Hardent Knives

This week’s interview brings us to the Netherlands. Timo Verschuren is a very talented maker, whose work I have been following for quite some time. I am very excited to share a window into his work with you. One thought kept rising into the foreground. How often excellence is the byproduct of working to surpass one’s limits, and it is that hunger that keeps us from accepting what we have done to be the limit of what we can do.

What sparked your interest in knives?

My interest in knives was sparked at quite a young age after seeing a blacksmithing demo in rural France, together with getting my own Opinel knife back then. It inspired me to look into knifemaking and after many YouTube videos I got started in my parents shed.

How did you learn how to make knives?

I initially really only learned from YouTube videos. I did not have anyone who could teach me, so I tried everything myself. Lots of trial and error but it gives you a huge amount of knowledge. After a few years I also started chatting with a lot of other makers, which taught me a bunch of small tricks, etc.

When did you start making knives?

I started screwing around with making when I was 8, but I must admit I was more like 11 when I got specifically into knifemaking. I think around 14-15 I started getting into kitchen knives.

How did you make your first knife?

My first knife was made with the most basic tools imaginable. I think a few of the first ones were filed sharp. I later got a small belt grinder but that still went very very slowly. For forging I used a bbq and the anvil of a cheap cast iron vice. Cannot recommend, it broke in several pieces not long after.

Do you have a favorite knife you made, tell me about it?

My favorite knife is a tough one. My last milestone piece was the one with the zirconium/mammoth handle and that certainly qualifies. But as I constantly make new knives my view of favorite pieces constantly shifts. I also don’t think the most extravagant knife should always be the favorite. Sometimes simplicity can be beautiful too.

What is the most important aspect of a well-made knife?

The single most important aspect is the geometry. I try to focus on getting a good taper in the knife, as well as thin behind the edge and a good convex grind. After that, design is the next most important thing. Lines that flow.

What keeps you going? 

I love the constant improvement of my craft. Always one upping myself makes my work enjoyable. It can also be frustrating, but I think I’d quit pretty quickly if I would stay at the same level forever.

Biggest struggle?

That is a tough one. The business side of things, making sure bills get paid and work gets done can be hard. Not per se financially, but the discipline to always keep going. Once you’re running a serious business you’re committed. You can’t just take holiday for a month without serious backlash, or think, I’ll take a break for a little bit now.

How did your background affect your approach to knives?

Since I started very young, I didn’t really have a background to help with knifemaking. However, my background in knifemaking helped me with so much other stuff. Business insights, technical knowledge, critical thinking and problem solving, you name it. Running your own business makes you very responsible quickly, which helped in other parts of my life as well.

What other knife makers out there impress you these days? Do you take inspiration from anyone else in the field?

So many knifemakers impress me nowadays. There is not really a singular maker that inspires me, but rather the entire community. Every maker has something else to offer and a different way of looking at various aspects. 

Any specific breakthroughs or revelations in your knife making journey?

A realisation I had early on is that anything is possible, and at least you can always try. Part of why I got quite far in my knifemaking career quickly is because I’m not scared to try new stuff. Things fail, but you learn so much from it that it really doesn’t matter. It’s how you progress as a maker and helps to push boundaries constantly, instead of staying at the same thing forever.

What is the perfect knife?

There is no perfect knife. Every kitchen knife has different qualities, different looks and everything is a compromise. You have to decide what aspects are important to you in a knife, and what you are willing to sacrifice. Then, you can get a knife that is perfect for you.

How do you approach knife testing, and designing new knives?

I have a few design “rules” that I implement in my knives, which give them my spin. So whenever designing a new knife, I make sure to have those. That ensures the knife looks like one of mine and that I’m happy with the knife. Other things just come with time. You slowly get a feeling for what a nice geometry is or how a profile should look.

How has the knife world changed since you started?

I think the knife world is slowly changing course from big expensive pieces to more performance-based work. It’s what I have always focused on, and more and more people are going there now. Big one offs are less common. 

What’s up next for you? Any exciting new projects to tell us about?

I just started a new project. I dont know yet if its going to work, but thats the fun part. I hope to make a poppy flower damascus with butterflies and bees in the knife, and a bronze handle made of “roots.”

To keep up to date on new projects, and to see more of his work. Head over to his website https://www.hardentknives.nl/ or his Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hardentknives/