About Fry Custom Knives
My name is Jason Fry. I make knives part time, working as a psychologist for mentally retarded persons as my day job. I take making knives seriously, and I try to learn a little from every experience. Knives are at the same time tools and works of art. A pretty knife that doesn’t hold an edge isn’t much of a knife. On the other hand, an ugly knife isn’t any better than what can be bought at the store for much less. I try to make every knife both functional and beautiful.
I make most of my knives by the stock removal method, although I do occasionally forge a knife. See the “How I Build a Knife” page on the sidebar for a step-by-step picture tutorial of the process. Many of my blades are made out of old files. I use only American made files, preferring Nicholson. I also make knives out of trap springs, 1080 carbon steel, certain circular saw blades (8670M), and occasionally other “found” steel. I recently bought a small electronically controlled kiln for heat treating small blades, and also some D2 and 440C steels. I plan to continue to branch out into other steels as I develop in the craft.
I prefer to use materials that have a story. For example, the maple on some of my handles was salvaged from my father’s high school gym floor, and some of the antler handles come from sheds found by or deer killed by my family. As another example, a knife I made recently used wood from a 150 year old Live Oak tree and metal from a broken farm implement from my great-grandfather’s farm. If you have one of your grandfather’s old files, or some wood or antler you’ve hunted or gathered, I would be glad to use your materials so the story of the knife is yours, not mine. I harvest and cut most of my own wood, but at customer request will make a knife handle with virtually any material that is available through knife supply businesses.
I do not currently have any knives for sale, but I am taking orders. To see pictures of knives that I have made, click “Knife Gallery” on the Categories sidebar on the left hand side of this page.
Occasionally I will list a knife for sale at the Texas Hunting Forum classifieds.
I frequent Knife Dogs forums and also Bladeforums as user jkf96a.