Why did you choose this craft?
Making knives means creating functional art. It's a tool used on a daily basis, a companion in adventures or in the kitchen. A good knife can take this experience to another level and give extra confidence. I wanted to create something long-lasting and practical.
What is your specialisation?
Kitchen knives: thin, light, very sharp and delicate tools. The skills to properly harden them come with time, because each steel has a different hardening recipe, especially stainless steel, with which I’ve achieved results that exceed several respectable manufactured knives.
© Krišjānis Grīnbergs
Where do you find inspiration?
The colour combinations of the knife handles are inspired by nature, birds and insects. Traditional Japanese knife culture and design also speak to me deeply, as well as German industrial designer Dieter Rams's view of aesthetics, design and ergonomics.
What might people not realise about knife making?
It takes about three full days to make one knife of good quality. There are more than 100 different steels used in knife blades, and each has its strengths and weaknesses. You can only choose the right steel when you know what the knife will be used for.