QuickHatch Knives – The Knifemakers Series

 

Knifemakers From Around the World

In this first installment of the Knifemakers From Around the World series, we’ll be spending some time talking with Brenton Good of QuickHatch Knives. He is a custom knifemaker out of Temecula, California specializing in handcrafted bushcraft knives. So without further adieu, let me introduce you…

Brenton made his first custom knife back in 1998, following in his grandfather’s footsteps. It was a buck style knife made from an old file. Since then, he started QuickHatch Knives back in 2010, carrying on a family tradition passed on by his grandfather Donald Yansick, a true mountain man and custom knifemaker in his own right. His goal is to provide quality bushcraft knives that can perform and handle all your bushcraft tasks.

 

QuickHatch Knives is a small family owned and operated business that has been around since 2010, but didn’t really start making knives publicly until sometime in 2013. Since then, most of his work has generated quite an interest on Social Media from preppers, survivalists and knife collectors around the world.

All of their knives are 100% handcrafted to order from quality 01 tool steel stock of varying thicknesses, built to last a lifetime. He takes pride in performing each step of the process from the initial design to fabricating the custom blade and handle profiles in addition to the heat treating and tempering processes.

Each handle can be made from dark walnut, cherrywood an African mahogany, or you can even opt for linen micarta or a simple paracord wrap. You can also choose from aluminum or brass pins for attaching the handle scales. Additionally, Brenton does a fine job making his own custom kydex sheaths for each.

To see more work from Brenton and QuickHatch Knives, you can visit the QuickHatch Knives website, or you can always look for him on Facebook.

 

 

And now for a little Q & A…

 

What does QuickHatch stand for?

QuickHatch is the Canadian/American word for wolverine. My grandfather, who was a huge influence on me and my knife making featured the word Carcajou with a picture of a wolverine on his work. Carcajou is the French word for wolverine. I’ve always wanted to follow in his footsteps, but I also wanted to have my own identity, so I came up with QuickHatch. Like Carcajou on my Grandfather’s work, QuickHatch also stands for a wolverine, but also represents the beautiful Canadian outdoors.

So what led you to your interest in the outdoors?

From a very young age my parents took our family on camping trips, which helps kids like myself develop a love for the outdoors. But when I was 8 years old, my father let me stay up late one night and watch the movie Jeremiah Johnson. From that moment on I was hooked. I knew that I would always love the outdoors.

 

What made you decide to start making knives?

I remember when I was around 15 years old, I saved up $90 for a longest time so I could buy a knife from Big 5 for an upcoming camping trip that our family was going on. My mother gave me grief the entire drive up there about how foolish it was to spend so much money on a knife. Then, as I if I couldn’t feel any worse, I took my first swing at a piece of wood and the tip of the knife broke off leaving me without a knife for the rest of the trip. From then on, I began to appreciate the value of the handcrafted tools that my Grandfather made so I started looking into doing the same.

Is QuickHatch a full or part time gig?

Making knives is my full time occupation.

Do you make anything other than knives?

At the current time I’m focused just on knives and kydex sheaths for them, but in the near future I might expand into making other gear as well.

 

Where did you learn to make them?

Unfortunately my Grandfather had passed away when I was only 17 so I wasn’t really able to get any training from him, so I was forced to learn what I could from books, internet videos, asking lots of questions, and of course lots and lots of trial and error.

What are your favorite knives?

I’ve always been a fan of Bob Loveless knives and Ray Mears bushcraft knives.

What is your Every Day Carry?

I have so many, but right now I’m carrying around a new EDC knife that I designed called the “Kit”.

Which industry shows do you attend?

Sadly, I haven’t been to any yet.

How long does it take on average to make a custom knife?

Usually it takes about 8 to 14 hours per knife over the course of 5 days.

 

What was your favorite custom project?

I have so many that I have enjoyed, but one that stands out is a Bowie knife that I made for an uncle of mine.

What are you currently working on?

Right now I’m working on a new 7″ Bowie knife called the “Grizz”. It is coming along rather nicely.

What is your most popular knife?

I would have to say my “Trapper” model is definitely the most popular.

So what is your design process?

I always start off with a hand drawing. If I like it, I’ll make copies of it. From there I will make a metal template of the knife out of mild steel. At that point, I will see how it feels in my hand. If it feels good, I move it to the production table and produce one.

 

Do you forge, stock removal or both?

I do stock removal from bar stock.

What is your favorite steel to work with and why?

I like 01 steel because when it is it heat treated properly, it becomes very tough and holds an edge extremely well.

What scale materials do you usually work with?

I work with a lot of wood and micarta.

Which is your favorite and why?

Wood for sure… Because it gives a warm natural feel to the knife.

What do you like most about making custom knives?

I would have to say it has to be the satisfaction that it brings knowing that I made something with my very own hands from a piece of steel that can be relied on.

 

What do you like least about making custom knives?

When I have a lot of hours invested in a knife and it is close to completion. Then with a little slip of the hand, I ruin the blade and I have to start all over from the beginning. That gives me such a sick feeling.

What piece of equipment do you use most in your shop?

I use a Pheer 454 belt 2×72 belt grinder.

Which handtool do you use most?

I can’t think of just one tool that I use the most, I use so many.

Have you ever been injured in the shop?

Yes. I have cut and burned myself many times. One time a knife that I was working got caught up in the drill press while I was drilling the pin holes. It flung around and sliced my hand wide open. That was probably the worst injury.

 

It seems like every knifemaker is working on some new skill. What skill are you working on learning, or just working on getting better at?

Learning knifemaking is a never ending process, but at the moment, I’m trying to refine my skills at working with brass and antler materials.

Who are your favorite knifemakers and who in the industry has influenced you the most?

I would have to say Bob Loveless and Gil Hibben are my favorite and have really inspired me as a knifemaker.

What advice would you give someone trying to get into the business?

Be patient, do your research, and don’t give up.

 

Do you have any tips that you can share?

There are so many tips I can think of in regards to knife making. But if I had to choose only one, it would be safety. Make sure to wear a good respirator and always eye protection.

 

Thank you Brenton for taking some time out of your busy schedule and spend it with us… We really appreciate it.