JPFO Industry Member,
Peter Martin, knife maker
"Welcome to Martin Knives... I am a custom knife maker in South East Wisconsin. I make everything from simple, yet rugged hunting knives to ultra-fancy folders. I have sort of developed a name for myself as the "Bug-Man", with examples of scorpions, butterflies, beetles, and even a praying mantis that all resemble their real life bug counterparts." Find Peter Martin on the web at http://petermartinknives.com/
(Jpfo currently has several examples of Peter Martin's superb knives available as bonus gifts for upper levels of donation)
I have been making knives for over 20 years. I believe in sole authorship and I stand behind my work 100%. At the tender age of 13 my father helped me make a knife out of an industrial band saw blade. I finished the knife, and after a few days of cutting things, started throwing the knife. It was fun up until the knife broke.
Years past by and I was looking for a good hunting knife to dress out my game. I contacted a local maker to placed order for a O-1 steel bladed hunter with Micarta scales and a plain leather sheath. It performed so well that I asked him to show me how it was done. Luckily for me he agreed! In 1987 I decided to give knife making a try. I produced some functional knives, rough by today's standards, and I actually had my first sale by 1988.
I started hand forging tool steel in 1989 after going to local smithy to watch him in action.
In 1992, after I had built a 780 sq. ft. shop to house all of the equipment I had been accumulating, I started making Damascus steel. I have attended several Hammer-ins over the years which helped me to see other smiths in action and pick up many good pointers and tricks along the way. I'm quick to credit Howard Clark, Jim Miller and R.B. Johnson for their many years of help and advice.
In 1994 I started making folding knives including liner locks, lock backs, automatics, assisted openers and slip joint pocket knives. Many of the folders I make today are considered art knives because of the choice materials and workmanship involved. I use gold and silver, mosaic Damascus, exotic materials and hot bluing to produce some stunning examples of art knives.
Having a full time job as a truck driver, knife making remained part time until 2003 when I decided to become a full time maker.
Materials Used:
I use only the highest qualities of handle materials and tool steels in all of my knives. Every single knife I make has a 100% fully functional blade and I stand behind my workmanship for the life of the knife.
I try to use as much stabilized handle material as possible in order to help prevent thermal expansion and cracking, but some materials are just destined to expand and contract throughout their lifetime of use. Because of this, I cannot warranty any natural handle materials.
I buy all of my steel from reputable steel mills which grants me the knowledge of the exact heat treat specs for each type of steel. This means that there is no guess work or "get by" processes during any part of the knife's construction. Each blade receives a heat treatment where the temperature is digitally controlled for accuracy, followed by a hardness test of the blade. All of this guarantees that the customer receives a knife that is constructed to the best of my ability using the best equipment I have available.
Contact info:
Peter Martin
28220 N. Lake Dr.
Waterford, WI. 53185
Home: (262) 706-3076