Hand Forged Knife Gifts

What makes a good knife gift?

Buy for the food they cook, not for the unboxing photo. A pitmaster wants a blade for brisket and fat trimming. A hunter wants weight for joints. Someone who cooks dinner every night wants a chef knife they will reach for without thinking about it. Then think about size. A 6" or 7" blade suits most kitchens, while an 8" cleaver or a three piece set is a statement for someone with a big board and a bigger freezer. Tuck a note in about care, since high carbon steel needs drying after washing. Our knife care guide is the short version. Every knife here carries a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and craftsmanship, and shipping is free in the USA and Australia.

Which knife suits which person?

Here is the short version, matched to the people who tend to end up on the list.

For a gift for him when he already owns every grill tool going, the Kodiak is a safe call: cleaver weight up front and a curved belly that actually slices brisket. Not sure a cleaver is the right idea at all? Our guide to what a meat cleaver is used for settles it. Gifts for grillers who own a smoker are also in our BBQ knives.

What should you give for each occasion?

Father's Day

The Ironclad 8.7" or the Butcher's Trio, for the dad who runs the smoker every weekend and takes over the kitchen on Sundays.

Christmas

The Chef's Kiss 7" for the friend who sends you photos of every dinner they make. It does not fit in a stocking, so it goes under the tree.

Birthdays

Match the knife to the hobby. The Barracuda 13" suits an angler, and the Kraken 8" suits a hunter who fills the freezer every fall.

Weddings and groomsmen

Grooms often give the Meat Lover's Set to their groomsmen. Another approach is to give the best man the Butcher's Trio and each groomsman a single cleaver, which keeps the look matched in the photos. A four piece set also works as a group wedding gift. More choices sit in our hand forged knife sets.

Housewarming

The Kermode 7" or the Rhino 8", both good for a couple setting up their first proper kitchen.

Retirement

The Mastercraft 4 Piece Set or the Butcher's Trio, for someone heading into retirement with plans to cook a lot more.

Can you get an engraved knife gift?

Yes, through our custom knife page. A custom knife is made to order, so allow 2 to 3 weeks before it ships and order early for a wedding date or a holiday. Custom orders cannot be returned, so check the spelling of that name twice. The knives in this collection ship as they are and can be returned unused within 30 days.

Is it bad luck to gift a knife?

There is an old superstition that a knife given as a gift cuts the friendship. The usual fix is simple: put a coin in with the knife and have the person hand it back, so they have technically bought it. Most people treat this as a bit of fun rather than a rule, and a knife that gets used every week is a strange way to end a friendship. If you know the person takes it seriously, add the coin and a note. It costs you one coin.

Read before you buy

Our knife gift guide by type of cook matches a blade to the griller, the angler, the hunter and the home cook. If a set feels like the safer bet, how to pick a knife set compares all four. And if the person on your list asks whether a hand forged knife is worth the money, the honest case for hand forged knives answers it. For the cook who has everything, browse chef knives forged by hand. For the angler, try our fillet and boning knives, and when in doubt, pick from our best selling knives.