2026 Knife Making Industry Survey

The Current State of the Knife-Making Industry

Red Label Abrasives surveyed over 100 bladesmiths across the United States in 2026 to track the health of the knife-making industry, production challenges, and market outlook. This is our sixth consecutive annual survey, and this year's results reveal a more cautious market with a still optimistic outlook.

The team at Red Label Abrasives set out to create an industry survey in 2020 that would shed light on the health of the market, the obstacles involved with production, the current preferences of both knife makers and consumers, and what the future of the industry may hold. We've committed to updating our survey annually, where we survey over 100 different bladesmiths throughout the country each year. The results of the survey for 2026 can be found below. 

Market Performance

Sales

Sales momentum continued to slow in 2026. 61% of knife makers reported that their sales have not increased compared to the prior year, which was consistent with the trend seen in 2025. Only 39% of respondents reported year-over-year sales growth.

A large portion of makers are also sitting on inventory longer. 48% of respondents sell fewer than 25% of their knives within 30 days of listing. Only 21% report selling 75–100% of their inventory within 30 days.

Pricing

Despite rising material costs and ongoing inflation, most makers have held their prices steady. 56% of knife makers have not raised their prices in the last year. Those who have raised prices represent 44% of respondents.

When it comes to listing prices, the $101–$250 range remains the most common, with 35% of makers pricing their knives there. Another 27% list in the $251–$500 range. Only 9% of makers regularly price their knives above $500.

Premium sales remain possible at the top of the market, however. 33% of makers have sold at least one knife for $501 or more, and 7% have sold a knife for $1,000 to $5,000.

Where Sales Come From

Referrals continue to dominate as the primary sales channel for knife makers. 45% of respondents said referrals account for most of their sales. Social media followed at 12%, with a variety of other channels, including in-person shows, online marketplaces, and personal websites, making up the remainder.

For newer makers who haven't yet built a referral network, social media remains the most accessible starting point for generating sales.

Production: How Makers Work

In addition to the current landscape of the market, we also wanted to look at production processes and how makers are producing their knives. The most common production methods among surveyed makers are as follows:

• Stock removal: used by 77% of makers
• Hand finishing: used by 71% of makers
• In-house heat treatment: used by 62% of makers
• Forging: used by 52% of makers
• Surface grinding: used by 47% of makers
• Waterjet cutting: used by 12% of makers
• Outsourced heat treatment: used by 11% of makers
• CNC machining: used by 8% of makers

Stock removal and hand finishing remain by far the most widely used processes, reflecting the hands-on nature of most custom knife production.

Current Obstacles

Material Sourcing

Material sourcing continues to be a pressure point for knife makers. Steel was the hardest material to source, cited by 41% of respondents. Handle and scale materials were the second most cited challenge at 23%, followed by heat treating services (12%) and knifemaking equipment (11%).

Differentiating in a Competitive Market

When asked how they primarily differentiate their knives from competitors, makers cited:

• Performance and material quality: 29%
• Artistic design: 23%
• Fit and finish: 20%
• Price/value: 15%
• Customization: 11%
• Historical accuracy: 3%

Quality and craftsmanship remain the primary competitive levers for most makers, which aligns with broader consumer trends toward handmade and American-made goods.

Target Audience

Part of driving knife sales is knowing who your customers are. We also asked makers which audiences were primarily buying their knives. Outdoor and hunting users are the most common primary customer segment, cited by 36% of makers. Chefs and culinary professionals came in second at 17%, followed by everyday carry (EDC) users at 15% and collectors at 12%.

Industry Outlook

Despite a tough year for sales, 64% of knife makers expect the knife-making industry to grow in 2027. This is notable given that year-over-year sales growth has been limited for many respondents, suggesting makers remain broadly optimistic about the craft and market even through lean periods.

Biggest Opportunities in the Next 3–5 Years

When asked about the biggest opportunity for knife makers over the next 3-5 years, responses pointed to several consistent themes:

• Quality and craftsmanship:Multiple makers cited consistent quality, perfection in execution, and repeat customers as the primary path to growth.
• Expanding beyond the knife community: Reaching buyers who carry knives but don't yet care about quality or provenance was seen as a major untapped opportunity.
• Handmade and American-made demand: Several makers noted growing consumer appetite for things that are "real, handmade, and not from China."
• Niche specialization: Finding a specific niche and serving it well was a recurring recommendation, including small-batch, high-quality custom knives.
• Online marketing:A number of makers identified improved online presence and customer acquisition as an area of significant opportunity.
• Diversification:Some makers suggested branching into non-traditional blades and other forms of blacksmithing to weather market saturation.

About Red Label Abrasives

Red Label Abrasives is a family-owned abrasive manufacturer that has been producing custom-made abrasives for over 40 years. Red Label Abrasives specializes in producing sanding belts for the knife community. In fact, we sell knife making belt kits that include an assortment of belts for the production of knives. Our team takes great pride in offering exceptional customer service and unrivaled technical support. You can speak with an abrasive specialist on our team by filling out a contact form or calling (844) 824-1956.