"As someone who had an appreciation for knives and blades from afar for a long time, I wanted to invest in a quality fixed blade that felt comfortable to use, was affordable, and met the legal blade length limit in Chicago. I also hoped to find a knife with a trainer that I could utilize effectively in practice before applying the skills with the blade. When I came across a recommendation for Northern Shrike’s knives, I saw a lot of the qualities I was looking for in my first fixed blade.
Upon receiving my delivered order from Northern Shrike, I appreciated the package was designed with a creative and generous heart that included a wax-sealed letter on parchment, some one-of-a-kind stickers, and a couple prototypes of upcoming models at the shop. The blade and trainer came prewrapped and ready for use while honoring individual preference in sheath clips. When testing the real blade on a retired Body Opponent Bag (BOB), Northern Shrike’s product outperformed a Spyderco and other more well-known knife companies for a fraction of the cost.
Beyond the quality of the knife, the character of the knife-maker surpassed my expectations with his generosity, humility, and impeccable service throughout my experience working with him. As a first-time fixed blade owner, he took the time to answer all my questions about the knife and even made a custom sheath for my trainer to assist my training in reality-based practices. I would recommend Northern Shrike products to anyone looking to support a knife making shop that strives meets the customer’s individual needs through the quality of their products and supportive service. I am so grateful I came across the shop and look forward to continue supporting Northern Shrike as I increase my collection in the future. "
--Alena Fay