Replacing the Handle, Not the History
You didn’t pick your kitchen knives. Maybe they were a gift. A hand-me-down. Or the best your mom found on sale in 2001. You’ve used them for years. They’re familiar. Functional. But are they really yours?
What if, instead of buying a whole new knife, you just modified it?
Welcome to the very overlooked art of knife customization.
What is kitchen knife customization?
Edges can be rounded, often at the top on the spine or at the back near the heel of the knife. Handles can be tweaked. Knives can be shortened and profiles can be changed.
Why ease the edges on the spine?
The 90 degree angles often left on the metal portions of kitchen knives make them more economical to craft but way less desirable to use. Those edges cut into our figures when we're using those kitchen knives. So, we us our equipment in a few different ways, based on the knife, to customize the knife to how you hold it.
Why tweak a handle?
Most folks think they’ve got three choices:
- Keep using a knife that’s just okay.
- Drop hundreds on a fancy new one.
- Toss the old one and feel a bit bad about it.
There’s a fourth option: mess with the handle. Keep the blade you trust, upgrade the part that connects it to you.
There are more options with solid handles vs western riveted handles, but those can be adjusted too.
Materials that matter
From local maple to stabilized resin to recycled skateboards (yep, really), a new handle can be whatever you want—classic or bold. Some folks bring in knives they thought were past saving. Then they see what’s possible.
We can seek to match a lost handle, riff off your kitchen cabinets, or build something totally one-of-a-kind. We'll partner with our various makers as needed on a case-by-case basis.
Repair and restoration
We frequently repair chips, knicks and dings in blades. We check their profiles, or cutting curve, to assess their fit and use and restore them to good cutting action. We do both before sharpening each blade.
Fit. Finish. Flow.
Looks matter. But so does feel. A properly balanced knife is a joy to use. It’s smoother. Safer. Maybe even inspires you to cook more. When a knife fits your hand and has desirable cutting action, everything changes—your grip, your flow, your whole kitchen vibe.
Built in Minnesota
We do this here. At Vivront. With Minnesota materials, Minnesota makers, when ever we can. Whether you’re reviving a family blade or customizing your go-to knife, we’re here to walk you through it.
Start with One
Don’t settle for a set that isn’t yours-because it did not pick it. Start with just one. Pick one knife. Make it fit. Make it you. And then, go from there.
Let’s make it yours.
See you at the shop at 50th & France in Edina.
And, if you're interested, you can test out knives before you buy. We call these experiences fittings. We all have different sized hands and our shoulders are different heights from the countertops, we cut different things. and we're not with you when you're cooking. You have to like your blades.
Kitchen knives are a little like golf clubs and ski boots in that way. You'd rather use yours than someone else's.
See you soon.