Koji Hara Folder

Hara, Koji

A native of Japan, Koji Hara was born in 1949 in Imari City, and is one of the most traveled of Japanese knifemakers, attending shows throughout his home country as well as over the United States and Europe. When he began making his first knives in 1988, they were his versions of Bob Loveless designs. Three years later he held a one-man knife show in Seki City, Japan, heart of the production cutlery industry. It was at this point in his career that he realized he had to make and sell knives of his own concept and design if he was going to succeed. In 1994 Koji had become a Probationary Member of the American Knifemakers Guild, and in 1997 a Voting Member. During this period he was participating in at least five American shows per year, and would soon be attending shows in Europe. Annually, this prolific maker attends two knife shows in Japan, in addition to having maybe two one-man shows, usually in smaller communities, where collectors don't visit the larger cities. He feels these small shows enable more and more people to become familiar with custom knives. He has received awards for his folders such as "Best in Show" and "Most Innovative" in several international knife shows. Koji primarily uses a powdered stainless steel known as Cowry-Y, made by Daido Steel in Japan, for his blades. It holds an excellent cutting edge and polishes to a high mirror finish. Although one of the drawbacks of powdered steel is its weakness towards lateral impact, this can be corrected through proper heat-treating. Koji also makes knives featuring ATS-34, D-2, 440C and other steel blades, based on customer preference. His preferred method of making blades is via stock removal. A folder specialist, he often carves the handle material into a terraced landscape to feature his classic "Air-Step" design.

Knife House Hara

Hinderer, Rick

In the mid 1980’s Rick Hinderer began his knife making journey making art knives in a small 14′ x 18′ turkey coop with none of the modern amenities, like heat or running water! Art knives are a far cry from the tactical scene which Rick is so deeply entrenched in now. Over the years his meticulous attention to knife design and knife making, coupled with his real world experience as a Fire Fighter / EMT sets him apart from the rest. Rick’s design philosophy is deeply rooted in his experience with using his knives as part of his first responder tools. That catalyst of change from art knives to hard use tactical was after Rick joined the rescue dive team. He really began to look at knives and designs more as hard use tactical tools than works of art. Rick began changing over from old world knife making techniques to modern CNC precision manufacturing. With the combination of designing art knives, and his real world experience as a first responder, this unusual perspective allows him to design hard use tactical folders that are not only aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but extremely comfortable in the hand. All of Rick’s products are engineered to go the distance when it counts the most whether it be when life is on the line, or you just need a good cutting tool.