ADM Custom Knives - One Knife At a Time

Site Updated: 01/28/11

Available Fighters / Camp Knives
I can't decide if these are more of a camp-style or fighting style knife (but, I think it's a combo of both). These three knives were waterjet cut by Dave at Great Lakes Waterjet inc. They feature thick (1/4"!) s30v, heat treated (by Petes Heat Treating) to a RC60/61. Each comes with a black spec-ops sheath.

Knife features double hollow grind, various swedges (each knife is different) and awesome black cord-wrapping by our own Ken Cardwell. Overall length is 10.75" with a blade length of only 4.25" (great for control). Edge tip is thickened (great penetrator). There are thumb ramps and the edge is razor sharp. Check out the video on my Videos section.

Price is $350 (+ 3.5% or gift if using paypal). I will eat the shipping charges (in US). If outside CONUS, shoot me an e-mail me and we can work something out.

ADM Knives in Iraq
What an honor! One mini-kukri was ordered by a US Marine and another 4 were donated (via friends on USN that chipped in a few bucks). If you are interested in donating any money towards sending a Marine an ADM Knife, please contact me for info. I am told that they are presenting the younger marines (those recently deployed) the donated knives.

Welcome to ADM Custom Knives!

I have been obsessed with knives my entire life. I remember vividly walking around antique shows with my parents, as a child. Everything about it, but especially the glass display cases, which had old knives in them.

I somehow convinced my parents that I wanted to collect rare knives, but in reality, I wanted to play with them, cut things and show my friends. I still have many of those early knives tucked away.

At some point in early 2007, I found a forum (USN) and signed up. There, I read many posts from knife makers and collectors. I enjoyed seeing all of the beautiful knives that were hand made. I began to get the idea of becoming a custom knife maker.

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My Shop

ADM Knives is housed in Lodi NY directly south of my kitchen... In my basement, where the washer and dryer take cover from incoming wood and steel dust shrapnel. Nothing fancy - but, some very nice equipment.

My philosophy for effective knifemaking is the same as my philosophy in life. One knife at a time. I don't care how long it takes to build a knife. Each stage of knifemaking is exciting to me. If a knife does not seem like it's going in the direction I would want, I'll start over.

My Knives

I am predominantly using high carbon steel (such as precision ground CPM D2 or CPM S30V) The steel is profiled, using my Bader III grinder and then finished using 120, 220 and 400 grit ceramic belts.

Next, I bead blast the blanks and then ship to Paul Bos for heat treating. When the knife returns, I clean it up, work on the handle material, assemble, re-blast, stone wash, grind the edge, then hone to a razor sharpness that scares the hair off your arm.... If it doesn't pass the arm hair session and delicately slice thin ribbons off a piece of paper, I go back to the drawing board.

If it passes, I apply some Renaissance Wax to the handles, Flitz polish to the blade, clean it up and head off to the post office (where it is sent to my customer, using Priority Service, packaged nice and tight and insured for the value of the knife)

My father is my hero. I build each knife like I'm making it for him.

Andrew David Merrill
Knifemaker

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