Miles custom knives and knife parts
See my bio under home page for information on how they're made etc.
Use dropdown menu under knifes to see product for sale or link to finished knives.
Custom KnivesI craft custom knives, making every component myself—the handle, guard, blade, and all the hardening, tempering, and artistic details. Each knife is unique, like this one made from D2 steel, featuring an etched wolf head. The guard is custom-cast from copper and bronze, and the handle is made from a 40,000-year-old fossilized bison rib bone I found myself.
If you make your own knives, check out the dropdown menu for blank blades, guards, and pommels. My guards are custom-cast from materials like barge propeller bronze or 1920s copper water pipes from my village. All etching is done by hand with acid, creating one-of-a-kind designs. I primarily work with D2 steel and high-carbon 1084, often edge-hardening to keep the edge harder while maintaining a softer spine for durability.
Every blade is rigorously tested—20 pounds of flex torque and at least 200 swipes on a brass rod, far surpassing factory blades like Buck (which average 50). Each blade is etched with a permanent number, tied to detailed records of its steel treatment. I offer a lifetime warranty for normal to heavy use, provided there’s no deliberate neglect.
About the SteelI sometimes use 1084 or 1095 high-carbon steel but prefer simpler steels like D2. My setup in Nenana, Alaska, isn’t equipped for exotic materials requiring oxygen-free environments or advanced equipment. My approach reflects the lifestyle I sell: practical, sustainable, and rooted in tradition. I aim to create knives that do their job, whether it’s skinning a moose or saving a life.
D2 steel is my favorite for its toughness and chrome content, which resists staining and highlights etching beautifully. While it’s challenging to work with and hard on tools, I enjoy solving problems with simple techniques. Each blade is hand-drawn and cut—no templates—ensuring no two are alike. Working on several blades at once helps me keep costs down without sacrificing quality.
About the HandlesSelling raw handle materials began as a natural extension of my knife-making. I keep a large stash of raw materials, allowing me to match handles to blades rather than ordering specific pieces. My process includes shaping and finishing materials like mammoth ivory to achieve the textures and colors that define my style.
This unique approach helps establish my brand, making my work recognizable and hard to replicate. Occasionally, I experiment with unusual materials, such as resin with inclusions like fishing flies or watch gears, shark skin, Alaska jade, or bronze-cast handles. Sometimes, I create matching sheaths and handles from the same material, blending function with artistry.
For example, I’ve made ladies’ neck knives where a hummingbird serves as the knife, with its beak as the blade and a flower sheath crafted from fossil material. I also create "story knives," where the materials, sheath, and etching tell a narrative—whether it’s a survival tale or a hidden wolf design among foliage.
In the past, I’ve used moose bone for hidden tangs in moose skinner knives and fossil bison bone for designs reflecting traditional ways of living. Some knives take on ceremonial or spiritual themes, inspired by Native American or shamanic traditions, while others embody "Mother Nature" or simpler functional designs. Often, the material itself guides the design—I start, and the knife reveals itself.
Blank Blades & PartsFor knife makers, I offer custom, high-end blank blades to build your own creations, along with limited-run pommels and guards.
If you make your own knives, check out the dropdown menu for blank blades, guards, and pommels. My guards are custom-cast from materials like barge propeller bronze or 1920s copper water pipes from my village. All etching is done by hand with acid, creating one-of-a-kind designs. I primarily work with D2 steel and high-carbon 1084, often edge-hardening to keep the edge harder while maintaining a softer spine for durability.
Every blade is rigorously tested—20 pounds of flex torque and at least 200 swipes on a brass rod, far surpassing factory blades like Buck (which average 50). Each blade is etched with a permanent number, tied to detailed records of its steel treatment. I offer a lifetime warranty for normal to heavy use, provided there’s no deliberate neglect.
About the SteelI sometimes use 1084 or 1095 high-carbon steel but prefer simpler steels like D2. My setup in Nenana, Alaska, isn’t equipped for exotic materials requiring oxygen-free environments or advanced equipment. My approach reflects the lifestyle I sell: practical, sustainable, and rooted in tradition. I aim to create knives that do their job, whether it’s skinning a moose or saving a life.
D2 steel is my favorite for its toughness and chrome content, which resists staining and highlights etching beautifully. While it’s challenging to work with and hard on tools, I enjoy solving problems with simple techniques. Each blade is hand-drawn and cut—no templates—ensuring no two are alike. Working on several blades at once helps me keep costs down without sacrificing quality.
About the HandlesSelling raw handle materials began as a natural extension of my knife-making. I keep a large stash of raw materials, allowing me to match handles to blades rather than ordering specific pieces. My process includes shaping and finishing materials like mammoth ivory to achieve the textures and colors that define my style.
This unique approach helps establish my brand, making my work recognizable and hard to replicate. Occasionally, I experiment with unusual materials, such as resin with inclusions like fishing flies or watch gears, shark skin, Alaska jade, or bronze-cast handles. Sometimes, I create matching sheaths and handles from the same material, blending function with artistry.
For example, I’ve made ladies’ neck knives where a hummingbird serves as the knife, with its beak as the blade and a flower sheath crafted from fossil material. I also create "story knives," where the materials, sheath, and etching tell a narrative—whether it’s a survival tale or a hidden wolf design among foliage.
In the past, I’ve used moose bone for hidden tangs in moose skinner knives and fossil bison bone for designs reflecting traditional ways of living. Some knives take on ceremonial or spiritual themes, inspired by Native American or shamanic traditions, while others embody "Mother Nature" or simpler functional designs. Often, the material itself guides the design—I start, and the knife reveals itself.
Blank Blades & PartsFor knife makers, I offer custom, high-end blank blades to build your own creations, along with limited-run pommels and guards.
I make custom knives. I make everything, the handle, guard, blade, and do all the hardening, tempering, and art myself.
This knife is D2 steel with etched wolf head. Custom cast guard of copper and bronze, Handle is 40,000 year old fossil bison rib bone I found myself. If you build your own knifes look at the dropdown menu for blanks blades, guards pommels. Guards are custom cast from barge propeller bronze, or old 1920's copper water pipes from my village. All etching done with acid hand drawn one at a time unique to that knife only. D2 steel and high carbon 1084 are the steels I work with the most. I generally 'edge harden' so can keep the edge harder, while keeping back softer for a less fragile blade. All blades get tested. 20 pounds of flex torque, and minimum 200 swipes on brass rod test. Note that most factory blades like Buck, reach about 50 swipes on this test. Most blades are etched with a permanent number I keep a record of with details of how steel was treated etc. Lifetime warranty on normal to heavy use- as long as not deliberate neglect.
More on the steel ---video of one of my blades cutting steel
I do sometimes use high carbon 1884 or 1095. I prefer the simper steels. Partly I am not set up in Nenana Alaska to deal with 'exotic,' requiring oxygen free environments and computerized equipment. My lifestyle I sell is substance, somewhat simple, repurpose, recycle and feel for a very long time the high cabin still worked well did it's job in a day the the knife was about saving our lives. Also I am told in knife contests for custom blades, some of the plain carbon steel blades win against everything else. My personal goal was the ability to skin and take care of a Mose without needing resharpening or failing. I like D2 most because it shows my etching without the usual staining of plain steels. I like the chrome in it as making this a tough tool steel other makers do not like to work with because it wears out equipment and can be hard to work. I sometimes like materials with problems I can solve with simple tools. I hand draw each blade and hand cut it so no two blades are alike and I do not even use a template. I do find working half a dozen blades at a time is s secret to keeping the time down on each individual blade and so keep the costs down.
More on handles. I got into the selling of raw handle materials due to knife making. I prefer to have as much raw material on hand as possible to match it to the blade and find what I wish. I do not come up with a blade then order a piece of material for that knife. I go to my stash of 100 pounds and find a good match.
I also find my own look by working with raw material, especially mammoth ivory that I work down to the texture and colors that suit my style. I find it important in selling anything, to get known for your style and look that others should recognize and is hard to reproduce. In this way I am not so much in competition with China or mass production.
Now and then I experiment with 'unknowns.' for handle material. I may use resin with interesting inclusions like tied flies for fisherman or watch gears for gearheads. I have used shark skin, or Alaska jade, I may inlay or wrap with metal or cast a handle in bronze. I may create a sheath and handle that match from the same material.
I make ladies neck knives where a hummingbird is the knife and beak is the blade that goes in a flower sheath made of fossil material that matches the handle. It is hard to know ahead of time what direction an idea might go.
I have story knives as a series that is meant to be a story told in the material the sheath and the etching. It may be a survival story or something with a message. I may have a wolf design hard to see hidden in the foliage you have to look for. I may shape the entire knife into an otter where the tail is the blade, and you can see the eye up in the handle as a 'water knife.'
In the past I used moose bone in hidden tang for a moose skinner knife. I use fossil bison bones the same way for 'living in the old way.' Some knifes are more magic or ceremonial as native American might be, or spiritual, even a shaman type for those into occult matters. Some have a 'Mother Nature,' theme. Often, I do not design the knife I simply 'begin.' As a well-known Shaman once instructed me..."The material tells me what it wishes to be, and my role is to release its spirit." I am not a Tarot card or spirit board kind of person. Perhaps I have lived in the wilds long enough to feel there are things going on beyond our understanding that is shared universally with all of us, and we connect to it through the material world.
Or we just need a good functional knife that works, spare us a song and dance. I can do that.
Blank Blades
I offer custom high end blank blades for knife makers to create their own works. I have custom limited run pommels guards as well.
Blank blades
Pommels -guards
This knife is D2 steel with etched wolf head. Custom cast guard of copper and bronze, Handle is 40,000 year old fossil bison rib bone I found myself. If you build your own knifes look at the dropdown menu for blanks blades, guards pommels. Guards are custom cast from barge propeller bronze, or old 1920's copper water pipes from my village. All etching done with acid hand drawn one at a time unique to that knife only. D2 steel and high carbon 1084 are the steels I work with the most. I generally 'edge harden' so can keep the edge harder, while keeping back softer for a less fragile blade. All blades get tested. 20 pounds of flex torque, and minimum 200 swipes on brass rod test. Note that most factory blades like Buck, reach about 50 swipes on this test. Most blades are etched with a permanent number I keep a record of with details of how steel was treated etc. Lifetime warranty on normal to heavy use- as long as not deliberate neglect.
More on the steel ---video of one of my blades cutting steel
I do sometimes use high carbon 1884 or 1095. I prefer the simper steels. Partly I am not set up in Nenana Alaska to deal with 'exotic,' requiring oxygen free environments and computerized equipment. My lifestyle I sell is substance, somewhat simple, repurpose, recycle and feel for a very long time the high cabin still worked well did it's job in a day the the knife was about saving our lives. Also I am told in knife contests for custom blades, some of the plain carbon steel blades win against everything else. My personal goal was the ability to skin and take care of a Mose without needing resharpening or failing. I like D2 most because it shows my etching without the usual staining of plain steels. I like the chrome in it as making this a tough tool steel other makers do not like to work with because it wears out equipment and can be hard to work. I sometimes like materials with problems I can solve with simple tools. I hand draw each blade and hand cut it so no two blades are alike and I do not even use a template. I do find working half a dozen blades at a time is s secret to keeping the time down on each individual blade and so keep the costs down.
More on handles. I got into the selling of raw handle materials due to knife making. I prefer to have as much raw material on hand as possible to match it to the blade and find what I wish. I do not come up with a blade then order a piece of material for that knife. I go to my stash of 100 pounds and find a good match.
I also find my own look by working with raw material, especially mammoth ivory that I work down to the texture and colors that suit my style. I find it important in selling anything, to get known for your style and look that others should recognize and is hard to reproduce. In this way I am not so much in competition with China or mass production.
Now and then I experiment with 'unknowns.' for handle material. I may use resin with interesting inclusions like tied flies for fisherman or watch gears for gearheads. I have used shark skin, or Alaska jade, I may inlay or wrap with metal or cast a handle in bronze. I may create a sheath and handle that match from the same material.
I make ladies neck knives where a hummingbird is the knife and beak is the blade that goes in a flower sheath made of fossil material that matches the handle. It is hard to know ahead of time what direction an idea might go.
I have story knives as a series that is meant to be a story told in the material the sheath and the etching. It may be a survival story or something with a message. I may have a wolf design hard to see hidden in the foliage you have to look for. I may shape the entire knife into an otter where the tail is the blade, and you can see the eye up in the handle as a 'water knife.'
In the past I used moose bone in hidden tang for a moose skinner knife. I use fossil bison bones the same way for 'living in the old way.' Some knifes are more magic or ceremonial as native American might be, or spiritual, even a shaman type for those into occult matters. Some have a 'Mother Nature,' theme. Often, I do not design the knife I simply 'begin.' As a well-known Shaman once instructed me..."The material tells me what it wishes to be, and my role is to release its spirit." I am not a Tarot card or spirit board kind of person. Perhaps I have lived in the wilds long enough to feel there are things going on beyond our understanding that is shared universally with all of us, and we connect to it through the material world.
Or we just need a good functional knife that works, spare us a song and dance. I can do that.
Blank Blades
I offer custom high end blank blades for knife makers to create their own works. I have custom limited run pommels guards as well.
Blank blades
Pommels -guards