My workshop contains the mixed bag of machine and hand tools I have collected over the years, running the gamut from state-of-art CAD/CAM software to a World War II vintage ABA surface grinder. The Cardinal Rule in the workshop: You never have enough tools.

The largest and one of my most important machines is a TM-1 Toolroom Mill from Haas Automation in California. The TM-1 is a 1,500 kilo, 3-axis CNC milling machine which is invaluable in making not only knives but fixtures and other gizmos constantly needed to make knives. The TM-1 is directly connected to my computer system for repeatable precision from computer screen to machine table.

The most important aspect of a knife is the design, which I believe should combine beauty with functionality. I do my best to come up with innovative designs and produce them in the most appropriate way possible – whether that involves CNC programming or sitting at the workbench and using a file.

I design primarily with a pencil and paper, then with Solidworks, a 3D, parametric CAD program which allows me to create parts and simulate their function without actually making a physical prototype. Solidworks is quite expensive, but it has drastically reduced the time needed to go from concept to finished knife.

Buying equipment is tough enough, learning how to utilize expensive and often potentially dangerous machinery effectively is where the real difficulty begins. And despite an excellent machine park, every knife is an individual creation. Even my machine ground kitchen knives contain many, many hand operations before completion. It usually takes me 25-30 hours to construct a folding knife.

As a self-taught designer and machinist, I learn something new every day – sometimes the Hard Way. Luckily I have also been blessed to receive a great deal of help from folks around the world, often via the internet. I'd like to take this opportunity to say "Thank you" to all who have given so generously of their time and knowledge.