Krišjānis Grīnbergs

Karl Walter Tools

Knife maker

©Elīza Grīnberga

©Krišjānis Grīnbergs

Man of steel

Krišjānis makes unique handmade kitchen knives
His brand name honours his blacksmith great-grandfather Karl Walter
He is inspired by traditional Japanese knives and Scandinavian design

Krišjānis Grīnbergs started making knives seven years ago, after wanting to go for a hike but realising he didn’t have an appropriate knife. Since he'd always liked working with his hands, he decided to find information about knife making and try his hand at it. After many books, YouTube videos and virtual consultations with the best masters, Krišjānis’s hobby turned into a full-time job and the brand Karl Walter Tools was born. Every knife of the brand is one-of-a-kind and handmade by Krišjānis himself. Some are made using a hammer and an anvil, others using a special belt grinder he made himself. Although some of the knife handles are bright and colourful, real works of abstract art, Krišjānis believes that “less is more”, so he doesn’t complicate his knives, preferring to follow traditional and tested techniques of knife making.

Interview

©Dāvids Grīnbergs

©Elīza Grīnberga

Why did you choose this craft?: Making knives means creating functional art. It's a tool used on a daily basis, a companion in adventures or in the kitchen. A good knife can take this experience to another level and give extra confidence. I wanted to create something long-lasting and practical.
What is your specialisation?: Kitchen knives: thin, light, very sharp and delicate tools. The skills to properly harden them come with time, because each steel has a different hardening recipe, especially stainless steel, with which I’ve achieved results that exceed several respectable manufactured knives.
Where do you find inspiration?: The colour combinations of the knife handles are inspired by nature, birds and insects. Traditional Japanese knife culture and design also speak to me deeply, as well as German industrial designer Dieter Rams's view of aesthetics, design and ergonomics.
What might people not realise about knife making?: It takes about three full days to make one knife of good quality. There are more than 100 different steels used in knife blades, and each has its strengths and weaknesses. You can only choose the right steel when you know what the knife will be used for.

Krišjānis Grīnbergs is a rising star: he began his career in 2017 and he started teaching in 2021