Creative Capital: A Kuala Lumpur knife-maker turns ordinary steel blades into art
In Southeast Asia, loftier-end custom pocketknife-makers are a rare breed. The artisan backside Vicious Tools, a Kuala Lumpur-based knife-making outfit, is Kumar Muthusamy.
A banker past 24-hour interval and a celebrated knife-maker by night, Muthusamy has the uncanny power to turn ordinary steel blades into refined folders, tactical knives and chef's knives.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO KNIFE-MAKING?
I started [knife-making] eight years ago. My wife and I had our commencement kid so I wanted to stay home more, giving up my and so-favourite activities – biking, paintballing and diving. Making knives kept me busy at domicile.
DID Yous START AS A Pocketknife COLLECTOR?
I've always been interested in knives. I got my first knife every bit function of my Scouts troop kit. What made knife collecting challenging is that the knives I ordered from overseas unremarkably get stopped past Customs and subsequently, returned to sender. After one too many such incidences, I decided to brand my own.
WHAT'S THE Entreatment OF A HANDMADE Pocketknife Equally OPPOSED TO A MASS-PRODUCED ONE?
Well, you can buy an off-the-rack suit or you could go a bespoke one. Knives are the same. Y'all tin go for a run-of-the-factory unit just a handmade custom pocketknife made to your specification and preference is next level.
READ: Creative Capital: How scrapbook journals put this Malaysian on the earth map
The technical deviation comes from the heat treating process: Mass produced knives are heat-treated to factory specifications and some processes may exist dropped to relieve cost and to speed up runtime. A custom handmade knife is painstakingly heat-treated by the maker. My heat-treat procedure takes over two days to consummate.
HOW DID YOU LEARN THE Craft?
By reading books and watching tutorial videos on YouTube. The volume 50 Dollar Knife Store by Wayne Godard was peculiarly helpful, it was instrumental in helping me set upwardly my workshop.
ARE YOU DONE LEARNING TECHNIQUES AND TRICKS?
This is an art in which you learn new things daily. There are so many different means to practise a particular process. I'k constantly refining the process and method that best suits my style.
TELL US ABOUT THE FIRST Pocketknife YOU MADE?
I didn't have any equipment back so so I ended up spending two weeks filing the bevel of the knife with a file. I never finished that knife. I notwithstanding have information technology though. It is a expert reminder of how hard information technology is to make a knife without a grinder.
SETTING Upwardly A WORKSHOP IS EXPENSIVE. HOW DID YOU KNOW Y'all LOVE THE Arts and crafts ENOUGH TO INVEST IN THE NECESSARY TOOLS?
When I beginning started out, I invested in cheaper tools. But as the orders grew, I started investing in tools to help me make knives in-firm end-to-cease. Eight years on, I at present have a near-perfect workshop.
WHAT IS THE Process OF Pattern AND SMITHING LIKE?
I blueprint my knives with the user in mind. I hope that my knives are the first one the user reaches for, be it hunting, cooking or even just equally an everyday carry. That said, the main thing I consider is how does it feels in the paw and how it functions.
I used to pattern past first sketching them out on paper before committing to steel. These days, I design on Autocad software and 3D-print a sample before I commit to steel. This way I tin brand tweaks and adjustments more than efficiently while ensuring that no steel is wasted, thereby keeping toll depression.
READ: Artistic Capital letter: The studio possessor bringing moisture plate photography dorsum to Singapore
HOW DID COLLECTORS First START Condign AWARE OF Barbarous TOOLS?
When I started making knives, I was a fellow member of the Malaysian Pocketknife Forum. In that location weren't many pocketknife-makers on the forum dorsum then but there were a lot of collectors. I was one of the first to beginning the knife-making thread; there was a lot of involvement. That led to visibility as a knife maker.
WHICH DESIGN ARE You lot MOST PROUD OF? DO YOU Accept A SIGNATURE BLADE?
I'one thousand most proud of the Hyperion binder. The unique blade looks similar a small wakizashi. Non many makers go far in this style. It's hard for me to say if this is my signature blade since I accept designed and made hundreds of knives over the years.
WHAT'S THE USUAL PROCESS OF CONSULTATION AND ORDERING?
Ofttimes, clients approach me with a design they saw. Merely I make information technology articulate that I would rather not copy some other pocketknife-maker's pattern. Generally I piece of work with traditional pocketknife designs which we tweak to a mod solution. A lot of my clients allow me to be artistic.
There are regular discussions on how the blueprint is panning out and regular updates of the progress on the make. I rarely take custom orders now unless the blueprint is challenging and is worth the endeavour.
HOW LONG SHOULD A CUSTOMER EXPECT TO Wait?
That depends on the number of orders I have, as well as, the availability of materials. Plus, knife-making is not my solar day job. I only get round to knife-making when I have free fourth dimension.
Take Yous BEEN APPROACHED FOR COLLABORATIONS? WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO Work WITH?
I have had a few local collaboration over the years. The latest one was with Outdoor Gears Malaysia and The Polished Edge. I would love to collaborate with Snecx Tan who is arguably ane of the best folding knife-makers.
READ: Creative Capital letter: The food stylist selling doughnuts with a Masterchef Singapore contestant
WHAT WAS YOUR FAMILY'Southward REACTION WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED MAKING KNIVES?
She'south happy that it kept me occupied. As the concern grew, she became even more supportive. Now, she'south the 1 who pushes me to become my orders done on time. Our lives at present work effectually my pocketknife-making schedule. I am still trying to get her to step in the workshop only that's another story altogether.
YOU ARE A Broker By Mean solar day. WHAT DO YOUR COLLEAGUES THINK OF THIS OTHER SIDE OF YOU?
They are quite intrigued past the whole process and how I make knives. One of my best supporters is my boss Omar. Over the years, he bought many knives from me for his friends and family. I fabricated a chef knife for him final month and he has already put in some other order.
WHAT'S THE Programme FOR Barbarous TOOLS? Volition Yous I DAY HANG UP YOUR BANKER'S SUITS AND Become FULL TIME?
For now, the program is to build the brand. I hope to associate my knives with quality and durability. Who knows, maybe in five or 10 years, I may just have the backbone to hang upwards my suit for a piece of work apron.
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/creative-capital-vicious-tools-knife-maker-kuala-lumpur-190281
Post a Comment for "Creative Capital: A Kuala Lumpur knife-maker turns ordinary steel blades into art"