25 Years of Craft: Why We're Redefining "Production"

After nearly 25 years of making knives professionally, and 15 years dedicated to it full-time, I've learned an immense amount about my craft. I've explored countless methods, celebrated successes, and learned from missteps. Along the way, I've had the honor of meeting incredible people and evolving my process.

One of the most important lessons I've learned is the power of a name. When you don't name something correctly, it can misrepresent the work, and the term "Production" has never sat right with me.

When people think of "production," they envision massive factories churning out thousands of identical items. That has never been what we do. Our largest runs have never exceeded 300 pieces, and are often done in smaller batches of 100 with unique variations. From the early "Ultra High End Production" (UHEP) name to simply "Production," the label has always felt inaccurate. It diminishes the immense effort, precision, and world-class quality poured into every single piece.

Our quality control is second to none. Our machining is impeccable. With over 20,000 knives made across 87 SKUs, our return rate for service is less than one knife per month—most often from heavy use, not defects. Calling this "production" does a disservice to the craftsmanship.

So, I'm changing the game.

Moving forward, we are eliminating the "Production" label. The distinction will be clearer and more honest. You can buy a Kwaiback, or you can buy a Kwaiback Custom. You can get a Centurion Crash Axe, or a Centurion Custom.

A Custom will always be a unique, often bespoke, piece reflecting a higher investment of time and materials. Its counterpart, however, is not a "production" item. It is the definitive version of that design, crafted to our exacting standards.

This change brings clarity and properly honors the work. I appreciate you taking the time to understand this evolution.

To see the next generation of our craft, please check out the New Kwaiback MK7 and the upcoming Kwaiback Fixed Blade MK3.