Here at Mad Shark® Knives, our passion is creating the sharpest, most durable and ergonomic knives for every kitchen. Founded in 2018 by John Smith, a third generation knife-maker, Mad Shark® brings old world craftsmanship to modern kitchen cutlery.
Our Story
John Smith grew up watching his father and grandfather handforge knives in their small workshop in Sheffield, England. From a young age, he was fascinated by the way a simple piece of steel could be transformed into a functional object of beauty.
After graduating university with a degree in metallurgy, John took over the family knife workshop. He modernized the equipment and techniques, but kept the focus on quality craftsmanship.
In 2018, John founded Mad Shark® Knives to bring his family’s knives to a wider market. The name pays homage to his grandfather’s navy career and love of the ocean. We established our headquarters and manufacturing facility in Portland, Oregon to be closer to our American customer base.
Our Knives
Each Mad Shark® knife starts with surgical grade stainless steel. We forge the blades to an exacting standard of hardness, edge retention and corrosion resistance. ergonomic handles provide comfort and control.
Our product lines include:
- Chef’s Knives – From 6 to 10 inches, perfectly balanced and wickedly sharp. The workhorse of every kitchen.
- Santoku Knives – With hollow ground blades, ideal for precise slicing, dicing and mincing.
- Boning Knives – Flexible narrow blades to easily separate meat from bone.
- Bread Knives – Long serrated blades that glide through crusty loaves with ease.
- Paring Knives – Short versatile blades for peeling, coring and detail work.
- Steak Knives – Sturdy spear point blades that cut through the thickest steaks.
- Kitchen Shears – Heavy duty shears that can snip through poultry bones.
- Knife Sets – Handpicked sets to outfit home cooks to professionals.
Craftsmanship
From forging to sharpening, every Mad Shark® knife is crafted by hand. Our experienced knife makers bring an artist’s touch to creating the perfect blade.
The forging process transforms a simple steel bar into the shape of the knife through heating and hammering. It enhances the toughness and durability of the steel.
Once forged, the blades are ground to an edge. Using water cooled grinding wheels, we shape and sharpen each blade. Then the knives are hand polished to a satiny finish that minimizes drag.
Handles are shaped from durable polymers or wood and attached to the tang with secure rivets. Ergonomic contours provide a comfortable grip.
Our sharpest knives are finished with hand honing. Using precision guided steel rods, our knife makers refine the edge down to a razor sharpness of 15 degrees per side.
Every finished knife undergoes rigorous quality testing before earning the Mad Shark® name.
Innovation
While revering traditional knife making methods, Mad Shark® also embraces technology. Our computer controlled equipment increases efficiency while maintaining a handcrafted feel.
We use precision drop forging hammers and laser cutters for raw steel preparation. CNC grinders expertly shape blades with accuracy. And we analyze the metallurgy of every blade using spectrometers.
Combining old world craft with new world tech allows us to produce exceptional knives on a larger scale. And we can pass the savings on to our customers.
Product Lines
In addition to our fine cutlery, Mad Shark® offers a range of kitchen products designed to help you get the most out of your knives:
- Cutting Boards – Wood and poly boards designed to protect knife edges. We recommend durable edge grain wooden boards.
- Honing Steels – Straighten and realign edges between sharpenings. Use daily to maintain knives.
- Sharpening Stones – Hone blades back to hair popping sharpness. We offer diamond and natural whetstones.
- Kitchen Shears – Built for heavy duty kitchen tasks like cutting up chickens. Much safer than using knives.
- Knife Blocks – Stylish wood blocks to store and display knives safely. Organized storage protects blades.
- Cut Resistant Gloves – Stay protected when using our razor sharp knives. Heavy duty gloves prevent accidents.
- Aprons – Look like a pro while protecting your clothing from stains.
Commitment to Quality
Every knife that bears our Mad Shark® logo represents our commitment to quality.
We source only the highest grade steels and materials. Our suppliers are thoroughly vetted and tested. Through careful forging, grinding, sharpening and finishing, we transform raw materials into polished works of functional art.
Our knowledgeable staff has decades of combined knife making experience. We are constantly improving and refining our designs and processes.
Before earning our logo, every knife must pass an extensive quality control check. We examine the edge sharpness, blade finish, handle fit and balance. Only the very best knives pass this inspection.
We stand behind our knives with a lifetime warranty against material and construction defects. We will repair or replace any knife that fails to meet our standards.
Customer Experience
Every customer interaction receives our dedicated personal service and attention. We want to understand your needs and provide the very best solutions.
Our customer service team is ready to answer any question about our knives and products. And we welcome your feedback.
Visit our showroom and test kitchen in Portland, Oregon. Our knowledgeable staff can help you select the perfect knives to fit your needs.
Or shop online and take advantage of our fast, free shipping and returns. Our website provides detailed product information, guides and reviews.
We stand behind every purchase with our satisfaction guarantee. Our goal is a 5 star experience for every customer.
Community
Mad Shark® Knives strives to enrich our local community here in Portland and support communities worldwide.
We hire locally and provide our employees with competitive wages and benefits. Experienced knife makers have an opportunity to practice their craft.
We donate a portion of every sale to local and international non-profits expanding food access and cooking education. Reliable knives help nourish families around the globe.
Custom knives crafted by our makers are auctioned annually, with proceeds benefiting charities. We are proud to support the causes of our customers and community.
Join the Mad Shark® Community
When you purchase a Mad Shark® Knife, you are joining a community of chefs, home cooks and knife enthusiasts. You now have access to exclusive content, recipes, tips and new product releases. We value our customers and constantly seek feedback to improve.
Follow us on social media for videos, reviews, and to connect with other Mad Shark® fans. Use #MadShark to share your creations.
Visit our website to view our full knife selection, blog articles and guides. Sign up for our email newsletter for new product updates and special offers.
We thank you for choosing Mad Shark® Knives. With proper care, your knife will deliver a lifetime of cutting performance. Please reach out if you ever have any questions or comments. We are always here to help.