Thoughts of Hubris

Who the hell needs a handmade knife?

I have burned many hours off the clock watching hunting and fishing shows, camping, and overlanding vlogs, wilderness foraging and cooking shows, EDC pocket dumps, and gear reviews.  One tool that is a common thread throughout all these activities and disciplines is, of course, some kinda knife.  Me, being the way that I am, can’t help but notice that mass-produced production knives are very common, by a large margin.  I ask myself if the professionals, enthusiasts, and influencers are using production knives to filet trout, field dress game, and prepare dinner around the campfire, who the hell needs a handmade knife?

The truth is, no one.

For the sake of clarification, let’s just agree any knife found on a hanging display between cigarette lighters and cellphone chargers does not qualify as a quality production knife.    Good knives are rarely sold at swap meets and never sold at gas stations.  With that classification made, all the big-box sporting goods stores offer quality mass-produced knives that provide many benefits to the end user.  You can find one in any type or aesthetic you could ever imagine.  They are functional.  Big companies utilize the efficiency of mass production to hit price points for almost any budget. And most importantly, production knives are replaceable. 

A difference deeper than the cutting edge.

Irreplaceable.  That is the first universal distinction between a production knife and one that was made by hand.  A handmade knife is not replaceable.  Because of the absence of machine automation in the making process, variability from piece to piece is inevitable, if not deliberate.  That variability and uniqueness is the tangible representation of the care and attention the maker devoted to that exact knife.  Further, represented in each knife are the hours spent refining the maker’s artisanship.  The story of a handmade knife is unique and starts long before you take possession. That story continues to be written each time you pick that knife up. 

Connection to the task at hand.

Using a handmade knife brings connection and purpose to the task at hand in a way that production knives cannot.  Hubris knives are for those who understand that building a relationship with and using unique, quality hand tools enhance the human experience.  In that way, a Hubris knife will bring you closer to your outdoor and culinary pursuits.  Who the hell needs a handmade knife?  I say anyone looking to get the absolute most out of their time spent doing what they love. And those who appreciate doing it with style.