Makers

This is a list of reputable kitchen knife makers that should help any knife shoppers steer clear of deceptive brands. The list includes solo blacksmiths or small workshops that do in-house forging, as well as larger workshops or industrialized manufacturers.

Please understand that the list is not exhaustive, and there are many other great brands or makers that have not been indexed by the site. However, I believe the list could provide some ideas for shoppers who are seeking a vetted list of reputable brands. Although I cannot guarantee excellent quality or the best bang for buck for every knife produced by all the makers listed, as their prices vary, I am confident that shoppers are not buying an overpriced, low-quality knife marketed as a premium product from any of the listed makers.

Please feel free to let me know if you believe a maker or a brand should be added to or removed from the list.

Thanks,
Kenneth
Maintainer

Custom Knife Makers

Name Based In Profiles
KWB Knives United Kingdom
Serenity Knives United States

Japanese Knife Makers

Name Based In Profiles
Aoki Hamono Sakai, Osaka
Ashi Hamono Sakai, Osaka
Baba Hamono Sakai, Osaka
Daisuke Nishida Nankan, Kumamoto
Gihei Hamono Sanjo, Niigata
Goko Hamono Kashiwa, Chiba
Hideo Kitaoka Takefu, Fukui
Hinoura Hamono Sanjo, Niigata
Itsuo Doi Sakai, Osaka
Jikko Hamono Sakai, Osaka
Jiro Nakagawa Nagano, Nagano
KAI Group Tokyo
Kanefusa Fujiwara Seki, Gifu
Kaneshige Hamono Sakai, Osaka
Kanjo Tsukahara Seki, Gifu
Katsushige Anryu Takefu, Fukui
Katsuyasu Kamo Echizen, Fukui
Kawamura Hamono Sakai, Osaka
Kei Kobayashi Seki, Gifu
Kenji Togashi Sakai, Osaka
Kitasho Seki, Gifu
Kosuke Muneishi Tosa, Kōchi
Kyohei Shindo Tosa, Kōchi
MAC Sakai, Osaka
Makoto Kurosaki Takefu, Fukui
Makoto Tadokoro Tosa, Kōchi
Marusho Industry Seki, Gifu
Masahiro Seki, Gifu
Masamoto Sohonten Tokyo
Masashi Yamamoto Sanjo, Niigata
Masutani Hamono Takefu, Fukui
Matsubara Hamono Nagasaki, Nagasaki
Michio Ishikawa Kami, Miyagi
Misono Seki, Gifu
Miyazaki Kajiya Gotō, Nagasaki
Mizuno Tanrenjo Sakai, Osaka
Moritaka Hamono Yatsushiro, Kumamoto
Nakamura Hamono Isumi, Chiba
Nao Yamamoto Echizen, Fukui
Naohito Myojin Tosa, Kōchi
Naoki Mazaki Sanjo, Niigata
Nigara Hamono Hirosaki, Aomori
Ryusen Hamono Echizen, Fukui
Satoshi Nakagawa Sakai, Osaka
Seki Kanetsugu Seki, Gifu
Shigeki Tanaka Miki, Hyōgo
Shinichi Watanabe Sanjo, Niigata
Shiro Kamo Takefu, Fukui
Shirou Kunimitsu Omuta, Fukuoka
Shoichi Hashimoto Hiroshima, Hiroshima
Shosui Takeda Niimi, Okayama
Shungo Ogata Takefu, Fukui
Shunsuke Manaka Kasukabe, Saitama
Sugimoto Hamono Tokyo
Sukenari Hamono Fuchumachi Dojo, Toyama
Tadafusa Sanjo, Niigata
Takada no Hamono Sakai, Osaka
Takamura Hamono Echizen, Fukui
Takayuki Shibata Echizen, Fukui
Takeshi Saji Echizen, Fukui
Takumi Ikeda Echizen, Fukui
Teruyasu Fujiwara Tokyo
Tetsujin Hamono Tosa, Kōchi
Tojiro Tsubame, Niigata
Tosa Tadayoshi Tosa, Kōchi
Toshihiro Wakui Sanjo, Niigata
Yamawaki Hamono Sakai, Osaka
Yoshida Hamono Taku, Saga
Yoshihiro Yauji Echizen, Fukui
Yoshikane Hamono Sanjo, Niigata
Yoshikazu Tanaka Sakai, Osaka
Yoshikin Tsubame, Niigata
Yoshimi Kato Echizen, Fukui
Yu Kurosaki Echizen, Fukui
Yukihiro Sakai Kumamoto, Kumamoto
Yuta Katayama Echizen, Fukui
Zwilling Seki, Gifu (Miyabi)

Western Knife Makers

Name Based In Profiles
ACROS Spain
K Sabatier France
Mercer Culinary United States
Victorinox Switzerland
Wüsthof Germany