What Knives Plus, Inc. does

Knives Plus, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned specialty cutlery retailer founded in 1987 in Amarillo, Texas. The company operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at knivesplus.com, a single brick-and-mortar retail store at 4523 S Western St in Amarillo, and accepts phone orders — but does not ship internationally. Its catalog spans more than 50 knife brands (Spyderco, Benchmade, Cold Steel, Kershaw, CRKT, Buck, Chris Reeve, Hinderer, Zero Tolerance, and others) covering folding knives, fixed-blade knives, assisted-openers, traditional patterns, hunting, kitchen, multi-tools, axes, and tomahawks. Beyond resale, the company operates an aftermarket parts and accessories business (scales, screw sets, sheaths, hardware, lanyards, knife-care products) with proprietary KP-branded titanium and carbon fiber scales plus exclusive distribution arrangements for Applied Weapons Tech (AWT) Skinny Cut scales and QSP Knife Company exclusive models.

The company's core technological differentiator is an in-house custom modification service line performed at its Amarillo facility: laser engraving on aluminum and laser marking on stainless steel (24–48 hour turnaround, $8.99 per knife), acid stonewashing ($25), regrinds ($10-$20), RIT dye handle treatments ($20), bronze heat coloring ($15), and professional sharpening on a Burr King 2"x72" variable-speed sander with a Baldor Buffer ($5 razor edge). Modifications are restricted to knives purchased from the company, creating a service-led attachment to the core product sale. It also hand-finishes its own leather stropping blocks (KP-STROP8) using chap leather with chrome rouge compound.

Knives Plus generates revenue primarily through one-time unit sales of knives ($20-$300+ price range, premium SKUs including Sprint Runs and KP-exclusive configurations priced $225-$285) and aftermarket parts ($19.99-$74.99). Secondary revenue streams are professional services: laser engraving/marking ($8.99), sharpening ($5.00), and custom modifications ($10-$25 each, project-priced for custom work). Pricing is internet-direct; in-store prices run higher. The company ships via USPS (from $3.99), UPS Ground (from $12.95), and FedEx 2 Day Air ($8.99), offering free shipping on orders over $99.97. Three generations of the Toler family are involved in operations, and the business remains bootstrapped with no external funding or private equity ownership.

Name

Knives Plus, Inc.

Legal name

Knives Plus, Inc.

Website

https://knivesplus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Knives Plus is a family-owned Amarillo, Texas e-commerce and brick-and-mortar knife retailer founded in 1987, selling 50+ brands of folding and fixed-blade knives plus aftermarket parts, with in-house laser engraving, custom modifications, and sharpening services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cutlery and Knife Retail

NAICS

Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing (3322), 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)

Keywords

• Knife retail
• Cutlery sales
• Knife sharpening
• Custom knife modification
• Knife accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

Amarillo

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. Knife and Cutlery Product Sales: One-time sale of knives including folding knives, fixed blade knives, assisted opening knives, traditional knives, hunting knives, and specialty knives. Also includes kitchen knives, axes, tomahawks, machetes, throwing knives, multi-tools, and Swiss Army knives.
2. Aftermarket Parts and Accessories: Sale of replacement parts including scales (G10, carbon fiber, titanium), screws, hardware sets, sheaths, lanyards, knife care products, and storage cases.
3. Custom Modification Services: Add-on services for knife modifications including acid stonewash ($25), regrinds ($10-20), RIT dye handles ($20), bronze heat coloring ($15), and custom modifications priced per project. Services performed in-house on knives purchased from the company.
4. Laser Engraving and Marking Services: Laser engraving on aluminum and laser marking on stainless steel knives. 24-48 hour turnaround. Offered as add-on service for customer knives.
5. Knife Sharpening Service: Professional knife sharpening performed free-hand on variable speed Burr King 2" x 72" sander with 100 grit belt and Baldor Buffer with leather wheel. Added as option during checkout for knives being shipped.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Knives Plus, Inc. is a family-owned knife retailer founded in 1987 that sells cutlery, knives, tools, and accessories from more than 50 brands both through a brick-and-mortar store in Amarillo, Texas, and via its e-commerce website knivesplus.com. The company also offers value-added services including laser engraving, custom knife modification, and knife sharpening using professional equipment such as Burr King sanders, Baldor buffers, and laser engraving machines.

Product overview

Knives Plus is an e-commerce knife retailer founded in 1987, offering over 50 knife brands including Spyderco, Benchmade, Cold Steel, Kershaw, CRKT, and Buck. The platform operates as a unified e-commerce store supplemented by in-house custom modification services. Their product portfolio centers on folding knives, fixed blade knives, and replacement parts (scales, screws, hardware), with notable customization offerings including AWT Skinny Cut scale modifications, acid stonewashing, laser engraving, and sharpening services. The company also produces proprietary KP-branded aftermarket parts including titanium scales, stainless steel hardware kits, and leather strop blocks for knife maintenance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Spyderco Para Military 2 Folding Knife Premium everyday-carry folding knife sold through the Knives Plus retail store and e-commerce site to individual knife enthusiasts and collectors.
• Modified Spyderco Para 3 with AWT Custom Scales Pre-modified Spyderco Para 3 folding knife featuring aftermarket AWT custom scales, sold to knife collectors seeking upgraded ergonomics and aesthetics.
• Modified Benchmade Bugout Customized Benchmade Bugout folding knife sold to consumers who want upgraded components beyond the factory configuration.
• Modified Spyderco Native 5 Custom-modified Spyderco Native 5 folding knife offered to knife buyers looking for an upgraded factory platform.
• QSP Penguin Folding Knife Entry-level-to-mid-range QSP Penguin folding knife sold to everyday-carry consumers and knife collectors.
• GiantMouse ACE Biblio Folding Knife GiantMouse ACE Biblio premium folding knife sold to knife enthusiasts who favor boutique designer folders.
• Knives Plus Strop Block Knives Plus branded leather strop block used by customers to maintain and refine the edge on knives and straight razors.
• Knife Scales and Hardware Screws Aftermarket replacement knife scales and hardware screws sold to hobbyists who customize or refurbish their own folding knives.
• Laser Engraving Service Custom laser engraving service performed in-house on knives and accessories, sold to customers wanting personalization of their purchases.
• Custom Knife Modification Service Custom knife modification service where Knives Plus technicians perform hardware changes, scale installations, and tuning on factory knives to customer specifications.
• Knife Sharpening Service Professional knife sharpening service offered to walk-in and shipping customers who want their blades restored to a factory or better edge.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% average rating on the KP Strop Block with 421 reviews
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Applied Weapons Tech (AWT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Applied Weapons Tech for exclusive aftermarket knife scales. Knives Plus offers AWT Skinny Cut scales for Spyderco models (Para 3, Delica, Endura, Dragonfly, Native, Para Military 2, Yojimbo, Sage 6) as KP-exclusive products. Products feature precision-machined aluminum with proprietary milling patterns.
• QSP Knife CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer Knives Plus exclusive knife models. The QSP Penguin Glyde Lock KP Exclusive features 2-tone S35VN blade with OD green aluminum handles.
• Lynch NorthwestminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorResells Lynch Northwest deep-carry pocket clips and accessories through the aftermarket parts section.
• RC BladeWorksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorResells RC BladeWorks scales and accessories through the aftermarket parts section.
• Ripps Garage Tech (RGT)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorResells RGT Scales accessories through the aftermarket parts section.
• Toler ProjectsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorResells Toler Projects deep-carry pocket clips and accessories through the aftermarket parts section.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Smoky Mountain Knife Works: Family-owned US knife retailer with broad multi-brand catalog, brick-and-mortar store in Sevierville, TN, and a long catalog heritage. Comparable family-operated, multi-channel (online + retail) knife retail model to Knives Plus.
• GPKnives: Online knife retailer offering curated mid- to high-end folders with an enthusiast-community presence. Comparable e-commerce-focused mid-size knife retailer targeting the same hobbyist buyer as Knives Plus.
• Knife Center: Long-established US knife retailer (since 1995) operating online plus brick-and-mortar with broad catalog across folding, fixed, kitchen, and collectible knives. Comparable multi-brand online knife retailer with similar target customer base to Knives Plus.
• DLT Trading: US-based knife and edged-tools retailer known for exclusive Sprint Runs and custom modifications - the same practice Knives Plus uses for modified Spyderco and Benchmade SKUs. Highly comparable exclusive / modification-led business model.
• Atlanta Cutlery: Online retailer specializing in knives, swords, axes, machetes, and edged tools for collectors and reenactors. Comparable e-commerce-first, multi-category edged-tool retailer to Knives Plus's catalog breadth.
• Blade HQ: Largest US-based knife e-commerce retailer, offering 200+ brands with proprietary YouTube content and exclusive collaborations. Closest business-model comparable to Knives Plus with broad catalog, custom modifications, and exclusive SKUs.
• A.G. Russell Knives: Veteran-founded, US-based knife retailer and custom manufacturer with web-first catalog and direct-sales custom knives. Comparable multi-decade specialty knife retailer with a proprietary custom-knife line analogous to Knives Plus's KP-modified lineup.

Broad incumbents

• Spyderco: Manufacturer-direct online store for the largest knife brand carried by Knives Plus. Comparable upstream player that could allocate less to specialty retailers in favor of growing DTC, putting pressure on Knives Plus's exclusive-modified SKUs.
• Cold Steel: Established knife manufacturer with direct-to-consumer online storefront covering fixed blades, folding knives, tomahawks, and machetes. Comparable industry incumbent competing on the tactical and outdoor portion of Knives Plus's catalog.
• Benchmade: US premium knife manufacturer with direct-to-consumer e-commerce, factory customization, and a deep Bugout / Griptilian catalog that Knives Plus modifies and resells. Comparable industry incumbent overlapping with Knives Plus's core assortment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5aWmrZF9J7Se9bT7ov_v8w
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Knivespluscom/510588529018042
• Instagraminstagram.com/knivesplus
• Pinterestpinterest.com/knivesplus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knives-plus-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Knives Plus, Inc.