Where Does Knifemaking Fit in Today’s Society?

I get asked this sometimes — “Why make knives? Isn’t that a bit old-school?”

And yeah, it is. That’s exactly the point.

Knifemaking is one of the oldest crafts in human history. It’s primal. It’s raw. It’s a blend of fire, steel, and endless hours of practice — and for me, it’s the workmanship I love.

I grew up with my hands on tools that were decades older than me. My grandpa’s shed was full of old chisels, hammers, and busted fishing reels. Nothing was ever thrown out — it was sharpened, repaired, and handed down. That’s the world I come from.

Now I’ve got two young kids of my own, and I often think about what kind of world I want to hand them. Everything today is disposable. Quick. Mass-produced. Imported. And if I’m honest — most of it’s crap. It's rare to find something made with pride anymore. But when you finally pick something up that was made by hand — by a craftsman — you can tell it’s quality. You just get this good feeling, like you know you can trust this tool. A handmade table versus a fake wood flat-pack from overseas — no contest.

It’s More Than a Tool. It’s a Story.

At Iron Gate Knives, we’re not just building tools — we’re crafting heirlooms. And every heirloom at its core is a story. A powerful story that gets passed on — not just about the maker, but about the person who used that tool. A dad. A brother. A son. Those stories are what make us human. We all have one. We’re all one of a kind. We’re all God’s craftsmanship.

My faith in Christ is centred around that idea — I know I was made in His image, as the Bible says.

But whatever your faith or belief, we’re all connected to the stories of those who came before us.

Every knife that leaves our workshop in Anna Bay is built by hand, one at a time. There’s no factory line here — just sweat, steel, timber, and time.

We use some of the best materials we can get our hands on — Tasmanian Blackwood, natural deer antler, stabilised burl, real abalone shell. Materials that are beautiful, rugged, and rich with character. Each one tells its own story, and we try to source as much as we can from our land and ocean here in Australia.

Crafting a Knife is an Art Form

There’s a rhythm to it. It’s not just grinding steel and bolting on a handle — it’s about balance, weight, and flow. It’s about making something that feels right in the hand and performs every time. You’re not just making something sharp — you’re creating something with soul.

When you pick up a handmade knife, you feel the difference. You respect it. You care for it. You use it on your best cuts of meat. You teach your son how to skin a fish with it. You engrave your last name into it. And one day, you pass it down when he’s ready to take the lead.

That’s what this company is all about — those experiences and that way of doing things.

The Modern World Doesn’t Make It Easy

It’s not easy being a knifemaker today. Mass production has taken over. Cheap imports flood the market. Even online platforms like Instagram are shadow-banning the knife community — hiding posts, restricting visibility, making it harder to reach the people who actually care about this craft. Instagram won’t show our posts to people who don’t follow us, and even then, they only reach less than 5% of our followers. A majority of our ads even get banned just for showing a knife.

Some politicians are trying to ban knives altogether. They just banned machetes in Victoria — as if the problem is the tool, not the person misusing it.

But we’re not here to play that game.

We’re not going anywhere.

We stand for the values we believe in — craftsmanship, hard work, mateship, and doing things right the first time. We believe in making knives meant to be used — out on the hunt, in the kitchen, around the fire, or on the water. We want our knives to become part of your story.

Support What Matters

When you buy from Iron Gate, you’re not just buying a knife. You’re backing an Aussie family, a small workshop, and a dying craft that still deserves a place in this world. You’re voting with your money — saying that you value quality over quantity, that handmade still matters, and that there’s something special about using a tool someone poured their heart into.

So whether you’re teaching your daughter to fillet her first fish, or handing your son a blade to carve the Sunday roast — we hope it’s a handmade knife in your hands.

And it doesn’t even have to be one of ours. I’ve got no issue recommending other makers — there are so many talented artists out there. Just go look for them.

I also want to say thank you — to everyone in our community who’s been part of this journey since we started not even two years ago. We’re still young, but we’ve got something to prove, and we’re going to keep working hard.

This year, I was diagnosed with cancer in January — and the support I received from our Iron Gate community was honestly humbling. People I’d made knives for reached out with prayers for my family, offered financial help… someone even offered to work for us for free. You’re all absolute legends. You know who you are.

So — a big thank you for supporting Australian-made.

What’s Next?

We’ve got some exciting things ahead for Iron Gate.

We’re launching our new apparel in August. It’s been nearly a year in the making, with designs from some incredible Aussie artists. We're also working hard to grow our team so we can make more knives every week. We’ve struggled to keep stock on the site — we’ve been moving as fast as we can, but quality can’t be rushed. That’s why we’re planning to bring on another knife maker to help with our drops.

We’re also working on an exclusive group for the Iron Gate community. The goal? To say thank you to all you legends — with giveaways, early access to drops, discount codes, free workshop experiences, and invites to future in-person events.

We’re still a few months away from launching it, but if you’re keen to be part of building it with us — I’d love to hear from you. Your ideas would mean the world.

And as always, if you’ve got any questions, collaboration ideas, or just want to drop by — send me a DM, shoot through an email, or give me a call.

Would love to chat.

— Izac
Founder, Iron Gate Knives
Anna Bay, NSW