Jason lives with his wife, Kim, and daughter in Edmonton, Alberta. He has been making knives since 2009. He grew up in BC and Ontario and has enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping all his life. But when he was dissatisfied with store-bought knives and had a piece of deer antler, he decided to make his own. He planned to purchase a blade blank and make the handle, but his father-in-law suggested Jason contact a family friend who had made knives in the late 80s and early 90s. He followed up and received not only some advice but also tools, materials, and a cone-loc drum sander. Jason went to work in his father-in-law’s shop to design and make his first knife. He says, “The fit and finish and geometry were not good, but I got a huge sense of accomplishment, and I was hooked on knifemaking. I made another three knives out of the materials I was given.”
Two years later, his family moved from their apartment to a house with a garage, and he started making knives every weekend. He posted them on the Internet, and people started buying them. At that time, there was very little information available on the Internet, but he joined Blade Forums and learned that every knife was a trial-and-error lesson. He continually strived to improve his skills, develop his designs, take his time, and focus on attention to detail. Over the years, he created about 25 templates for fixed blades and 10-15 templates for slipjoint knives.
He likes using traditional designs with modern materials. His favourite part of making a knife is working with the handle material. He says, “The cool aesthetic part of the knife is the handle material, and there is no end to trying new things.” He has a large collection of exotic materials including dinosaur bone, meteorite, and various woods. He plans to use some dinosaur bone and a meteorite to make himself a special knife for his 45th birthday. He says that sometimes “I have so many unique materials that I get into decision paralysis. I just stand and look at different options and place different materials next to the blade. In some instances, I have to leave it for a few days.” However, regardless of the beauty of the knife, he says, “all knives are tools at the end of the day, no matter how beautiful they are. A knife’s purpose is to be used and be highly functional.” His knives have been featured in Blade Magazine, Knife Magazine, and several others.
Jason has been a full-time knifemaker for the past two years. He sells his knives all over the world, including Chile, Australia, Germany, Britain, with the majority to the US and Canada. He has one customer in Texas who has 8 knives and two more ordered. His website customer reviews are a testament to both his attention to detail and his meticulous customer service. He likes working directly with customers. Some people come to him knowing exactly what they want and require only a 20-30 minute conversation. Others come with a vague idea, so Jason will spend as much time as required getting the right design and materials for them. Often, he will show them different images and will spend time refining them. This process can take days to weeks to get it right.
Jason has his pricing method on his website. When asked how he came up with that, he says, “For fixed blades, it is the cost of materials x 3. For example, 10” knives are the cost of the steel and handle materials x 3, and then divided by per inch of the blade equals the price per inch.” For folding knives, he researched other makers in the US and is charging the same, but in Canadian dollars.
He uses mainly 154 CM Stainless steel, 1095 high carbon, and Damascus, and he likes Magnacut for its edge holding, corrosion resistance, and how well it sharpens. His favourite wood is desert ironwood for the light and dark variations, and its denseness and oils which provide natural stabilizing.
Jason has worked in a grocery store, as a baker, forklift operator, and manages five active Dungeons and Dragons groups, but knifemaking is his passion. He has always liked drawing, sculpting, and pottery. He says working with steel is similar to sculpture, “I start with raw material and I cut and grind away everything that isn’t the knife”.
He says Kim is very supportive of his knifemaking business. In fact, over the past 7 years, she has made all of his leather sheaths. She started sewing by hand, but with her full-time job, she now uses a machine. He says he could not manage his business without her support.
Jason enjoys teaching. His Instagram and Facebook have many “How to” videos, such as a three-part series on how to make a Slipjoint knife. He also has a slipjoint pattern that he freely shares and provides some instructions. Jason emphasizes that he learned from the kindness of others, and his videos are a way of giving back to knifemakers. He also sponsors an annual knife giveaway draw for new boy and girl hunters between the legal hunting age and 18. The lucky winners get a 2.5” blade skinner knife.
When asked what he would do differently, he replied, “Start doing more shows to get my work out there”.
Words of Wisdom – “Focus on the fit and finish of all knives. Slow down and try not to rush each knife; attention to detail is very important. Also, don’t go into it expecting to make a million dollars; rather, do it for the passion.”
See Jason’s instruction video https://www.facebook.com/LeclairKnives/videos/716852386806009
Website - https://www.leclairknives.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leclairknives/?hl=en
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LeclairKnives
Two years later, his family moved from their apartment to a house with a garage, and he started making knives every weekend. He posted them on the Internet, and people started buying them. At that time, there was very little information available on the Internet, but he joined Blade Forums and learned that every knife was a trial-and-error lesson. He continually strived to improve his skills, develop his designs, take his time, and focus on attention to detail. Over the years, he created about 25 templates for fixed blades and 10-15 templates for slipjoint knives.
He likes using traditional designs with modern materials. His favourite part of making a knife is working with the handle material. He says, “The cool aesthetic part of the knife is the handle material, and there is no end to trying new things.” He has a large collection of exotic materials including dinosaur bone, meteorite, and various woods. He plans to use some dinosaur bone and a meteorite to make himself a special knife for his 45th birthday. He says that sometimes “I have so many unique materials that I get into decision paralysis. I just stand and look at different options and place different materials next to the blade. In some instances, I have to leave it for a few days.” However, regardless of the beauty of the knife, he says, “all knives are tools at the end of the day, no matter how beautiful they are. A knife’s purpose is to be used and be highly functional.” His knives have been featured in Blade Magazine, Knife Magazine, and several others.
Jason has been a full-time knifemaker for the past two years. He sells his knives all over the world, including Chile, Australia, Germany, Britain, with the majority to the US and Canada. He has one customer in Texas who has 8 knives and two more ordered. His website customer reviews are a testament to both his attention to detail and his meticulous customer service. He likes working directly with customers. Some people come to him knowing exactly what they want and require only a 20-30 minute conversation. Others come with a vague idea, so Jason will spend as much time as required getting the right design and materials for them. Often, he will show them different images and will spend time refining them. This process can take days to weeks to get it right.
Jason has his pricing method on his website. When asked how he came up with that, he says, “For fixed blades, it is the cost of materials x 3. For example, 10” knives are the cost of the steel and handle materials x 3, and then divided by per inch of the blade equals the price per inch.” For folding knives, he researched other makers in the US and is charging the same, but in Canadian dollars.
He uses mainly 154 CM Stainless steel, 1095 high carbon, and Damascus, and he likes Magnacut for its edge holding, corrosion resistance, and how well it sharpens. His favourite wood is desert ironwood for the light and dark variations, and its denseness and oils which provide natural stabilizing.
Jason has worked in a grocery store, as a baker, forklift operator, and manages five active Dungeons and Dragons groups, but knifemaking is his passion. He has always liked drawing, sculpting, and pottery. He says working with steel is similar to sculpture, “I start with raw material and I cut and grind away everything that isn’t the knife”.
He says Kim is very supportive of his knifemaking business. In fact, over the past 7 years, she has made all of his leather sheaths. She started sewing by hand, but with her full-time job, she now uses a machine. He says he could not manage his business without her support.
Jason enjoys teaching. His Instagram and Facebook have many “How to” videos, such as a three-part series on how to make a Slipjoint knife. He also has a slipjoint pattern that he freely shares and provides some instructions. Jason emphasizes that he learned from the kindness of others, and his videos are a way of giving back to knifemakers. He also sponsors an annual knife giveaway draw for new boy and girl hunters between the legal hunting age and 18. The lucky winners get a 2.5” blade skinner knife.
When asked what he would do differently, he replied, “Start doing more shows to get my work out there”.
Words of Wisdom – “Focus on the fit and finish of all knives. Slow down and try not to rush each knife; attention to detail is very important. Also, don’t go into it expecting to make a million dollars; rather, do it for the passion.”
See Jason’s instruction video https://www.facebook.com/LeclairKnives/videos/716852386806009
Website - https://www.leclairknives.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leclairknives/?hl=en
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LeclairKnives
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