you? How did you bounce back?
• My real job usually determines my mood in the knife shop. My best days are when I’m working on a gift knife.
• If you could only use one steel the rest of your days as a knife maker, what would it be? 1095. I know that’s old-timey, but I like old carbon steel.
• Do you do any engraving or scrim work? How did you learn it?
• No skill at that.