The Makers 2024
2024 is where it all started:
Makers were given just two requirements, follow Ben Halbauer’s knife template, and use a monosteel blade. Beyond that, they had complete freedom. Here’s what they created.
Ben Halbauer: Alb Knives
One of the original co founders of Klingen für Gutes (Blades for Good), Ben is known for his signature “coffin” handles across both his kitchen and EDC knife models. In the EDC world he’s especially recognized for models like the Toe Pincher and the Coffin Nail, a design that helped earn him the nickname “the Coffin Maker.” Beyond the bench, Ben also co hosts the “63 HRC” podcast with Tim Kögler.
Mershad Taghinejad: Shir Knives
Mershad approaches every build with meticulous attention to detail. Dialing in grinds, fit and finish, and overall balance so that each knife feels as good as it looks. Each piece reflects a steady constant drive to refine his process, pushing for cleaner execution and better performance with every knife that leaves his bench.
Tim Kögler: Spira Knives
Tim Kögler is the German maker behind Spira Knives, building hand forged kitchen knives one at a time. His focus is clean geometry, using steels ranging from monosteel to hand forged Damascus. Tim is one of the original co founders of Klingen für Gutes (Blades for Good) and also co hosts the “63 HRC” podcast with Ben Halbauer, helping connect and grow the German speaking knife community.
Keith Colby: K.Colby Knives
Founder of knifematerial.at and “The Edge of Hope,” Keith is a well known connector in the European knife scene. From sourcing hard to find knifemaking supplies to promoting makers and tool suppliers, he’s deeply involved in supporting the community. He also founded and co hosts the High Carbon Podcast with Albert Anglberger and Paulius Jančiukas, where they spotlight makers, events, and everything knife making.
Benjamin Kamon: Kamon Knives
Self employed since 2019, Ben combines his knowledge as a former machinist with years of practice at the forge to produce kitchen knives that not only look great, but are built with performance in mind.
Christoph Feichtl: Kalderum Klingenkunst
From kitchen cutlery and EDCs to hunting knives, liner locks, and even swords. If it has an edge, Christoph makes it and he does it well. His work has won him countless awards at various knife shows and it shows in each one of his knives.
Johannes Beyerlein: Johbe Knives
Driven by a passion for cooking, Johannes builds knives for people who need their tools to perform, from home cooks and professional chefs to outdoor enthusiasts. With an emphasis on ergonomics, balance, and durability, each piece is made for comfort and use in mind. Alongside unique one off builds, JOHBE also offers small series runs and a kitchen knife configurator, with every blade finished and sharpened by hand for reliable, everyday performance.
Marc Metka: Solid Grind
A mechanical engineer with a passion for metalwork and cooking, Marc builds with performance at the center, focusing on precision, ergonomics, and very thin cutting geometry. His knives are designed to feel light and nimble in hand, with thoughtful details like rounded spines and choils, balanced handling, and durable, hygienic handle builds.
Timo Savelkouls: TSAK Knives
Former chef turned knifemaker, Timo Savelkouls blends Japanese inspired lines with a detail driven, perfectionist process. Largely self taught by the online knife community, he moved from collecting folders to building his own hand finished knives, refining each piece by eye for symmetry and feel. His work favors clean geometry, solid ergonomics, and honest, use ready finishes.
Oliver Märtens: OEL Kitchen Knives
A former tool mechanic with years of metalwork and fabrication experience, Oliver started forging knives in 2015. His work is known for simple, elegant lines and function first utility, with each piece carefully thought out and flawlessly executed right down to his trademark hidden tang handle construction that is a true work of art in itself.
Derrik Wulf: Wulf Knives
Born in the USA, Derrick has been a Journeyman Smith with the ABS since 2013 and a member of the MAK (Messerarbeitskreis Olching), where he currently lives in Bavaria, Germany. He may be a man of few words, but his work speaks for itself. From classic American style bowies to performance driven kitchen knives, his work has been featured in countless knife magazines and is highly sought after by collectors and knife enthusiasts around the world.
Sven Schellander: Messerschmiede Schellander
After years in the music world and working as a sign painter, Sven shifted gears in 2019 and began building knives meant to last. Today his work is centered on custom, performance focused kitchen knives, especially gyutos and nakiris, while still taking on outdoor and EDC builds when requested. He’s a firm believer in geometry first, pairing it with careful finishing and clear, customer first communication throughout the process. Beyond new builds, Sven also offers sharpening and repairs, and even refurbishes earlier work as his skills continue to evolve.
Martin Huber: Messerschmiede Huber
Martin Huber has been making knives full time since 2016, carrying on a blacksmithing tradition that runs in his family. He shares his methods and day to day work on his YouTube channel, and teaches the process hands on through classes available at his shop. Beyond the forge, Martin is also the driving force behind Knife Show Austria, where the 2026 charity project will be showcased. You can find his knives at select dealers across Europe and the U.S.
Albert Anglberger: Messermanufaktur A.Anglberger
Co-founder of the Salzburger Messerschmiede, Albert is a self proclaimed tool nerd with a perfectionist streak. He’s all about smart solutions, clean execution, and fine details that make a knife perform. Under the oXe Tools Forge and Steel label, he supports other makers by producing hand forged Damascus and laminated steels, along with purpose built tools and fixtures for knifemaking. Beyond the bench, Albert also co hosts and edits the High Carbon Podcast, where they spotlight makers, events, and everything in the custom knife world.
Andreas Fellner: Salzburger Messerschmiede
Trained as a master electrician, Andi is a true power hammer enthusiast who, together with his business partner Albert Anglberger, has built one of Austria’s best equipped forges. From kitchen knives to hunting knives, they handle it all, producing Damascus steel, forging tools, and offering services like hardening and sharpening. Alongside the custom work, Andi is also deeply involved in running regular knifemaking and Damascus courses.
Tobias Hangler: Messerschmiede Hangler
As a co founder of the highly popular steel Apex Ultra, and team member of the gold vein project. Tobias approaches knifemaking with a distinctly scientific mindset. He’s constantly researching new ways to improve and streamline his process, especially when it comes to heat treatment. That drive to optimize also led him to develop Scale-X, a product designed to reduce scaling and decarburization during heat treatment.
Jonathan Kuhn: Hopwood Goods
Jonathan Kuhn is the maker behind Hopwood Goods, balancing life at the forge with a medical career. He’s built a reputation for tight, consistent batch work and standout collaborations with other European makers. Producing chef knives known for serious cutting performance.
Christoph Gihring: Forge Works
Christoph builds practical, hard use EDC knives and is known for his rock pattern finishes, hand textured handles, and stonewashed surfaces. He also offers select kitchen knives, drawing on his background as a former chef. For this year’s charity project he produced a kitchen knife for us in his signature G10 rock pattern.
Christoph Wild: Wild World
A self taught bladesmith who works in small batches, Christoph forges his own Damascus and builds one off pieces under the wwwild_world name. His work appears at MAK Messertage Olching, where he’s a member, showing pieces and taking part in the event’s live forging program. He makes both kitchen and outdoor knives, often in high contrast Damascus, with practical, use forward finishing.