ADM Custom Knives - One Knife At a Time

Site Updated: 05/21/10

5/10 - New Mini-Kukri V2 Coming soon
I have re-designed the Mini-Kukri and am working with Great Lakes WaterJet, Inc. to cut 10 blanks for me. This redesign will incorporate a slightly larger 4" blade (OAL 9.5"), thump ramps (for both thumb and index finger) and the blade style will have more of a tactical look and feel. Will be limited to 10 knives for 2010. Price will be $250 and will include a cord wrapped handle (by Ken Cardwell) and kydex sheath w/ tek-lok. E-mail me to be placed on the waiting list.

5/09 - 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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