SHOP UPDATES - Don Nguyen Knives

SHOP UPDATESadmin2019-07-16T06:22:36+00:00

donnguyenknives

I make knives for lovers of food (example: me) that enjoy emotive cooking process.
No DMs. Please email.
No custom orders.

These are the first stage of an evolving project I

These are the first stage of an evolving project I've been thinking about and working towards. One of my huge goals for so long was to eventually start being able to do more pieces at a fair price, but it's been difficult trying to balance that with the growth of everything else in this business.⁠
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We've been full-time for four years now, which might seem like a long time, but it's so short. Every year has been its own milestone for growth and only now am I feeling more up to speed on things, ready to start diversifying our work.⁠
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Are we going to stop making one-off hand made projects? HELL NOPE. That's the bread and butter of what we do, and we're definitely going to keep improving on that front.⁠
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Photo: @jackie_tran_

First prototypes, a group of four. These are all s

First prototypes, a group of four. These are all still made by hand by me and Sam.⁠
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7" length, carbon steel, black G10. They'll be available on my newsletter tomorrow morning at 9am AZ time.⁠
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Photo: @jackie_tran_

Reverse taper butt on these prototypes.⁠ ⁠ Pho

Reverse taper butt on these prototypes.⁠
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Photo: @jackie_tran_⁠
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#donnguyen #makesomething #doitfortheprocess #thisistucson #tucson #chefsplateform #truecooks #chefstalk #foodie #gourmetartistry #ilovecooking #combatabrasives #foodlover #handmade #craft #artisan #chefs #chefknife #cheflife #culinary #chefsroll #design #designer #homecook #chefathome #discoveringchefs #teamcombat #realfood #chefsofinstagram #culinaryart

Already after making these I've learned a ton and

Already after making these I've learned a ton and have massive revisions to 2.0 that I'm working towards, but I'm really happy with how these turned out. They cut really well and I think they look nice, but they're still slow hand-made pieces that take longer than I'd like.⁠
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Doing them in a small batch helps with efficiency but to take them closer to the idea in my head we have to kinda start at square one, instead of taking what we're currently making and simplifying it.⁠
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New prototypes to be in the works over at @donnguyendesign soon enough...⁠
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Photo: @jackie_tran_

The Prototype.⁠ ⁠ This is the first run of sma

The Prototype.⁠
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This is the first run of small batch that Sam and I have done. I've overthought making a simpler product for years now, striving for a perfect solution, when in reality I just needed to say fuck it and go dick to the wind.⁠
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@donnguyendesign is where we will focus on the process of refining this idea, instead of seeking out just the end result.⁠
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This small batch is still all hand made, but it's an exercise in minimal design, work flow, priorities, and just practice. One step at a time, and hopefully we can gradually start making more of these at a fair price.⁠
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Photo: @jackie_tran_

This is an experiment at doing a simpler shape, on

This is an experiment at doing a simpler shape, one that doesn't take long as my usual designs. It's not perfect, it still takes too long, and there are some adjustments I need to do, but it's one step closer to my ideal, quintessential model.⁠
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I will have some of these prototypes available soon, and after that, we'll have 2.0.⁠
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Photo: @jackie_tran_

One step in a different direction. We're trying ne

One step in a different direction. We're trying new things.⁠
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Photo: @jackie_tran_⁠
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#donnguyen #makesomething #doitfortheprocess #thisistucson #tucson #chefsplateform #truecooks #chefstalk #foodie #gourmetartistry #ilovecooking #combatabrasives #foodlover #handmade #craft #artisan #chefs #chefknife #cheflife #culinary #chefsroll #design #designer #homecook #chefathome #discoveringchefs #teamcombat #realfood #chefsofinstagram #culinaryart

Break's over, time to get back into rhythm.⁠ ⁠

Break's over, time to get back into rhythm.⁠
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For me I need to take breaks once in a while, but breaks also disrupt my groove. It takes quite a while to get back into the work mindset honestly, and then by the time I'm going full-speed I feel like I need another break haha.⁠
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Photo: @jackie_tran_

I'M ON BREAK NOW, but before I leave I'll just lea

I'M ON BREAK NOW, but before I leave I'll just leave you with an idea we're working towards next year. Maybe this is the first real venture into a new line of cutlery. Instead of doing only one-offs, what if we did manageable batches of a more minimal design?⁠
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@donnguyendesign

TODAY on the youtubes me and Sam battle each other

TODAY on the youtubes me and Sam battle each other on hidden tangs vs full tangs. It's basically our ghetto Christmas special, or something.⁠
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Are you #fulltanggang or #hiddentanggang? ⁠
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We show how we glue both of these types of handles, because god knows I've had early pieces that came apart...⁠ They both have their quirks and getting either of them wrong is about the most frustrating fucking thing in the world.⁠
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Photo: @jackie_tran_

Oh wait HOL UP, Sam's also gonna show how he glues

Oh wait HOL UP, Sam's also gonna show how he glues a FULL tang tomorrow.⁠
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Obviously hidden tangs are superior though. OBVIOUSLY.⁠
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#hiddentanggang⁠
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#donnguyen #makesomething #doitfortheprocess #thisistucson #tucson #chefsplateform #truecooks #chefstalk #foodie #gourmetartistry #ilovecooking #combatabrasives #foodlover #handmade #craft #artisan #chefs #chefknife #cheflife #culinary #chefsroll #design #designer #homecook #chefathome #discoveringchefs #teamcombat #chefsofinstagram #culinaryart

THORSDAY. Tips on gluing hidden tangs, because the

THORSDAY. Tips on gluing hidden tangs, because they're a mess, just like my life.⁠
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Just kidding my life is great.⁠
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But there's still a lot of goo that gets everywhere.⁠
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#donnguyen #makesomething #doitfortheprocess #thisistucson #tucson #chefsplateform #truecooks #chefstalk #foodie #gourmetartistry #ilovecooking #combatabrasives #foodlover #handmade #craft #artisan #chefs #chefknife #cheflife #culinary #chefsroll #design #designer #homecook #chefathome #discoveringchefs #teamcombat #realfood #chefsofinstagram #culinaryart

Fun new video stuff THIS THURSDAY on my TouYube ch

Fun new video stuff THIS THURSDAY on my TouYube channel!⁠
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I think Sam and I have grown an insane amount this year. I mean, we're constantly trying to improve ourselves, but I definitely feel more like an 'adult' in just the past six months or so.⁠
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One huge difference is that I'm more focused in my work itself, and not just the results. I used to always be obsessed with the numbers and coming out on top of shit, but I'm actually realizing internally that that shit doesn't really matter. I hardly ever check metrics and analytics and it's changed the quality of my life.⁠
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Photo: @jackie_tran_

2021 should have some interesting stuff happening.

2021 should have some interesting stuff happening... am I going to top the sci-fi knife? What about a tuna sword?⁠
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Or maybe spoon?⁠
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Photo: @jackie_tran_⁠
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#donnguyen #makesomething #doitfortheprocess #thisistucson #tucson #chefsplateform #truecooks #chefstalk #foodie #gourmetartistry #ilovecooking #combatabrasives #foodlover #handmade #craft #artisan #chefs #chefknife #cheflife #culinary #chefsroll #design #designer #homecook #chefathome #discoveringchefs #teamcombat #realfood #chefsofinstagram #culinaryart

It's unreal that 2020 is almost over. It's been a

It's unreal that 2020 is almost over. It's been a fucking crazy year that's for sure, but it's actually been one of my best years ever. I've been insanely driven and productive, and it finally feels like things are coming together for me. This is just the beginning - I can't wait to see where things go another year from now, or five, or ten.⁠
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Photo: @jackie_tran_

Carbon fiber is one of the coolest materials to cu

Carbon fiber is one of the coolest materials to cut into and see how the pattern shows with different facets.⁠
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Photo: @jackie_tran_

Dat @fatcarbon butt tho.⁠ ⁠ Photo: @jackie_tra

Dat @fatcarbon butt tho.⁠
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Photo: @jackie_tran_

The whole piece. 210mm, carbon, K-tip, snakeskin c

The whole piece. 210mm, carbon, K-tip, snakeskin carbon fiber, red G10 liners.⁠
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Photo: @jackie_tran_

Really digging how this one turned out. Working wi

Really digging how this one turned out. Working with CF is pretty nasty, but once in a while I use it because the results are just baller, especially this snakeskin stuff. I also added a thin red G10 liner instead of the safe route of black on black - I think it adds some nice color in there.⁠
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@fatcarbon⁠
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Photo: @jackie_tran_

FAT CARBON. This snakeskin gold is disgustingly go

FAT CARBON. This snakeskin gold is disgustingly good on this new piece.⁠
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@fatcarbon⁠
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Video: @jackie_tran_

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