I met Mr. Ken Onion a few months ago at a tool show event in Orlando Florida and could not have been more enthused that this is who he is if you walk up to him and say hello with no cameras watching or anything. A good genuine guy! Loved talking to him!
I was a Ken Onion fan before the interview. Now I'm a fan times 10! To say it was a great interview would be a huge understatement!! Thank you for sharing
That assisted opening knife that you created I think it's one of the biggest things in the knife industry that is ever come about. Thanks Ken. It was a awesome contribution!
I am consistently amazed at the caliber of people I meet in the knife community. Those of us in this hobby are largely misunderstood. If everyone could meet men like Zac and Ken, there would be a lot more knife enthusiasts.
I knew Ken Onion was a great guy, but my respect for him shot through the heavens by how humble, knowledgeable, and involved he is in the communities he is in.
Ken Onion is the damn man. He’s one of my favorite knifemakers/designers of all time and the one that opened the door to making a living with knives. I’ve been a fan since the beginning and always will. What a great guy with such passion for this world
Have to agree. I have never heard Ken Onion speak before. What a classy guy and seriously talented. I have a lot more understanding of just what he has meant to the knife industry now.
Much respect Ken for your charity or group that gives 100% to wounded vets. I don't know much but never heard of any group that dedicates 100%. Thanks so much for what you're doing. Also by the way you make a pretty decent knife. The leek is my all time favorite of your knives
I just got the chills from this video. I always knew he was such a rad guy. I’m half Japanese and my Japanese friends love him and idolize him- I love a lot of his designs too but I thought they just loved him being that he had roots in Hawaii... this man is a living legend AND a guy that could just have a great conversation with anyone and his little secrets about metallurgy are inspiring.
Enjoyed hearing from Ken. I'm a big fan of his designs. I've given more than 20 Ken Onion Whirlwind or Blackout design folders to new BSA Eagle Scouts I've known over the past 20 years. They are always excited by the knife, and it became their EDC for years to come. Keep up the great work Ken.
When you look and listen to Ken Onion, you’re looking at fully realized man who is truly LIVING his passion and purpose. It’s an AWESOME thing to watch. He’s completely fulfilled by his vocation. How many of us can say that? Just awesome.
Wow. It's something special when you get to meet someone who is as passionate about what they do as Ken Onion is. Zac, I am jealous you got to do this. This is going to be one of the experiences at BladeHQ you're going to look back on and be like "man, I'm really glad I got to do that." Also, great job on that intro. That was a fun and creative way to introduce this knife legend. It made me smile. Definitely one of your best videos in a while.
I was a fan of Ken Onion before, but now I'm a super fan. He just totally sold me on ZT Knives, too. I'd totally buy something made with THAT kind of passion! deep episode man. that whole "storyline" thing was a mindblower too. thanks.
YES! The only Ken Onion knife I own is the CRKT Swindle. That's pretty cool it's one of Ken's favorites, what a stand up guy. I truly enjoyed this video BHQ and thanks Ken for your support and help in the Veteran community!
Best interview on the channel and probably in the community as a whole to date. Very interesting to hear his take on things and his perspective on life, I will be picking up a Ken Onion designed blade.
Carried a leek for years, was what got me into carrying pocket knives out of highschool. I didn't know anything about Ken at the time but watching this makes me happy my first was one of his.
Best video in a while. Not at all a normal BHQ video, I almost didn't watch it but I always love the interviews with knife makers so I clicked on it. This IMO is now in my top 3 BHQ videos. 30 minutes and I wanted more, sucks it had to end but that last set of advice from Ken Onion was borderline magical!
“How to make a knife with Ken Onion” (Ken starts drawing recurves on everything) Ken what are you doing? Onion man- “recurve is love... recurve is life”
I just love the ZT 0350! A Ken Onion design. I have started to collect and modify the different models. Speed Safe is a fantastic design. Thanks for the video and thank you Ken for your work.
Wow...so nice to "put a face onto my knife" so to speak. My favorite pocket knife is a a Kershaw Ken Onion that I bought from the mobile Snap On dealer that came to the heliport hangar in Kahului, Maui, once a week. I was the parts manager for a non-touring helicopter company and needed an inexpensive knife that I could use to open boxes, packages and other containers. I hadn't planned on spending $85 for an EDC pocket knife but fell in love with the Kershaw as soon as I saw it. That was in 1995 and carry it to this day. It still works like new and cuts with ease, especially my juicy ribeye steak in camp. Backpacking and overland camping are my hobbies (along with fishing). The only misfortune I've had was losing the pocket clip on a hike in the West Maui Mountains. Somehow the three tiny screws had worked themselves loose and dropped somewhere on the trail. Thankfully the knife was secured in my hip pocket.
While I admit I'm not really familiar with anything hes designed in the last several years, Ken Onion was without any doubt my gateway into enjoying knives. My very first EDC knife was a Kershaw vapor, which i carred exclusively for a couple years, until i got my second knife, the leek, which then itself became my exclusive carry knofe for another couple years. I literally referred to my knife as "ken onion" always for years, because he was THAT ubiquitous with knives themselves to me. I don't often carry either anymore, but because of my introductions to knives, he will always seem like THE guy in the knife industry to me. I really should look into getting one of his customs as an ode to that entry into loving knives. Hopefully one day.
This was the best Knife Banter I've seen yet and I like most of them. Wow! And a hometown guy, too! I really the knife designer banters. I was wondering what you guys would think about doing a knife banter about deployment methods, eg thumb stud, flipper, thumb hole, etc. What are the current trends, advantages/disadvantages etc. Thanks for the videos!
Hands down the best edc knife I’ve ever owned is a ken onion blur 1670oblk with drop point. It’s got sand, hydraulic fluid and crimson grease in the pivot and it’s crunchy when opening but the assist has never failed me in any way. It still cuts even after the tip broke and my local knife shop re ground it.
I didnt really know anything about Ken before this, besides the fact that hes been hugely influential and majorly innovative in the knife world, but this guy clearly has a big heart, and an artists soul. I hate to say it, but I guess I had made some preemptive judgements (not bad ones) I just didnt expect him to be so great. Ill always back this guys work, be it a knife, sharpening equipment, or a non profit...should he do something else, Ill support that too. I salute you Ken
Got a Kershaw Leek in my pocket that's been there everyday for about 17 years. 14c28n black diamond coat steel. It's been my trout and splinter knife for that long. My primary edc's change but that one stays in my other pocket as my backup for fish, splinters and emergencies! 👍
“If you see everybody gone right, go left. Don’t follow the trend, create the trend. Open your mind, expand your mind. Learn all the rules, break every single one of them.” Ken Onion, 2019
I really try but wish sooooo much I had 1/100th of the foresight that Ken has. In just about anything mechanical be it knives architecture or construction it means everything
He's one of the very best. The first time I spent any really time with him we were at dinner with CRKT. He'e just come out with his Chanceinhell machete. We spent most of dinner laughing about how he wanted to go cut down a tree in the Gerber parking lot for the machete's promotional video. Ha! Huge heart, and he's hilarious to boot. -Ben
Love Ken Onion Designs. I made so many orders from blade hq in last three weeks, I forgot to throw a Carbon Fiber Leek in there in D2. I will wait for my wife to get past the fact I made four orders in 3 weeks.. But Next is a Hogue, Microtec, Giant Mouse, Benchmade, and that farout Spyderco Yojimbo. Man that thing is cool. I think I have a problem. lol I have given away over 30 knives but keep my more high end knives of course as well as gifts from people. I do believe my next Hillbilly Fancy will be a Benchmade Crooked River. I don't have a Gucci Tactical yet.... Need to think about that one. Ken Onion is such a great guy as well. Would love to meet that guy one day. Carried many Ken Onion designs over the years and loved Kershaw for a lot of years/.
U know i had many knives and took no care of them and lost them many times until i bought the ripple and damn i abused that thing but it was so handy it was a 6 year or so EVERY DAY carry i cut griptape with that thing and after 5 years i sharpen it for the first time one of my all time favorites and the one that really started me getting into knives i liked knives befor but from that knife on i never left home without one
This was a great one. Ken is such a positive, humble, passionate dude. It's easy to get behind a guy like that! 🤙
I met Mr. Ken Onion a few months ago at a tool show event in Orlando Florida and could not have been more enthused that this is who he is if you walk up to him and say hello with no cameras watching or anything. A good genuine guy! Loved talking to him!
I was a Ken Onion fan before the interview. Now I'm a fan times 10! To say it was a great interview would be a huge understatement!! Thank you for sharing
You’re a bad ass Ken. Thanks for supporting veterans.
That assisted opening knife that you created I think it's one of the biggest things in the knife industry that is ever come about. Thanks Ken. It was a awesome contribution!
Absolutely LOVE this style of Knife Banter with the makers. Would love one showcasing some new/smaller knife makers to watch.
What a legend. Ken Onion is on to not just a way to make knives, but a way of life that the world needs. Awesome video!
It’s awesome to see someone talk with so much about a subject with such pasión...thank you for posting
Ken is a really genuine and passionate guy!
I am consistently amazed at the caliber of people I meet in the knife community. Those of us in this hobby are largely misunderstood. If everyone could meet men like Zac and Ken, there would be a lot more knife enthusiasts.
I knew Ken Onion was a great guy, but my respect for him shot through the heavens by how humble, knowledgeable, and involved he is in the communities he is in.
Ken Onion is the damn man. He’s one of my favorite knifemakers/designers of all time and the one that opened the door to making a living with knives. I’ve been a fan since the beginning and always will. What a great guy with such passion for this world
Have to agree. I have never heard Ken Onion speak before. What a classy guy and seriously talented. I have a lot more understanding of just what he has meant to the knife industry now.
Much respect Ken for your charity or group that gives 100% to wounded vets. I don't know much but never heard of any group that dedicates 100%. Thanks so much for what you're doing. Also by the way you make a pretty decent knife. The leek is my all time favorite of your knives
What an inspiration is Ken Onion great job Zac honest words to live by the man just keeps on giving. Well done
I just got the chills from this video. I always knew he was such a rad guy. I’m half Japanese and my Japanese friends love him and idolize him- I love a lot of his designs too but I thought they just loved him being that he had roots in Hawaii... this man is a living legend AND a guy that could just have a great conversation with anyone and his little secrets about metallurgy are inspiring.
Enjoyed hearing from Ken. I'm a big fan of his designs. I've given more than 20 Ken Onion Whirlwind or Blackout design folders to new BSA Eagle Scouts I've known over the past 20 years. They are always excited by the knife, and it became their EDC for years to come. Keep up the great work Ken.
I feel you ken any time I try to tell my high school friends about knives they say “yep cool” and then the wander off
I would listen to Ken for hours. Zac, you have outdone yourself brother. Amazing conversation.
Ken Onion has always been my favorite designer. Watching this interview brought to light he is also one hell of a man.
When you look and listen to Ken Onion, you’re looking at fully realized man who is truly LIVING his passion and purpose. It’s an AWESOME thing to watch. He’s completely fulfilled by his vocation. How many of us can say that? Just awesome.
This guy is such a inspiration. It's hard to believe I only have of his knives.
Being a firefighter going on 13 years it's awesome to hear about the ZT knives. This is the first I have heard about it surprisingly.
First you heard about zt?
@@hyssean12 sure is.
You will be blown away if you have handled any Kershaw knives. World of difference.
@@hyssean12 I'll check them out ASAP
Wow. It's something special when you get to meet someone who is as passionate about what they do as Ken Onion is. Zac, I am jealous you got to do this. This is going to be one of the experiences at BladeHQ you're going to look back on and be like "man, I'm really glad I got to do that."
Also, great job on that intro. That was a fun and creative way to introduce this knife legend. It made me smile. Definitely one of your best videos in a while.
This is a superb interview. Ken's stories and life's work are priceless.
I was a fan of Ken Onion before, but now I'm a super fan. He just totally sold me on ZT Knives, too. I'd totally buy something made with THAT kind of passion!
deep episode man. that whole "storyline" thing was a mindblower too. thanks.
YES! The only Ken Onion knife I own is the CRKT Swindle. That's pretty cool it's one of Ken's favorites, what a stand up guy. I truly enjoyed this video BHQ and thanks Ken for your support and help in the Veteran community!
Ken is a great guy! His ZT0350 always in my pocket for years and I love that little tank👍🏻🍀❤️
Ken is a wonderful guy.
Every interview I see he makes me admire him more.
Great content, Zach did a great interview.
Best interview on the channel and probably in the community as a whole to date. Very interesting to hear his take on things and his perspective on life, I will be picking up a Ken Onion designed blade.
I love how he explains the story of a knife, or thinking of a story to help design a knife.. Thanks for the inspiration Ken! Wow..
ken your one of the legends,thanks for the inspiration
Carried a leek for years, was what got me into carrying pocket knives out of highschool. I didn't know anything about Ken at the time but watching this makes me happy my first was one of his.
Best video in a while. Not at all a normal BHQ video, I almost didn't watch it but I always love the interviews with knife makers so I clicked on it. This IMO is now in my top 3 BHQ videos. 30 minutes and I wanted more, sucks it had to end but that last set of advice from Ken Onion was borderline magical!
Damn,
Awesome interview,
Ken is a very humble and honorable man! He has a great personality and pays it all forward.
“How to make a knife with Ken Onion” (Ken starts drawing recurves on everything) Ken what are you doing? Onion man- “recurve is love... recurve is life”
They grind right off
@@TheMartialist fuck off
Ken Onion is the champ! Skipped over his worksharp endeavors,I know he gave us a lot and still so much he could say. Need to hold a special 2hr bio
I just love the ZT 0350! A Ken Onion design. I have started to collect and modify the different models.
Speed Safe is a fantastic design. Thanks for the video and thank you Ken for your work.
Thanks Ken most inspirational knife video I've in a long time.
Came for knives, Got story time instead. Not even mad
Probably the coolest Knife banter episode so far
This
This is hands down my favorite video blade HQ has done!
Wow!!!! got chills a few times. Legend of a guy amazing vid thanks
Ken is so awesome so down to earth
Genuine guy. Genius designer.
Great American.
This veteran has nothing but respect for Ken.
What a legendary interview... wow. Just wow.
I started out making my first knives on a Ken Onion Grinder and now I upgraded to a Kadrmas Knife Grinder.
Ken is truly a awesome humble guy just a good ol boy from west Virginia! Where I have family and he reminds me of alot of good folk from down there .
Wow I’m all over this one...just bought the blur from these guys...so cool
Ken is so much fun and such a legend
Focusing on the positive is some of the best advice any one can take.
Nothing short of inspirational!
I’m instantly a huge Ken Onion fan! Seems like a real good dude.
Luv Ken Onion. such a humble man. Great vid B.H.Q and Zack.
He really is a great guy. Thanks for the support👊
This was a phenomenal video awesome conversation with an amazingly positive message. Great Job to the homies at BHQ.
Thanks👊
Great video and insight into Ken! Thanks!
Wow...so nice to "put a face onto my knife" so to speak. My favorite pocket knife is a a Kershaw Ken Onion that I bought from the mobile Snap On dealer that came to the heliport hangar in Kahului, Maui, once a week. I was the parts manager for a non-touring helicopter company and needed an inexpensive knife that I could use to open boxes, packages and other containers. I hadn't planned on spending $85 for an EDC pocket knife but fell in love with the Kershaw as soon as I saw it. That was in 1995 and carry it to this day. It still works like new and cuts with ease, especially my juicy ribeye steak in camp. Backpacking and overland camping are my hobbies (along with fishing). The only misfortune I've had was losing the pocket clip on a hike in the West Maui Mountains. Somehow the three tiny screws had worked themselves loose and dropped somewhere on the trail. Thankfully the knife was secured in my hip pocket.
Best knife banter yet! Which I didn’t think was possible!
One of the best knife banter episodes ever!!
Such a great video/Interview. Ken Onion is such a legend in the knife world.
His concept and thinking are barn none but the aesthetic design got much headroom to be fulfilled.
Bar**
Great video with lots of information. Loved it!
Loving the interview! The leek inspired my love of pocket knives. It was a patent pending design at the time and is still my favorite EDC.
While I admit I'm not really familiar with anything hes designed in the last several years, Ken Onion was without any doubt my gateway into enjoying knives. My very first EDC knife was a Kershaw vapor, which i carred exclusively for a couple years, until i got my second knife, the leek, which then itself became my exclusive carry knofe for another couple years.
I literally referred to my knife as "ken onion" always for years, because he was THAT ubiquitous with knives themselves to me.
I don't often carry either anymore, but because of my introductions to knives, he will always seem like THE guy in the knife industry to me.
I really should look into getting one of his customs as an ode to that entry into loving knives.
Hopefully one day.
Gotta check out his custom knives, rather the production designs!
Very enjoyable interview! Thanks so much. We are hooked.
This was the best Knife Banter I've seen yet and I like most of them. Wow! And a hometown guy, too!
I really the knife designer banters. I was wondering what you guys would think about doing a knife banter about deployment methods, eg thumb stud, flipper, thumb hole, etc. What are the current trends, advantages/disadvantages etc. Thanks for the videos!
Best interview by blade hq!!
Hands down the best edc knife I’ve ever owned is a ken onion blur 1670oblk with drop point. It’s got sand, hydraulic fluid and crimson grease in the pivot and it’s crunchy when opening but the assist has never failed me in any way. It still cuts even after the tip broke and my local knife shop re ground it.
Thanks for those inspirational words at the end there Ken
Love this video! I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just opened a present from santa that they had asked for!
What a true inspiration...
What an incredible man!
Ken onion and gavko were the reasons I became a blade smith 8 years ago. This guy is a hall of fame legend
I didnt really know anything about Ken before this, besides the fact that hes been hugely influential and majorly innovative in the knife world, but this guy clearly has a big heart, and an artists soul. I hate to say it, but I guess I had made some preemptive judgements (not bad ones) I just didnt expect him to be so great. Ill always back this guys work, be it a knife, sharpening equipment, or a non profit...should he do something else, Ill support that too. I salute you Ken
Brilliant video lads. Loved it. What a legend
just ordered the Ken Onion edition of the work sharp, if this man put his name on it, it has to be a great product.
Got a Kershaw Leek in my pocket that's been there everyday for about 17 years. 14c28n black diamond coat steel. It's been my trout and splinter knife for that long. My primary edc's change but that one stays in my other pocket as my backup for fish, splinters and emergencies! 👍
Great stories from Ken.
WOW Ken Onion you are one amazing dude
I watched this video when you published it. It was great. So great that after a lot of thought I bought a ZT 0456.
Ken is such a humble man
What a great interview!
ZT 0301 Just went up on secondary market now.
Good luck finding a Stan Fujisaka knife too!
“If you see everybody gone right, go left. Don’t follow the trend, create the trend. Open your mind, expand your mind. Learn all the rules, break every single one of them.” Ken Onion, 2019
Interesting. Ken’s such a great guy.
A whole new respect for Ken onion
Awesome. What a cool guy, motivates me to start making blades.
I have always said I won’t but a custom level knife. After seeing how down to earth he is and how cool his knives are might need to take that back
Ken is such a cool human being.
Love my Leek and my Blur, Ken Onion is one of the greats
i was laying in bed and this video inspired me to develope a knife design, thanks ken onion, thanks blade hq
I really try but wish sooooo much I had 1/100th of the foresight that Ken has. In just about anything mechanical be it knives architecture or construction it means everything
Love Ken Onion. My Homefront is a regular in my EDC rotation.
About halfway through this episode Ken Onion starts stabbing me in the feelers. I didn't realize what a good guy he is.
He's one of the very best. The first time I spent any really time with him we were at dinner with CRKT. He'e just come out with his Chanceinhell machete. We spent most of dinner laughing about how he wanted to go cut down a tree in the Gerber parking lot for the machete's promotional video. Ha! Huge heart, and he's hilarious to boot. -Ben
Great interview. Very interesting, and some great advise.
Ill buy any knife this man makes after hearing his story. Sounds like a stand up individual.
One helluva interview fellas
Love Ken Onion Designs. I made so many orders from blade hq in last three weeks, I forgot to throw a Carbon Fiber Leek in there in D2. I will wait for my wife to get past the fact I made four orders in 3 weeks.. But Next is a Hogue, Microtec, Giant Mouse, Benchmade, and that farout Spyderco Yojimbo. Man that thing is cool. I think I have a problem. lol I have given away over 30 knives but keep my more high end knives of course as well as gifts from people. I do believe my next Hillbilly Fancy will be a Benchmade Crooked River. I don't have a Gucci Tactical yet.... Need to think about that one. Ken Onion is such a great guy as well. Would love to meet that guy one day. Carried many Ken Onion designs over the years and loved Kershaw for a lot of years/.
Great interview!
U know i had many knives and took no care of them and lost them many times until i bought the ripple and damn i abused that thing but it was so handy it was a 6 year or so EVERY DAY carry i cut griptape with that thing and after 5 years i sharpen it for the first time one of my all time favorites and the one that really started me getting into knives i liked knives befor but from that knife on i never left home without one
Thanks for filming
Aloha Ken! How is it that I don’t have a Ken Onion knife yet?!? What should be my first?? Recommendations on your favorite please!
ATAR1 ZT0350