My Story

I started my own company when I was 15 called Sean Leong Bladeworks. I sell high-end handmade custom knives. I began making knives when I was 13 with my neighborhood friend. We started with hand tools set up in the corner of his garage. I was initially disinterested in knifemaking initially until he bought a small belt sander. Once those sparks came off the sanding belt, I was hooked and never stopped.

Our first knives were made from pieces of scrap steel and wood we harvested from our local forest. As time progressed, we started to use knife-specific steel and a wider variety of handle materials. Six months after I began making knives, I was introduced to knife designer and living legend Ken Onion. He ended up bringing me under his wing as his apprentice. I spent hours with him and his co-designer Jeff Park, learning the ins and outs of knifemaking and the knife industry. At this point, my friend quit knifemaking, so I was on my own. My dad saw my commitment to the craft and helped me turn the basement into a fully functioning workshop. All the money from every birthday, Christmas, and chore allowance was poured into power tools and materials.

My work got to a level where I could start selling. At first, it was just family and close family friends. I’d charge them around $50-$100 per knife. Through hard work and many hours of perfecting my craft, my work improved, and recognition followed. At the point of writing this essay, my knives go for, $350- $700 a knife. It didn’t happen overnight. I networked with other makers, professional chefs, knife manufacturers, material manufacturers, and knife collectors worldwide. I even helped create a young maker's knife making competition, where I teamed up with five other young knife makers. We competed for who could make the best knife. I won first place in the competition. This led me to be interviewed on the Young Maker's Podcast hosted by Kensea Aaron. My work has taken me beyond Hawaii to the Blade Show in Atlanta, where I got to meet some of my heroes and continue networking.

Through knifemaking, I have learned the values of discipline, perseverance, and workmanship. Not all parts of knifemaking are fun, but when the customer gives you their hard-earned money, it's your responsibility to complete their orders on time and with the utmost quality. I have also gained skills that aren’t knifemaking-specific, such as the skill to teach others. In the summer of both 2021 and 2022, I had apprentices of my own working in my shop, both of whom were in their thirties. I’ve also learned skills pertaining to sales and marketing and have heavily researched both to improve my business. The skills and values I learned have been applied far beyond the four walls of my workshop. For example, I often use what I’ve learned in school to help others with assignments they don’t understand. The discipline I’ve achieved has made me a better friend by making me much more reliable, especially in times of need.

I have achieved a lot in my short career, but it pales compared to what I want to achieve. I dream of opening up a cutlery factory where I can produce high-end chef knives made in the USA and become a status icon in the cooking industry. I want Sean Leong Bladeworks to be the Gucci of knives. I know it's far out there, and it will take work, discipline, and probably a little luck, but with the skills I’ve learned on my own, coupled with what I will know in college, I can confidently say that this goal is achievable and I will accomplish it.