Tradecraft Auto

Hoback, Jake

Jake Hoback had a variety of jobs and experiences before turning to full-time knife making and becoming a prominent figure in the industry. He studied and worked as a fish and wildlife scientific technician, was a machinist at a turbine engine company, and fabricated rock-crawling 4x4s. Jake started creating knives in 1990 in his back yard, pounding them out on a huge chunk of steel with a framing hammer and fence post nails. By 2003, Jake had sold his very first knife, and in 2009 started making knives full-time from his workshop in Northern Idaho. Jake has learned many techniques and skills from other knife makers throughout the years, but his initial work was completely self-taught. Jake’s knives are known for many innovative features, including the Hoback Roller Detent (HRD), internal lightening pockets, hardened stainless lock inserts, hardened bearing races, and smooth blade movement with no blade play. Jakes specializes in folding and fixed blade knives; but he especially enjoys the thought, design, and engineering that goes into folders.