Knew Concepts

What Knew Concepts does

Knew Concepts is a small US manufacturer of precision-crafted hand saws and workbench tools founded in 2009 in Santa Cruz, California, by Lee Marshall — inventor of Bonny Doon Engineering's hydraulic presses — and now owned by Brian Meek following Marshall's 2017 passing. The company's core products are fret/jeweler's saws (Mk.III, Mk.IV, and the flagship Titanium Birdcage line), coping saws, and a workbench accessory ecosystem including bench pins, clamps, dovetail accessory plates, LED face shields, titanium soldering clamps and trivets, guillotine clamps, and anticlastic stakes. Underlying technology centers on aerospace-grade aluminum and titanium frames, a proprietary lever tensioning system that eliminates chest-compression blade tensioning, and a patented swivel blade clamp mechanism (inspired by the 1884 Fenner Patent Frame Saw) that locks at 45° left, 0°, and 45° right. Manufacturing occurs in a 2,100 sq ft Santa Cruz facility using CNC milling and lathe equipment.

The company serves two overlapping end markets: professional and serious hobbyist jewelers/metalsmiths (fine jewelry fabrication, metal piercing, soldering, inlay) and fine woodworkers/luthiers/marquetry artists (dovetails, coping joints, inlay work). Pricing is publicly listed, with saw frames ranging from $58 for entry-level Mk.III models to $205 for Titanium Birdcage units, sold as one-time hardware purchases with no subscription model. Revenue is generated through two channels: direct e-commerce via knewconcepts.com and knewconcepts.shop, and wholesale through a worldwide distributor network spanning ~40+ partners across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South Africa — including Rio Grande, Otto Frei, Highland Woodworking, Lee Valley Tools, Cooksongold, and Dictum. Trade show presence at Woodworking In America, MJSA Expo, and Handworks supplements demand generation alongside content marketing via an extensive YouTube tutorial library and the long-running "Knewsletter" email publication.

The company holds US Patent 8,347,513 B2 on its coping saw design and other patents on the swivel clamp and titanium Birdcage mechanisms. It has earned third-party validation through features in Fine Woodworking, Make Magazine, and Titanium Today, a Cambridge University research paper on the titanium design, and endorsements from prominent craftspeople including Adam Savage. The 11–50 employee operation is independently held with no disclosed institutional funding or parent company.

Name

Knew Concepts

Legal name

Knew Concepts

Website

https://knewconcepts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Knew Concepts is a small US manufacturer of precision-crafted fret saws, coping saws, and workbench accessories for jewelers, metalsmiths, and fine woodworkers, selling direct via e-commerce and through a global distributor network spanning four continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Hand Tools (Jeweler's and Woodworking Saws)

NAICS

Saw Blade and Handtool Manufacturing (332216), Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing (3322)

SIC

Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Tools & Tool Accessories Retail (Hand, Power, Pneumatic) (CRAIADAB), Industrial Saws & Cutting Systems (Band/Circular Saws, Abrasive Cutting) (IMAHADAL)

Keywords

• Precision hand saws
• Jeweler's fret saws
• Woodworking coping saws
• Workbench accessories
• Titanium tool frames

Headquarters

HQ city

Watsonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: The company sells saws, saw blades, and accessories directly to consumers through its website (knewconcepts.com and knewconcepts.shop). Products ship with blades pre-installed and include downloadable instructions.
2. Wholesale / Distributor Sales: Products are sold in bulk to a worldwide network of distributors (woodworking suppliers and jewelry/metal suppliers) who resell to end customers. The company has a dedicated wholesale ordering email ([email protected]).
3. Accessory and Spare Parts Sales: The company sells spare parts (blade clamps, knobs, bench pin components) and accessory packages (workbench accessory plate bundles) as add-on revenue streams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Knew Concepts designs, manufactures, and distributes precision-crafted hand saws (fret/jeweler's saws and coping saws) along with a coordinated system of workbench accessories. Products are built in Santa Cruz, California using aerospace-grade aluminum and titanium, featuring proprietary lever-tension and swivel-blade-clamp mechanisms, and are sold directly to craftspeople and through a worldwide specialty distributor network.

Product overview

Knew Concepts is a small American manufacturing company producing precision-crafted hand saws and tools primarily for jewelers and woodworkers. The core product line centers on fret/jeweler's saws (Mk.III, Mk.IV, and Titanium Birdcage models) available in 3", 5", and 8" sizes with various tension and blade clamp options, plus coping saws for woodworking. The portfolio extends to a comprehensive work bench accessory system including the Bench Pin, Bench Clamps (Anvil and Magnet), Guillotine Clamps, Dovetail Accessory Plates, and Flex-Mount Face Shields with LED lighting. Specialized metalworking tools include Titanium Soldering Clamps and Trivets, and Anticlastic Stakes. All products are designed and manufactured in Santa Cruz, CA, with a focus on precision, durability, and ergonomic design.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mk.III Hand Saws (Fret/Jeweler's Saws) The original lightweight precision-crafted hand saws for jewelers and woodworkers. Available in 3" and 5" sizes with screw tension or lever tension options, and optional swivel blade clamps for angled cutting. Mk.III models are the entry tier starting at $58.
• Mk.IV Hand Saws Heavy-duty hand saws built for more demanding applications. Available in 3", 5", and 8" sizes with lever tension and optional swivel blade clamps. Mk.IV models start at $80.
• Titanium Birdcage Hand Saws The ultimate rigid hand saws featuring a welded titanium beam spine, the strongest and most rigid fret saw available. Features lever tension and swivel blade clamps. Weighs only 6-3/4 ounces (approximately 191g) and priced at $205.
• Coping Saws Hand saws intended for aggressive cuts and wider turns, best suited for woodworkers. Features the patented indexing blade mechanism (Patent 8,347,513, B2) that allows the blade to be rotated and repositioned while maintaining tension. Uses 6.5" pinned end blades.
• Precision Die Saw Precision saw designed for die cutting applications in jewelry making.
• Saw Blades Replacement blades for Knew Concepts saws. Fret/jeweler's saws require 5.125" (130mm) plain end blades. Coping saws require 6.5" pinned end blades. Available in wood and metal grades.
• Bench Pin and Bench Clamp Bench Pin is a stainless steel work surface for the bench jeweler, fitting standard dovetail mount or Knew Concepts clamps. Bench Clamp is available in Anvil version (with 2" steel disk for pounding) and Magnet version (with high strength magnet for holding files and burrs).
• Work Bench Accessories Complete line of bench accessories including Bench Clamps (Anvil and Magnet versions), Dovetail Accessory Plate, Dovetail Mounting Plate, Accessory Plate Standoff Block, and Bench Pin.
• Guillotine Clamps Holds small or odd shaped parts for piercing or filing. Solid brass version has max opening 0.710" x 1.71"; stainless steel student version has max opening 1.00" x 1.66".
• Flex-Mount Face Shield with LED Lights Protects face from flying debris while providing bright, warm white, shadowless LED light. Features 18 high intensity LED lights in two fully diffused banks. 6x8 polycarbonate shield.
• Flex-Mount Face Shield with LED Lights and Magnifying Lens Face shield with LED lights and additional 2" x 4", 2X magnifying lens for enhanced detail work.
• Titanium Soldering Clamps Titanium strips that can be bent into custom clamps for hard soldering operations. Titanium doesn't stick to solder, stays strong when red hot, and doesn't transfer heat quickly.
• Titanium Soldering Trivets Titanium trivets for holding jewelry work while soldering. Allows heating from underneath without stealing heat. Solder and enamel don't stick to titanium.
• Anticlastic Stakes Metal forming tools designed by Cynthia Eid and Betty-Helen Longhi. Four sizes available offering pockets of varying widths and depths for forming metal into intricately curved anticlastic forms.
• Mini Clamp Small solid aluminum clamp for fastening articulating face shields anywhere, not just at the bench pin. Allows mounting face shields in various positions.
• Tilting Dovetail Adapter Goes between dovetail tools and anchor point. Allows tilting any dovetail system tool up to 45 degrees to either side for comfortable filing or microscopic work.
• Slip-on Foam Comfort Grip Increases handle diameter without adding weight. Makes handle softer and easier to hold, reducing hand stress and fatigue for users with grip difficulties.

Quantifiable outcome

• Saw frames as light as 115g (3" Mk.III) while maintaining rigidity sufficient to tension blades to 'ping' with a musical note
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Highland Woodworking (Atlanta, GA, USA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWoodworking tool distributor and retailer based in Atlanta, GA. Carries the full range of Knew Concepts saws for woodworkers. One of the primary North American woodworking distribution channels for the company.
• Rio Grande Jewelry Making Supplies (Albuquerque, NM, USA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor jewelry supply distributor serving jewelers and metalsmiths across North America. Rio Grande produces instructional content featuring Knew Concepts products, including videos on blade installation by Mark Nelson.
• Otto Frei (Oakland, CA, USA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEstablished jewelry tools, equipment, findings, and supplies distributor. One of the key jewelry supply distributors in North America carrying Knew Concepts products.
• Lee Valley Tools (Canada)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian woodworking and hardware retailer with a strong reputation for quality tools. Distributes Knew Concepts saws to Canadian woodworkers.
• Cooksongold (Birmingham, UK and Spain)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor European jewelry tools and supplies distributor. Produces multiple video reviews of Knew Concepts products including Titanium Trivets, Soldering Clamps, Bench Pin, and Bench Clamp. Key European channel partner.
• Gesswein (Canada and USA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProfessional jewelry tool and supply distributor serving North American jewelers. Carries Knew Concepts products for the jewelry market.
• Infinity Cutting Tools (Oldsmar, FL, USA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWoodworking tools specialist distributor. Andrew Gibson of Infinity Cutting Tools produced a review video of the Knew Concepts Coping Saw demonstrating perfect joints.
• David Barron (Master Woodworker)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaster woodworker and content creator who produced multiple YouTube videos demonstrating dovetail techniques, houndstooth dovetails, and hand cut dovetails using Knew Concepts saws. Featured on the Knew Concepts Video Gallery.
• Cynthia Eid (Master Jeweler and Designer)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Lee Marshall for 3 years to convince him to develop a fret saw based on the Precision Die Saw. Provided key design input including the ergonomic handle and blade-clamping concept. Co-designed Anticlastic Stakes and contributed to product development. Instrumental in naming the company 'Knew Concepts' when 'New Concepts' was already taken.
• Woodworking In America (WIA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual woodworking conference and trade show that Knew Concepts actively sponsors and exhibits at. Company presented 'Know how to Cope?' educational session at WIA 2016. Official sponsor of Friday Night Brews & Browse social event.
• MJSA (Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMJSA Expo New York is a major jewelry industry trade show. Knew Concepts exhibited at the MJSA Expo (Booth #1820 in 2015) to showcase products and meet jewelry artisan customers.
• Handworks (Amana, Iowa)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBiennial woodworking hand tool convention in Amana, Iowa. Knew Concepts participated in Handworks 2017 to connect with hand tool enthusiasts and demonstrate products.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Bahco (SNA Europe): Global hand tool manufacturer (owned by Snap-on) with broad saw and cutting tool portfolio. Comparable as a larger incumbent offering overlapping hand-saw capabilities across trade and industrial channels.
• L.S. Starrett Company: US manufacturer of precision hand tools, saw blades, and measuring instruments. Comparable as a larger incumbent in precision cutting tools with overlapping hand-saw and metalworking customer segments.
• Festool: German manufacturer of premium power tools and accessories for fine woodworking and craftsmanship. Comparable as a broader incumbent serving the same high-end professional woodworking customer base with premium pricing.

Others

• Gesswein: US distributor and manufacturer of jewelry-making tools, equipment, and supplies. Comparable as a channel partner and ecosystem participant serving the same professional jeweler and metalsmith customer base.

Direct peers

• Robert Sorby: UK manufacturer of premium woodworking turning and carving tools. Comparable in premium positioning, heritage brand, and craft professional/end-user customer base in fine woodworking.
• Lie-Nielsen Toolworks: US-based premium manufacturer of hand tools for fine woodworking, including saws, planes, and chisels. Closely comparable in premium positioning, direct-to-consumer + distributor model, made-in-USA manufacturing, and craft professional customer base.
• Veritas Tools (Lee Valley Tools): Canadian premium woodworking hand tool brand with parallel direct e-commerce and global distribution. Comparable in product category overlap (precision hand tools), premium pricing, content-driven marketing, and cross-channel reach into North America, Europe, and Asia.
• Olson Saw Company: US manufacturer of band saw, coping, and jeweler's fret saw blades. Closely comparable as a primary input supplier and category peer in the same precision saw ecosystem serving jewelers and woodworkers.
• Pegas (Pégas Saw Blades): Swiss manufacturer of precision saw blades for jewelry, woodworking, and crafts. Directly comparable as a precision blade peer serving the same jeweler and woodworker customer segments with premium positioning.

Emerging players

• Blue Spruce Toolworks: US-based small-batch maker of premium hand tools (chisels, marking gauges). Comparable as an emerging premium hand tool brand built on craftsmanship, small team, and direct-to-craftsperson distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/knewconcepts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KnewConcepts
• Facebookfacebook.com/KnewConcepts
• Instagraminstagram.com/knew_concepts
• Pinterestpinterest.com/knewconcepts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knew-concepts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Knew Concepts