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Quick study teaches himself to make tactical knives

by Caleb M. Soptelean Bigfork Eagle
| January 31, 2014 1:32 PM

Steven Kelly is in a cult... a cult of knive lovers that is.

Kelly, a 48-year-old retired sheriff’s deputy from Fresno, Calif., moved to the Bigfork area in 2000 and started a knife-making business, SK Knives, two years later.

“I had gone through a divorce and wanted an expensive hunting knife,” he said, explaining how he got started in the business. “I couldn’t afford it and I’m a stubborn Irish guy so I figured I could build it myself,” he said. “I still have that knife today and use it for hunting.”

Kelly, who built a home and an adjacent shop off the Swan HIghway in 2005, said he got started “by ruining steel until it worked. I’ve been getting a little better every year.”

Kelly’s wife, Malissa, notes that he is a  journeymansmith knife maker certified by the American Blade Society. There are approximately 200 to 300 of these in the world, he said. A journeymansmith is one step up from a bladesmith. A mastersmith is the highest rank. It takes about five years between classifications, Steven said. There are less than 100 mastersmiths in the world, but Steven said he currently doesn’t have the time to test for it. He’s too busy, and that’s a good thing.

Business is mostly word of mouth. “I don’t even take orders anymore because I got so backed up,” he said. “I have an international market that is Internet-based.”

His knives sell like hot cakes on the Internet. One of his knives sells in approximately 15 to 20 minutes once it’s posted, he said. Kelly explains that buyers typically are entered into a lottery if they want to buy a knife. If one’s number is drawn, the buyer gets to purchase the knife for the posted price, which is set by the builder.

Kelly’s hunting knives are for sale at Sportsman Ski Haus and run between $160 and $200. Folding or tactical knives are sold online and go for between $500 to $2,000 each.

Kelly recently posted a prototype knife with a micarta (carbon fiber) handle on a knife-making forum and got 150 people who wanted to buy it, he said. But it wasn’t for sale... yet.

When the 15-year law enforcement veteran started the business in 2002, “it just took off,” he said. He went full-time in 2010.

Kelly attends three knife shows every year and is at one in Las Vegas this week, the SHOT (Sporting Hunting Outdoor Trade) Show. Other shows he attends include the Blade Show in Atlanta in June and an Internet-sponsored tactical knife show in Las Vegas in September.

Kelly is currently making knives with ivory or carbon fiber handles. The ivory comes from elephant or walrus tusks. All have titanium frames and steel blades. He gets creative with the blade designs. Damascus designs are patterned welded steel (see photo).

In addition to the aforementioned parts, Kelly also makes all the other parts, including thumb studs, screws and standoffs, which separate the frame from the handle.

Speaking of what he calls the cult of knife lovers, Kelly said most of his tactical knives are collectibles and not used.

He enjoys his livelihood. “I’m fortunate enough to be able to walk 65 feet to work every day,” he said. “I’m astounded that people are willing to spend a lot of money on something someone makes like this. I want to be able to keep doing what I’m doing for the rest of my life. Like any business, it’s constantly evolving. You have to stay on top of it.”

That’s where the trade shows come in, but he also learns from an Internet network. The Usual Suspects Network is a knife-making forum that helps keep Kelly on the top of his game.

For more information, go online at SKknives.com.