Professional Resume Template for
Knife Maker
Silas R. Vance
Portland, OR
(503) 555-0194
silas.vance.blades@email.com
linkedin.com/in/silas-vance-blades | silasvancecustoms.com
Professional Summary
Precision-focused Knife Maker and custom bladesmith with 5 years of experience designing and forging high-performance culinary and outdoor cutlery. Expert in high-carbon steel heat treatment, Damascus steel pattern welding, and handle shaping using exotic woods and G10 materials. Fabricated over 300 custom kitchen and hunting knives, increasing shop production efficiency by 20% and improving blade sharpness retention metrics by 15% through optimized heat-treatment cycles. Skilled with belt grinders, power hammers, surface grinders, and heat-treating ovens. Deep understanding of metallurgy, edge geometry, and hand-finishing techniques to deliver exceptional cutlery products.
Work Experience
Lead Custom Knife Maker — Cascade Bladesmiths
Portland, OR | April 2024 – Present
- Hand-forged and finished 120+ high-end Damascus steel culinary knives annually, attaining a 98% customer satisfaction score and increasing custom order revenue by 25%.
- Standardized shop heat-treatment protocols for high-carbon tool steels (1095, O1, W2), reducing blade warpage rate from 8% to less than 2% across all production cycles.
- Designed and fabricated custom leather and Kydex sheaths for 150+ outdoor knives, improving product packaging quality and reducing shipping damage instances by 100%.
- Implemented a digital inventory tracking system for exotic handle materials and abrasives, cutting waste by 18% and saving $4,500 in annual raw material costs.
Apprentice Bladesmith — Ironwood Forge
Eugene, OR | June 2021 – March 2024
- Assisted senior bladesmiths in grinding, polishing, and hand-sanding 450+ custom chef knives, improving average finishing turnaround time by 15% while maintaining quality.
- Maintained and calibrated 3 major belt grinders, 1 power hammer, and 2 kiln ovens, reducing machine downtime by 22% through preventive maintenance scheduling.
- Managed shop safety standards for high-temperature operations, training 4 new apprentices and keeping shop accident rate at 0% over a 33-month tenure.
- Processed raw wood and micarta handle blocks using band saws and sanders, producing 300+ precision-shaped handle scales with under 1mm dimensional tolerance.
Education
Certificate in Bladesmithing and Metallurgy
Oregon College of Art and Craft · Portland, OR · 2021
Skills
Bladesmithing, Forging, Heat Treatment, Damascus Steel, Grinding, Hand Finishing, Handle Fitting, Sheath Making, Metallurgy, Edge Geometry, Shop Safety, Tool Maintenance, Kiln Calibration, Inventory Control, Detail Grinding
Projects
Custom Culinary Damascus Set
Role: Lead Bladesmith & Designer
Tools: 1084/15N20 Steel, Gas Forge, 2x72 Belt Grinder, Kiln
Forged a matching 5-piece culinary set using 320-layer Damascus steel, selling the set for $3,500 and achieving 100% on-time delivery for the custom commission.
Extreme-Condition Survival Blade
Role: R&D Bladesmith
Tools: CPM-3V Steel, Cryogenic Treatment, Kydex Molding
Engineered a heavy-duty survival knife with sub-zero cryo-treatment, increasing edge-retention by 30% under stress testing and passing all military-grade drop tests.
Certifications
- Apprentice Smith (American Bladesmith Society) (2022)
- OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Card (2021)
Additional information
- Languages: English (Native)
- Volunteer Work: Bladesmithing instructor for local youth metal arts camp (2023-present)
- Availability: 4 weeks notice
Job Market Insights
Market data and opportunities for
Knife Maker
Job Market Insights
$42,000
-
$78,000
Avg:
$59,000
Growth Outlook:
The employment outlook for Knife Makers and custom bladesmiths in the United States remains stable, driven by a growing appreciation for artisanal, high-quality hand-crafted goods and premium culinary tools. While industrial knife manufacturing faces competition from automated production and imports, custom bladesmiths who specialize in bespoke kitchen cutlery and collector-grade outdoor knives benefit from strong demand. Job openings for jewelers, precious stone, and metal workers are projected to see a minor decline, yet replacement needs will create about 4,000 annual openings.
-5% growth over 10 years
Key Skills Required
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