The Edge of Excellence: Artisan Knife Making with Levi Walusiak

“There are a lot of people making sharp, stabby things, but you do it with style, my friend.” Episode Summary In this episode, we sit down with Oregon-based artisan knife maker Levi Walusiak, owner of Lucky Walusiak Creations. We dive into the world of custom knife making, exploring the importance of quality craftsmanship, design philosophy, and what truly sets a great blade apart from the rest. We geek out over his most unique products (from blood straws to badass pizza cutters), geek out about materials and steel choices, and even swap classic family knife stories. If you’ve ever wondered what goes into building a reliable, functional, and beautiful blade—or you’re just a fan of cool gear—this episode is for you. Call to Action Join our mailing list: Thegunexperiment.com Subscribe and leave us a comment on Apple or Spotify Follow us on all of our social media: Instagram Youtube Grab some cool TGE merch Ask us anything at [email protected] Be sure to support the sponsors of the show. They’re a big part of making the show possible. Show Sponsors HSM Ammunition: Serious ammo for serious shooters. Made in the USA, trusted by real shooters. Check them out at hsmammunition.com On Site Firearms Training: OFT has experienced instructors offering high-quality firearms training across the country. Visit OFTLLC.us for their course lineup. Key Takeaways The difference between a good and a great knife often comes down to durability, edge retention, and thoughtful design tailored to real-world use. Custom knives are a labor of love—making one can take several days and involve intricate processes from material selection to heat treatment and handle shaping. Levi Walusiak balances both artistry and usability, frequently experimenting with new materials, splatter paint designs, and even wild kitchen tools (like pizza cutters and ice cream scoops). Regular knife maintenance—including proper sharpening and stropping—is crucial, and even high-end blades need TLC to perform at their best. The custom knife market has a thriving mix of collector and hard-use pieces, and Levi Walusiak's philosophy is to make his blades to be used, offering a lifetime warranty and free sharpening. Guest Information Levi Walusiak Owner, Lucky Walusiak Creations Oregon-based custom knife maker known for unique, high-performance blades and innovative kitchen tools. Instagram Website Keywords custom knives, knife maker, Levi Walusiak, Lucky Walusiak Creations, artisan blades, knife craftsmanship, Oregon knives, sharpest knives, blade design, knife materials, folding knives, fixed blade, custom kitchen tools, splatter paint knives, knife maintenance, HSM Ammunition, On Site Firearms Training, gun podcast, The Gun Experiment, quality steel, knife sharpening, unique knives, handmade knives, tactical knives, collector knives, hard-use knives