Steelport Knife

What Steelport Knife does

STEELPORT Knife Co., founded in 2020 by Ron Khormaei and Eytan Zias in Portland, Oregon, is a privately held, handcrafted cutlery manufacturer producing premium American-forged carbon steel kitchen knives and accessories. The company's product portfolio centers on six core knives (8" Chef, 6" Chef, 4" Paring, 10" Bread, 10" Slicing, 6" Boning) forged from traditional 52100 carbon steel and finished with a proprietary differential heat treatment achieving 65 HRC at the blade edge and 30 HRC at the spine, complemented by Oregon Big Leaf Maple Burl handles stabilized with resin. The product ecosystem extends to the patent-pending SteelCore 2-in-1 cutting board line (available in three sizes), accessories (sheaths, knife block, ceramic honing rod, care kit, hemp-based conditioner, bench scraper), and curated bundles including a co-branded Founder's Set with FINEX Cast Iron.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer model via Shopify-powered e-commerce and a public factory showroom at 3602 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, supplemented since 2026 by retail distribution through Crate & Barrel for the cutting board line. Pricing spans $250-$450 per knife and $85-$280 per board, with bundles up to $2,745 (Full Kitchen Set) and higher. Customers are primarily premium home cooks and professional chefs, supported by SharpForever free lifetime sharpening, a Lifetime Warranty, and notable chef endorsements from James Beard Award winners. Revenue streams are one-time hardware sales plus ancillary services such as custom sheath engraving ($25). Marketing relies on editorial earned media, content marketing, chef demonstrations, artisan markets, and factory tours. The company operates a small team (11-50 employees), shares founder and Portland origin with FINEX Cast Iron, and has not disclosed institutional funding.

Name

Steelport Knife

Legal name

STEELPORT Knife Co.

Website

https://steelportknife.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

STEELPORT Knife Co. is a privately held Portland, Oregon manufacturer of handcrafted American-forged 52100 carbon steel kitchen knives and SteelCore cutting boards, sold direct-to-consumer online and through a public factory showroom, serving premium home cooks and professional chefs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Handcrafted Kitchen Cutlery

NAICS

Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing (33221)

SIC

Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)

akta.pro primary industry

Beading & Jewelry-Making Supplies Retail (CRALADAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Notions & Sewing Accessories Retail (Thread, Needles, Zippers, Buttons) (CRALADAG)

Keywords

• Handcrafted kitchen knives
• Carbon steel cutlery
• Forged chef knives
• Cutting boards
• Knife accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Knife Sales: One-time sale of handcrafted carbon steel knives ranging from $250-$450 for individual knives, with bundled sets and full kitchen sets at higher price points up to $5,270.
2. Cutting Board Sales: SteelCore 2-in-1 cutting boards and accessories sold as one-time purchases, ranging from $85 for mini boards to $280 for the standard walnut cutting board.
3. Accessories and Care Products: Sale of accessories including sheaths ($45-$65), care kits ($45), honing rods ($120), knife blocks ($450), apparel, and board conditioners ($25).
4. Custom Engraving Services: Custom engraving on sheaths for personalized gifts at $25 per engraving.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

STEELPORT Knife Co. designs, forges, and handcrafts premium American-made 52100 carbon steel kitchen knives, dual-sided SteelCore cutting boards, and related cutlery accessories at its Portland, Oregon factory. Each knife passes through 134 manufacturing steps and seven pairs of artisan hands before being sold direct-to-consumer, through its factory showroom, via Crate & Barrel (cutting boards), and at select artisan markets.

Product overview

STEELPORT Knife Co. is a handcrafted carbon steel kitchen knife manufacturer offering a focused portfolio of six core knife products (8" Chef Knife, 6" Chef Knife, 4" Paring Knife, 10" Bread Knife, 10" Slicing Knife, 6" Boning Knife) complemented by the SteelCore 2-in-1 Cutting Board line with multiple size options (18"x12", 13"x9", 9"x6") in walnut and Oregon maple. The knife line uses American-forged 52100 carbon steel with proprietary differential heat treatment achieving 65 HRC at blade edge and contoured Oregon Big Leaf Maple Burl handles stabilized with resin. The product ecosystem includes curated sets (Full Kitchen Set, Full Family Set, Signature Knife & Board Set, 3-Piece Essential Set, Baker Set, Bar Set, Starter Set, Founder's Set collaboration with FINEX), accessories (Knife Block, Care Kit, Ceramic Honing Rod, Bench Scraper, sheaths), and the SteelCore cutting board line. The company also offers the SharpForever free lifetime sharpening program and Lifetime Warranty.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SteelCore: SteelCore 2-in-1 Cutting Board line featuring a patent-pending steel core for enhanced stability and durability, with dual-sided cutting surfaces (end-grain wood and paper-based composite)
• SharpForever
• Founder's Set

Products and services

• 8" Chef Knife Flagship handcrafted 8" carbon steel chef knife with sheepsfoot tip and finger groove; forged from American 52100 carbon steel with proprietary 65 HRC differential heat treatment and contoured Oregon Big Leaf Maple Burl handle.
• 6" Chef Knife Handcrafted 6" carbon steel chef knife with enhanced tip curve for increased cutting surface and maneuverability; same 52100 carbon steel and Oregon Maple Burl handle construction as the flagship.
• 4" Paring Knife Precision 4" paring knife for peeling, trimming, and in-hand detail work; sheepsfoot tip with contoured Oregon Walnut handle.
• 10" Bread Knife 10" serrated bread knife with a unique wavy (sine wave) serration pattern engineered to cut crusty and soft breads without crushing, made from 65 HRC carbon steel.
• 10" Slicing Knife 10" slicing knife with extended curved blade and 1" heel for clean pull cuts through large proteins, combining features of a slicer and cimeter.
• 6" Boning Knife Semi-flexible 6" boning knife with wider-than-average blade and an extra-wide safety guard at the bolster for separating meat from bone and trimming silverskin.
• Full Kitchen Set Bundle of six essential STEELPORT knives (6" Chef, 8" Chef, 10" Slicing, 6" Boning, 4" Paring, 10" Bread) plus the magnetic Knife Block and Carbon Steel Care Kit.
• Founder's Set (STEELPORT + FINEX collaboration) Limited-edition bundle pairing the STEELPORT 8" Chef Knife with the FINEX 12" Cast Iron Skillet & Lid, sold at $110 savings to celebrate the shared founder of both Portland companies.
• SteelCore 2-in-1 Cutting Board (Walnut, 18"x12") Patent-pending dual-sided cutting board with end-grain walnut on one side and paper-based composite (Paperstone) on the other, featuring internal steel beams to prevent warping.
• SteelCore 2-in-1 Cutting Board (Walnut, 13"x9") Smaller dual-sided SteelCore cutting board with end-grain walnut and paper-based composite surfaces plus internal steel core, launched in collaboration with Crate & Barrel.
• SteelCore 2-in-1 Mini Cutting Board (Walnut, 9"x6") Compact dual-sided mini cutting board with walnut and paper composite sides, sized for bar use or travel.
• Hemp-Based Cutting Board Conditioner All-natural cutting board conditioner handcrafted from hemp seed oil and beeswax to preserve, nourish, and protect wood surfaces without synthetic additives or mineral oils.
• STEELPORT Magnetic Knife Block Award-winning magnetic knife block for storing and displaying STEELPORT knives; received the 2023 GOOD DESIGN Award from The Chicago Athenaeum.
• Carbon Steel Knife Care Kit Complete care kit for maintaining carbon steel knives, including blade oil and handle wax.
• 12" Oval Ceramic Honing Rod Ceramic honing rod in a 12" oval shape used for maintaining knife edges between sharpenings.
• Bench Scraper Stainless steel bench scraper for kitchen prep, included as part of the 3-Piece Baker Set.
• Knife Sheaths Custom-fitted sheaths for STEELPORT knives in 4", 6", 8", and 10" sizes, made from caramelized Oregon Walnut with an internal recessed magnet along the spine; available with custom engraving.
• Custom Engraving Service Custom engraving offered on STEELPORT knife sheaths at $25 per engraving, enabling personalized gift purchases.
• SharpForever Lifetime Sharpening Service Free lifetime sharpening program for all STEELPORT knives, providing ongoing maintenance and total coverage for premium handcrafted kitchen knives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of customers rate STEELPORT 4- or 5-stars based on 424 verified reviews
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Crate & BarrelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 April 2026SteelCore 2-in-1 Cutting Board line launched with Crate & Barrel. The new 13"x9" size was also launched in collaboration with Crate & Barrel, expanding retail distribution for the cutting board product line.
• FINEX Cast IroncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 July 2024STEELPORT and FINEX share the same founder (Ron Khormaei) and both manufacture in Portland, Oregon. The Founder's Set bundles the STEELPORT 8" Chef Knife with the FINEX 12" Cast Iron Skillet, offering $110 in savings. Both companies share commitment to American craftsmanship, iconic design, and heirloom-quality kitchen tools.
• Ron KhormaeicoreOthersFounder and CEO of STEELPORT Knife Co. Founded FINEX Cast Iron in 2012, then co-founded STEELPORT in 2020 with several key members from the FINEX team. Holds a Ph.D. in engineering from Oregon State University.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Benchmade Knife Company: Premium American knife maker (Oregon-based) best known for sporting/folding knives but with kitchen cutlery. Shares American-made premium positioning and a similar enthusiast-driven go-to-market (Blade Show, custom culture).
• Made In: Direct-to-consumer premium kitchen brand with strong chef endorsements and a growing cutlery line. Comparable in DTC motion, premium pricing, U.S. manufacturing narrative, and target customer (serious home cooks and professionals).
• Misen: DTC premium kitchen brand (cookware, knives, tools) targeting enthusiast home cooks with detailed product storytelling and competitive pricing. Comparable in DTC-only GTM and digitally-native premium positioning.
• FINEX Cast Iron: Sister brand founded by STEELPORT's CEO Ron Khormaei in 2012 in Portland. Both brands share founder, story ('American heirloom craftsmanship, Portland-made') and premium DTC positioning in the high-end kitchen tools space, with STEELPORT bundling a FINEX skillet in its Founder's Set.
• Lamson & Goodnow: Long-standing American cutlery manufacturer (since 1837) producing kitchen knives with comparable U.S.-made craftsmanship narrative. Competes in the premium American kitchen cutlery segment where STEELPORT operates.
• Yoshihiro Cutlery: Handmade Japanese kitchen knives (carbon steel) sold through premium specialty channels. Direct comparable in carbon-steel material, artisanal production, premium pricing, and enthusiast chef customer.
• Bob Kramer: Renowned American bladesmith selling handmade carbon steel kitchen knives at ultra-premium price points ($400–$1,000+). Closest direct analog to STEELPORT's forging-led, premium-positioned, chef-endorsed positioning.
• Field Company: DTC premium American cast iron cookware brand with shared 'American heirloom' story and chef-endorsed, Portland-aware positioning. Adjacent premium-kitchen peer in the same DTC premium cookware narrative space.

Broad incumbents

• Wüsthof: German cutlery incumbent (since 1814) and dominant mass-premium kitchen knife brand. Competes with STEELPORT at the premium end of the market with broader catalog, global distribution, and far larger manufacturing capacity.
• Zwilling J.A. Henckels: Global German cutlery conglomerate owning Zwilling, Miyabi, and Staub. Competes in premium kitchen knives (especially Miyabi) and serves as a broad incumbent benchmark for STEELPORT's premium positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SteelportKnifeCo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Steelport Knife