Everyone thinks making a knife is easy, but it’s far from it. There are countless steps involved—each requiring skill, patience, and precision. From forging, profiling, grinding, and drilling, to heat treating, tempering, polishing, and sharpening—every stage is critical. Then comes selecting and shaping the handle, assembling the knife, and crafting the sheath.

Tom Mohr, owner and operator of Mohr Custom Knives in Dandridge, TN, nestled at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, knows this process intimately. He dreamed of being a welder since he was five years old, but it was watching his dad make a knife that sparked his true passion. Knife making isn’t just a job for Tom—it’s his lifestyle. He spends five days a week in the shop, working twelve-hour days, committed to crafting the highest quality tools for his customers. The behind-the-scenes grind is real—long hours, hard labor, and going through work clothes faster than most. He tried a pair of Liberty bibs once, and ever since, they’ve been a staple. What keeps him going is the raw energy of the shop—the loud music, the flying sparks—it’s what he lives for.