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© Elīza Grīnberga
© Krišjānis Grīnbergs
© Krišjānis Grīnbergs
© Krišjānis Grīnbergs

Krišjānis Grīnbergs

  • Karl Walter Tools
  • Knife maker
  • Raiskuma, Latvia
  • Rising Star
Krišjānis Grīnbergs Knife maker
Contact
Latvian, English
Hours:
By appointment only
Phone:
+371 29400668
© Dāvids Grīnbergs

Man of steel

  • • Krišjānis makes unique handmade kitchen knives
  • • His brand name honours his blacksmith great-grandfather Karl Walter
  • • He is inspired by traditional Japanese knives and Scandinavian design

Krišjānis Grīnbergs started making knives seven years ago, after wanting to go for a hike but realising he didn’t have an appropriate knife. Since he'd always liked working with his hands, he decided to find information about knife making and try his hand at it. After many books, YouTube videos and virtual consultations with the best masters, Krišjānis’s hobby turned into a full-time job and the brand Karl Walter Tools was born. Every knife of the brand is one-of-a-kind and handmade by Krišjānis himself. Some are made using a hammer and an anvil, others using a special belt grinder he made himself. Although some of the knife handles are bright and colourful, real works of abstract art, Krišjānis believes that “less is more”, so he doesn’t complicate his knives, preferring to follow traditional and tested techniques of knife making.

Read the full interview

Works

  • © Krišjānis Grīnbergs
  • © Krišjānis Grīnbergs
  • © Krišjānis Grīnbergs
  • © Krišjānis Grīnbergs
  • © Krišjānis Grīnbergs
Photo: © Krišjānis Grīnbergs
Hand forged chef's knife

This chef's knife is made using traditional forging techniques and modern materials. The form of the carbon steel blade is inspired by the traditional Japanese-style gyuto knife (similar to western chef's knives) and the handle is crafted out of orange padauk wood. The wood and metal are held together by two brass rivets. Some forging marks are intentionally left on the blade. This knife is intended as a multipurpose kitchen knife.

Length 34 cm
Height 5 cm

Photo: © Krišjānis Grīnbergs
Micro-adventure knife

This small outdoor knife is designed to be a light and extremely durable companion for wild plant foraging. The blade is made from satin-finished ELMAX stainless powder steel, tempered twice in liquid nitrogen. The handle is crafted from black woven carbon fibre. The knife has a small finger guard integrated into the blade design, while the tip of the blade is harpoon shaped, increasing its piercing ability and aesthetics.

Length 13 cm

Photo: © Krišjānis Grīnbergs
Hand forged adventure knife with wooden sheath

This hand forged carbon steel knife is crafted using traditional forging techniques. Some forging marks are intentionally left at the spine of the blade. The multicoloured handle is evocative of a Vincent van Gogh painting. The knife is made with a dyed oak wooden sheath with a carbon fibre pin that matches the knife handle.

Length 22.5 cm

Photo: © Krišjānis Grīnbergs
Recycled plastics kitchen knife set of two

The blade shapes of these knives are inspired by traditional Japanese-style gyuto and santoku knives, and the handles are crafted from upcycled cosmetic bottles. The handles yield clues about the material's history, with fragments of barcodes and labels still visible.

Length 30.5 cm
Length 23.5 cm

Photo: © Krišjānis Grīnbergs
Mini santoku kitchen knife

This mini santoku kitchen knife is an ideal companion for the larger knives in the kitchen. The oval two-tone dyed maple burl handle resembles two different oceans meeting each other. Some forging marks from the hammer are intentionally left on the blade to make it less perfect and more natural.

Length 23 cm

Enjoy an experience with Krišjānis Grīnbergs

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