Jerry Hossom

Jerry Hossom came to knifemaking the way the best things come — late, deliberately, and without apology. In 1997, at 56, he walked away from whatever came before and went full time, determined to spend the rest of his working life making things that were both functional and beautiful. Tools designed to outlast their owners.

His fixed blades are purposeful rather than decorative — clean geometry, aggressive lines, serious steel. The Hunter Killer became his signature design, later licensed to Boker for production, though the custom version is a different object entirely: CPM-154, carbon fiber with a flowing grain, gold star medallion, and a sheath built to the same standard as the knife. His son has taken up the trade. The next generation has already won a show.

There is something right about a man who waited until 56 to do what he was built for.