About Us
On Earned Equity
At Meridian Knives, our designs are deeply shaped by what we term the earned equity of hand tool labor. This concept goes far beyond simply 'hard work'; it's an homage to the unyielding physical demands and often unglamorous realities of deeply immersive manual labor. It embodies the raw, visceral knowledge gained when tools, and people alike, are pushed to their absolute limits, not just in dramatic moments, but in the relentless, repetitive grind of the everyday. It represents the profound insight gleaned by those mentally disciplined enough to engage, observe, and learn even within the most challenging contexts, refusing to let repetition dull their understanding.
Many dedicated individuals across countless demanding fields exemplify this willingness and ability to endure hardship and glean wisdom where others might simply toil. The transformative results of this sustained attention directly inspire our precision engineering. It’s a testament to the mental strength and unwavering focus required to uncover elusive truths about performance, durability, and ergonomic perfection for every working hand across the industrial spectrum. Join us in celebrating this bespoke heritage.
Company Owner: Chris West
Born in 1988 in upstate New York, Chris grew up on a rural mountain property, using cutting tools in the woods since an inappropriately young age. He had the great fortune to receive wilderness living and survival training as part of his school curriculum, turning into a lifelong interest. His professional experience spans the public and private sectors of Residential Arboriculture, Urban Forestry, and Wildland Firefighting, but his true passion is knives. Now rooted in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and started from a humble desire to pursue unconventional excellence, Meridian Knives is proud to offer tools built to earn their keep.
Real-World Experience
Meridian Knives is born from hands that know the compound fatigue of demanding work. Years spent relying on cutting tools in extreme vertical environments as a climbing arborist deeply ingrained our simple philosophy: performance isn't optional. This isn't just a belief; it's a truth rooted in the real-world experience of a solution-oriented industry. That hard-won knowledge directly informs every aspect of our design process. We approach knife making as users first, as someone who will depend on our tools day in and day out. Our designs translate the lessons learned in the field into practical, reliable tools built with performance in every dimension.
We are committed to small-batch production with an unwavering focus on quality control. When you use our knives, you'll feel the difference authentic experience and dedication to quality make. Hands that know choose Meridian.