The Gambit

Rinaldi, Trace

"Like many knife makers, my interest in knives began at an early age. Raised on a farm in rural Southern California, I used knives on a daily basis. My interest in hand-made knives came about from meeting a man named Norm Levine. We would talk for hours about knives and knife-making in general. One year he just asked me, "Why don't you try making knives?" He told me what basic equipment to purchase, and he gave me some ideas on how things work. I read everything I could find on the subject, and after some trial and error, I began to make knives that functioned well. I constantly search for the best materials and methods to improve my work. I don't have an exotic military or machining background, but I am confident in my abilities to make knives that excel in terms of performance and function, as well as even looking nice. I feel the most important ingredients in a good knife are blood, sweat, and tears." Trace passed away in 2021.