Steve Culver

                                          Welcome to the Culver Knives Web-Site

    Member of the following associations:

Thank you for visiting my web site.  I am Steve Culver, an American Bladesmith Society Master Bladesmith Knifemaker and a Master Gunsmith.  I am also the President and Treasurer of the Kansas Custom Knifemaker's Association.

I started making knives in 1987, sold my first knife in 1989 and passed the American Bladesmith Society's Mastersmith test in 2007.

I am no longer accepting orders for knives with specific delivery dates. However, I still want to hear from customers about what they would like to see me build, and what they may be interested in purchasing.  I will maintain a list of names, with contact information, and the style of knife that the individual is interested in.  If I have a knife available in that design, I will contact customers beginning with the first person to have requested that style of knife. 

I attend several knife shows each year and make knives to put on my table at these shows.  Occasionally, I will have some knives available for immediate sale that did not sell at a show.  These knives will be listed on the "Available" page.  If you see anything that you would like to purchase, please contact me to make arrangements.

The knives shown in the "Knife Gallery" are mostly pieces that have been sold.

All blades are forged by me, using 5160, 1084, or 1095 steels for carbon steel blades.  Damascus steel blades are made from any of the carbon steels that I typically use, laminated with 15n20 or O-1 steel.  Each blade is individually heat treated in my shop.

I prefer to use natural materials for most knife handles, but I will use a manmade material for severe duty knives. One piece handles or mortised tang handles are used on hidden tang knives.  On mortised tang blades, the tang is mortised halfway into each of the handle slabs.

The types of knives that I make include bowies, daggers, hunters, fighters, swords, battle axes, tomahawks, lock back and slip joint folders.  I enjoy making period type pieces and my favorites are 19th century English and American style Bowies. 

Guards are usually press fit, although some are soldered.  Guard and fitting materials that I use are stainless steel, nickel/silver, mild steel, sterling silver, bronze and copper.

I can supply sheaths, made by me, for any of my knives.  Sheaths can be made of leather, wood, nickel/silver, stainless steel or sterling silver.

My knives are warranted against defects in workmanship for as long as I can work, as long as the knife is not abused.  I cannot guarantee natural handle materials as they may fade, crack, chip, or shrink with use and climate change.

Making knives is a never ending adventure to me.  I can think of no other craft that provides an opportunity to work with so many different types of materials, or offers so many avenues for embellishment on an individual piece.  The quest to make a better quality knife and decorate it using a newly acquired skill keeps the craft challenging and rewarding for me.  I hope that you enjoy my knives as much as I have enjoyed making them.

Home  Knife Gallery  Knives Available  Knife Sheaths  Works in Progress  Tutorials  Jigs and Fixtures  Show Schedule  Background  Contact Info  Shop Gallery  Links Page