Best Made Company

What Best Made Company does

Best Made Company is an independent, designer-led direct-to-consumer outfitter operating an e-commerce storefront at bestmadeco.com. Founded in 2009 in New York City by Peter Buchanan-Smith, the company was disbanded and sold following the founder's 2019 departure, then reacquired by Buchanan-Smith in October 2023 and officially relaunched in 2024 as Best Made Company Inc. The product portfolio spans apparel (shirts, jackets, sweaters, pants, T-shirts), accessories (headwear, bandanas, belts, socks), gear (axes, knives, tools, bags), and home/workshop items (storage, weather instruments, books). Signature offerings include The Optimist Hudson Bay Axe forged from American 5160 carbon steel by Farm Smith in Indiana, the Kiridashi Knife made in Miki City, Japan, Ten-Inch Paper Scissors produced by Whiteley & Sons in Sheffield, England, and the Gerstner 41D Founder's Edition machinist chest produced in Ohio. The company also maintains The Archive, a repository of over 250 past products, and a Repair & Restoration Directory that extends product lifecycle and customer engagement.

Revenue is generated through one-time purchases with no subscription component, priced from $10 to $2,150. Distribution is exclusively DTC via the company's own Shopify storefront, with no wholesale partners, marketplace listings, or permanent brick-and-mortar stores; periodic pop-up events supplement the online channel. Customers are primarily individuals identifying as "makers, adventurers, tinkerers, and curiosity seekers," with marketing executed through a weekly email newsletter, a Research blog, organic Instagram, and limited-edition/short-supply drops. Strategic maker partnerships — H. Gerstner & Sons (1906, Ohio), Nathan Brandt at Farm Smith (Indiana), Wickett & Craig, Whiteley & Sons (1760, Sheffield), Harley of Scotland (1929), and a 4th-generation Miki City knife maker — anchor the supply chain and the brand's American-made (and selective international craft) positioning. Headcount is 11-50, the company is independently owned with no disclosed external investors, and growth is explicitly described as slow and deliberate.

Name

Best Made Company

Legal name

Best Made Company Inc.

Website

https://bestmadeco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Best Made Company is an independent, designer-led American outfitter selling curated apparel, axes, knives, and workshop goods direct-to-consumer online. Founded in 2009 and relaunched in 2024 by founder Peter Buchanan-Smith, it serves makers, adventurers, and craftsmanship enthusiasts through limited-edition drops.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Outdoor Apparel & Tools

NAICS

Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers (45913), Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing (3322), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159)

SIC

Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Crafts & Hobby Supplies Retail (CRALAIAC)

Keywords

• Heritage outdoor apparel
• American workwear
• Craftsman tools
• Axe forging
• Outdoor lifestyle goods

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: One-time purchase model for physical products including apparel, tools, accessories, and home goods. No subscription component. Gift cards available in denominations of $50-$500.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Best Made Company designs, curates, and sells a catalog of premium apparel, accessories, hand tools, and home/workshop goods through its direct-to-consumer online storefront. Its products include American-forged axes, Japanese and Sheffield-made knives and scissors, heritage machinist chests, working-wool sweaters, and a full apparel line, all unified by a craftsmanship-first, limited-supply brand position.

Product overview

Best Made Company is an independent, designer-led product company at the intersection of work, adventure, and reinvention. Founded in 2009 and re-established in 2024 by Peter Buchanan-Smith, the company offers a curated portfolio of quality American-made apparel, gear, and tools united by craftsmanship standards. The product lineup includes: The Optimist Hudson Bay Axe and Spark axes (forged from 5160 carbon steel in Indiana); knives such as the Kiridashi Knife (Japan), Otter-Messer Pocket Knife, British Army Knife, and K55K Mercator; precision tools including Ten-Inch Paper Scissors (Sheffield, England), brass rulers, and the Gerstner 41D Founder's Edition chest (Ohio); Solid Brass Dice; Weather Station instruments; The Brass Collection of brass-themed products; and a full Apparel line including shirts, jackets, outerwear, pants, and sweaters. The company also maintains The Archive, a repository of over 250 past products. Products are sold through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model with a focus on American manufacturing and slow, deliberate production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Optimist Hudson Bay Axe Hudson Bay pattern canoeist's axe forged from American 5160 carbon steel with a 30-inch Appalachian hickory handle, designed for traveling light, limbing, splitting kindling, and campfires.
• Solid Brass Dice Machined and etched solid brass dice set (two pieces), standard 16mm size, with the Best Made Co. X-logo etched in place of the number 1.
• Ten-Inch Paper Scissors Professional-grade 10-inch scissors with hot-forged carbon steel blades and Teflon coating to prevent adhesive sticking, manufactured in Sheffield, England by Whiteley & Sons (Royal Warrant holder since 1840).
• Kiridashi Knife Traditional Japanese single-bevel Kiridashi knife with magnolia wood handle and sheath, forged by an award-winning 4th-generation knife maker in Miki City, Japan.
• Gerstner 41D Founder's Edition Machinist Chest Limited edition wooden machinist chest made in Ohio since 1906 by H. Gerstner & Sons, featuring kiln-dried American cherry construction, tongue and groove joinery, hand-fitted drawers, polished brass hardware, and off-white felt-lined compartments; limited to 100 numbered units.
• Apparel Collection Quality apparel line including shirts ($248–$328), jackets and outerwear ($148.50–$698), T-shirts and sweatshirts ($58–$68), pants ($188–$285), and sweaters, with an emphasis on American manufacturing and craftsmanship.
• Accessories Collection Accessories line including headwear, bandanas, neckwear, pins and badges, socks ($36), and belts ($111–$198), with quality materials and craftsmanship.
• Gear Collection Gear and tools line including axes and hatchets ($350–$450), knives ($75–$400), tools and gadgets (e.g., scissors at $128, brass rulers from $36), and bags and cases for work and adventure.
• Home & Workshop Collection Home and workshop line including storage solutions ($72–$498), desk items, weather instruments (e.g., Weather Station at $348), signs and wall objects ($42–$52), and books ($10–$150).
• The Brass Collection Sub-brand collection of brass-themed products including brass knives, pens, and dice that develop patina over time.
• Limited Editions Collection Limited run products including axes and knives produced in smaller quantities for exclusivity.
• Weather Station Desk/workshop weather monitoring instrument featuring barometer, hygrometer, and thermometer functions, priced at $348.00.
• Spark (Straight-Hold Edition) Axe High-carbon steel axe with Appalachian hickory handle and leather blade guard, priced at $350.00.
• Book Collection Curated selection of books including titles like A Pattern Language, Boats Books Birds, and other titles related to craft, design, and outdoor living, priced from $10 to $150.
• Be Optimistic Virtual Gift Card Digital gift card available in denominations of $50, $100, $250, and $500, redeemable across the Best Made product catalog, with no expiration.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• H. Gerstner & SonscoreTechnology or Integration · 13 March 2026Manufacturing partner for Gerstner 41D tool chests. Founded in 1906 in Dayton, Ohio. Chests feature kiln-dried American cherry, tongue and groove joinery, hand-fitted drawers, and polished brass hardware. Best Made's 41D Founder's Edition is produced in Ohio, limited to 100 units.
• Nathan Brandt at Farm SmithcoreTechnology or IntegrationForge partner for axe heads. Produces The Optimist Hudson Bay axe heads from 5160 high-carbon steel in New Castle, Indiana. Has guided all axe manufacturing since relaunch.
• Andes Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for December 2025 holiday pop-up event. Hosted temporary Best Made brick-and-mortar experience at Andes location.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tanner Goods: Portland-based maker of heritage leather goods, belts, and small accessories with made-in-USA focus. Comparable to Best Made in curating small-batch American-made accessories for a discerning maker customer.
• Filson: Heritage American outfitter selling rugged apparel, bags, and gear with a focus on quality materials and made-in-USA craftsmanship. Directly comparable in target customer (makers, outdoorsmen) and product philosophy to Best Made.
• Pendleton Woolen Mills: Heritage American wool and apparel maker with strong storytelling around wool sourcing, blankets, and outdoor heritage. Comparable to Best Made in Working Wool™ positioning and American-made wool product strategy.
• Buck Knives: American knife manufacturer with deep heritage (since 1902) selling fixed-blade and folding knives through DTC and retail. Comparable to Best Made's knife category and craftsmanship-led positioning, though with broader distribution.
• Topo Designs: Colorado-based outdoor and lifestyle brand with made-in-USA focus and DTC-heavy distribution. Comparable to Best Made in customer persona (adventurous, design-conscious) and curated product approach.
• J. Peterman Company: Heritage catalog and DTC retailer selling curated, story-driven apparel and lifestyle goods. Comparable to Best Made in narrative-led marketing, limited catalog, and aspirational outfitter positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Snow Peak: Premium Japanese outdoor lifestyle brand with strong design heritage and limited-edition drops. Comparable to Best Made in DTC-led premium positioning and lifestyle/outdoor crossover audience.
• L.L.Bean: Iconic American outfitter with a broad catalog of apparel, outdoor gear, and tools. Comparable in outfitter positioning and quality-focused ethos, though at much larger scale and broader category mix than Best Made.
• Duluth Trading Company: American workwear and tool brand selling durable apparel and gear for tradespeople and outdoor enthusiasts. Comparable to Best Made in workwear audience and tool-adjacent product mix, though at much broader scale.

Others

• Gerstner & Sons (H. Gerstner & Sons): Dayton, Ohio-based maker of heirloom tool chests since 1906. Direct manufacturing partner for Best Made's Gerstner 41D Founder's Edition and an ecosystem peer in the heritage American craftsmanship space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/bestmadeco/?hl=en
• Xx.com/bestmadeco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/best-made-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Best Made Company