Overall Length:8.00″
Blade Length:3.50″
Blade Width:0.75″
Blade Thickness:0.12″
Blade Material: CPM-20CV
Hardness:59-61HRC
Blade Style: Drop Point
Blade Grind: Flat
Finish: Stonewash

DESIGNERS / Ostap Hel

I’m a full time designer and custom knives & gear maker from Poland.

Since I was a child I’ve always loved drawing things – probably because of genes. My father is a graduate of the Academy of Arts, so first years of my life I spent with my parents in dorm surrounded by students from all kind of art faculties. My first “design” was also created then – when I was 2 years old I drew a really nice concept of car. On a TV screen. Using mom’s lipstick. Parents weren’t very pleased when they discovered this masterpiece…

Knives in my life appeared when I was a teenager, due to my growing interests in Middle Ages and all kind of weapons and knights equipment. I spent a year in armorer workshop as an apprentice where I’ve learned the basics of traditional medieval metalworking methods. Since then I’ve been looking for a more reliable, repeatable and precise way of creating things than using basic hand tools – that’s how my own workshop and journey with manual machining and CNC was started.

Funny thing is that my next level of education was almost completely unrelated to designing or machining. The only connection between my studies at the Faculty of Law and knives was my master thesis about “Knives, knuckles and other dangerous items in Polish legislation”. After 5 years of studying my need for creation became too strong and I’ve decided to turn my “hobby workshop” into a full-time job.

Now I spend my time on things which I really like – designing and making custom knives & EDC gear.

All my designs are based on basic geometry, smooth transitions and the Golden Ratio concept. However, in my collaborations, I’m always trying to experiment with new shapes and ideas to fit my partner’s company’s unique style and manufacturing capabilities.