Pops Knife Supply

What Pops Knife Supply does

Pops Knife Supply is a privately held, direct-to-consumer retailer of knife-making supplies headquartered in Braselton, Georgia, with a physical showroom at 1742 Candler Rd in Gainesville, GA and a Shopify-powered storefront at popsknife.supplies. Founded in 1986 by James Poplin and operated since 2023 by 4Makers Inc. (Allen Surls, Joey Berry, and Dirk Loots), the company serves hobbyist and professional custom knifemakers, bladesmiths, and kitchen cutlery makers across the United States and select international markets. Its catalog spans more than 25 categories including abrasives, knife steels and Damascus, handle materials, grinders, kilns, tools, epoxy, leather sheaths, and finished custom and production knives.

The company's core technology is a Shopify e-commerce platform supplemented by a curated private-label and proprietary product stack. The flagship proprietary offering is Pops ProCut Steel, a carbon steel co-developed with metallurgist Dr. Larrin Thomas of Knife Steel Nerds (composition: C-.866, Si-.215, Mn-.352, Cr-.24, Ni-1.99, V-.23, W-1.23), marketed for balanced toughness, edge retention, and ease of heat treatment. Additional private-label brands include Pops Choice abrasives, Pops Epoxy, the Silicon Oxide Flap 'Super Wheel', and a co-branded Tools by Walter Sorrells line. Pops also resells Damascus billets from Alabama Damascus, Vegas Forge, and Shaya Damascus, and finished knives from affiliated custom makers and major production brands (Buck, Spyderco, CRKT, Microtech, Civivi, Case, Kershaw, Victorinox, and others).

Commercially, Pops operates a one-time-purchase, unit-priced DTC model with average ticket sizes ranging from under $1 for small accessories to $300+ for premium Desert Ironwood blocks and $265 Damascus billets. Revenue streams include knife-making supply sales, custom knife sales, production knife sales, and ancillary services (classes, sharpening, laser engraving). Distribution is omnichannel: Shopify e-commerce as the primary channel, a single retail showroom for walk-in customers, and international shipping via USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL, with UK sales halted as of December 2025 following a regulatory fine. Marketing relies on community-led engagement through the 'I use supplies from Pops' Facebook group, YouTube video content, Instagram, X/Twitter, email newsletters, sponsored BladeSports competitors, and recurring knife-making challenges such as the ProCut Challenge and Kephart Build.

Name

Pops Knife Supply

Legal name

Pops Knife Supply

Website

https://popsknife.supplies

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pops Knife Supply is a US-based, Shopify-powered retailer of knife-making supplies serving hobbyist and professional custom knifemakers. It sells abrasives, steel, Damascus, handle materials, tools, grinders, and finished custom and production knives, anchored by its proprietary ProCut steel and a maker-led community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Knife Making Supplies

NAICS

Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing (33221), Metal Kitchen Cookware, Utensil, Cutlery, and Flatware (except Precious) Manufacturing (332215)

SIC

Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)

akta.pro primary industry

Hunting & Shooting Specialty Knife/Tool Retail (CRAMAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Crafting Tools & Equipment Retail (Cutting, Adhesives, Heat Tools) (CRALACAC)

Keywords

• Knife making supplies
• Blade smithing tools
• Knife steel sales
• Abrasive belt supplies
• Heat treating equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Braselton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Knife Making Supplies Sales: Direct product sales of knife making supplies including abrasives, steel, handle materials, tools, and accessories through e-commerce website.
2. Custom Knives Sales: Sales of custom knives from featured knifemakers including Will Dutton, JB Knifeworks, W.A. Surls Knives, Berry Bladeworks, and Candler Customs.
3. Production Knives Sales: Resale of production knives from brands including Buck, Case, Civivi, CRKT, Microtech, Mora, Rough Ryder, Spyderco, Victorinox, Krate Tactical, Hogue, Silky, Kershaw, and Queen.
4. Services: Offerings include knife-making classes, sharpening services, and laser engraving.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pops Knife Supply is a direct-to-consumer e-commerce and physical retailer specializing in knife-making supplies, selling abrasives, knife-making steel (including proprietary ProCut steel), Damascus billets, handle materials, grinders, kilns, tools, hardware, and finished custom and production knives to hobbyist and professional knifemakers. The company also offers knife-making classes, knife sharpening services, and laser engraving.

Product overview

Pops Knife Supply is a knife-making supply e-commerce platform offering a comprehensive catalog of over 25 product categories spanning abrasives, steel, handle materials, tools, heat treating equipment, and finished knives. The platform features proprietary branded products including Pops ProCut Steel (developed with metallurgist Dr. Larrin Thomas of Knife Steel Nerds), Pops Choice abrasives, Pops Epoxy, and the Silicon Oxide Flap 'Super Wheel'. Their steel selection includes popular alloys (1084, 8670, CPM MagnaCut, CPM 3V) plus Damascus from Vegas Forge, Alabama Damascus, and Shaya Damascus. Handle materials feature exotic options like Mammoth Ivory, Desert Ironwood, and Kiran's Koa. Tools include specialty items by Walter Sorrells, plus grinders, kilns, and forging equipment. The company also offers knife-making Classes, Sharpening, and Laser Engraving services, along with a curated selection of custom knives from affiliated makers and production knives from major brands. The business is operated by 4Makers Inc., owned by three professional knifemakers (Allen Surls, Joey Berry, and Dirk Loots).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Knife-Making Steel and Damascus Billets

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 40 years serving the knife-making community
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Knife Steel Nerds (Dr. Larrin Thomas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed proprietary ProCut carbon steel with Dr. Larrin Thomas, metallurgist behind Knife Steel Nerds. ProCut offers balanced toughness, edge retention, and ease of heat treatment for knife makers.
• Walter SorrellscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on video content and knife-making tools. Walter Sorrells is a prominent knife maker whose tools are sold through Pops. Joint YouTube video projects and tool development including The Sorrells Brick Bevel Grinding Jig, Pops Drilling Jig, and other specialty tools.
• BladeSportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBladeSports International is a Texas non-profit promoting knife safety and cutting events. Pops sponsors 2 BladeSports competitors (Big Hand Dave and Sara O'Conner Maly).
• Jesse HuminorGTM or Marketing Partner9-time champion on History Channel's Forged in Fire with undefeated record. Promotes Jesse Hu's online courses and products through Pops website, with promotional banners linking to his masterclass.
• Black Dragon Forge (Neels van den Berg)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured 'Friend of Pops' and provider of digital downloads and knife-making patterns. Black Dragon Forge products sold through Pops including Hidden Tang Handle Broach and online courses.
• Alabama DamascuscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlabama Damascus (Jacksonville, AL) supplies premium Damascus steel including pre-made heat-treated blades and billets. Products feature iconic patterns like Alabama Buckshot, Flame, Rattler, and Wave.
• Vegas Forge DamascuscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHand-forged Damascus steel supplier offering both stainless and carbon Damascus in various eye-catching patterns. Premium Damascus billets sold through Pops.
• Shaya Damascus (Bertie Rietveld)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorld-renowned South African Damascus maker offering Dragonskin, Nebula, and Fracture Damascus patterns. Pops sells Shaya Damascus billets including Dragon Skin Damascus at $158.
• TNT Enterprises (Terry Dunn)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWood stabilizing and casting specialist producing double dyed blocks and other materials for knife makers. Terry Dunn specializes in stabilizing wood, burl, and other media.
• Goat and HammerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFriend of Pops - knife-making content creator and community member featured on Pops' website.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Jantz Supply: Long-established knifemaking and metal-crafting supplies retailer (founded 1966) selling abrasives, steel, handle materials, tools, and finished blades. Closest head-to-head competitor to Pops in the knife-making supply niche.
• Texas Knifemaker's Supply: Specialty retailer of knifemaking supplies including steel, abrasives, handle materials, and heat-treat equipment. Directly comparable in product catalog, customer base, and e-commerce go-to-market.
• USA Knifemaker: Online retailer of knifemaking supplies and equipment serving hobbyist and professional blade makers. Overlaps with Pops in steel, abrasives, handle materials, and grinder categories.
• KnifeKits: Knifemaking supplies retailer offering blade kits, handle materials, hardware, and tools. Comparable in customer segment (entry to intermediate hobbyists) and supply-driven e-commerce model.
• Tru-Grit: Niche knifemaking and metalworking supplies retailer specializing in abrasives, grinding equipment, and blade finishing. Direct overlap with Pops' abrasives and grinder product lines.
• New Jersey Steel Baron: Specialty knife steel supplier offering high-end stainless and Damascus billets to custom makers. Directly comparable as a steel-focused supplier serving the same custom knifemaker customer.
• BladeHQ: Large direct-to-consumer online knife retailer offering production and custom knives, gear, and accessories. Comparable in knife-retail GTM, though more weighted to finished knives than supplies.
• Knife Center: Major online and catalog knife retailer with broad production-knife catalog and custom-maker section. Comparable in customer base (knife enthusiasts and collectors) and DTC e-commerce operation.
• Smoky Mountain Knife Works: One of the largest US knife retailers with physical superstore plus e-commerce, carrying hundreds of production-knife brands. Comparable in knife enthusiast customer base, though at substantially greater scale.

Others

• Niagara Specialty Metals: Specialty steel producer and distributor supplying high-performance alloys and custom compositions to knifemakers. Upstream supplier ecosystem participant relevant to Pops' steel sourcing strategy and ProCut-type proprietary development.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/popsknifesupply
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/PopsKnifeSupply
• Facebookfacebook.com/popsknifesupplies
• Instagraminstagram.com/popsknifesupply

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pops Knife Supply