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Artwork for The Knife Freak Show

The Knife Freak Show

Jonathan McNees
Knife Making
Mcnees Knives
Blade Show
Knife Industry
Blade Show Texas
Whatnot
Customer Service
Magnacut
United States Manufacturing
Blade Show Atlanta
Knife Manufacturing
Knife Making Business
Taxes
Marketing
Dealers
Lockstick
Blade West
Locking Mechanisms
Custom Knives
Knives

The owners of McNees Knives discuss life as knife makers and small business owners.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes61Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationBusiness

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Artwork for The Knife Freak Show

Latest Episodes

A discussion about the pros and cons of Whatnot and a look at Jonathan's design philosophy.

YouTube

We sit down with David Mayer, the brainchild behind the TACC show.

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It's been a while. Here's what we've been up to!

Amy and Jonathan do a recap of Blade 26

YouTube

Join us as we talk about the shop getting raided and discuss tips for new knifemakers.

YouTube

NEW MODEL PREVIEW AND MORE!

Jonathan and Amy discuss their newest project and announce a big secret.

It's all about size this week.

YouTube

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Bladeology Podcast
The Bladeology PodcastThe Bladeology Group
Knife Perspective Podcast
Knife Perspective PodcastKnife Perspective Podcast
Mark of the Maker
Mark of the MakerDiscussion of knives, knifemaking, and knife collecting with makers Michael
High Carbon
High CarbonBlades, craftsmanship, creativity, and laughs!
Knives Templars
Knives TemplarsKnives Templars

Recent Guests

David Mayer
Guest, organizer of the Ancient City Continental Show
Ancient City Continental
Episode: David Mayer and the TACC show
Tyler Davis
Owner at Cajun Gun and Gear / Cajun Knife and Gear
Cajun Gun and Gear
Episode: CAJUN KNIFE WITH TYLER DAVIS
Bobby Branton
Knife maker, author, and throwing knife expert
Branton Knifeworks
Episode: Episode 38 | Bobby Branton
Ernest Emerson
Founder of Emerson Knives; industry veteran
Emerson Knives
Episode: Episode 32 | Ernest Emerson
Amy McNees
Boss lady, part of McNees Knives leadership team
McNees Knives
Episode: Episode 26 | Special Guest Amy McNees

Hosts

Jonathan McNees
Host and co-host with a background in running McNees Knives; central figure in shaping show direction and manufacturing insights.
Amy McNees
Co-host and partner in McNees Knives; contributes design, production, and brand-building perspectives.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 26 | Special Guest Amy McNees
Q: What advice do you have for buyers and the broader community about pricing and online discussions?
Understand that prices reflect more than materials, including expertise, risk, and brand value. Also, be mindful of online discussions; negative comments can harm a brand, so resolve issues directly with the company before venting publicly.
Episode 26 | Special Guest Amy McNees
Q: How has the business structure and investments evolved to support growth?
Bringing Amy on full-time allowed us to shift responsibility for admin, finance, and customer service, which has been crucial for scaling. We've funded growth through reinvestment rather than debt, moved to in-house blade processing, and continually upgraded equipment to sustain higher output.
Episode 26 | Special Guest Amy McNees
Q: Can you walk us through the hidden costs of running the shop beyond the obvious material costs?
We break down costs into hard costs (materials, heat treat, and machine payments) and soft costs (payroll, benefits, insurance, software, and marketing). There are many smaller line items—packing, consumables, domain hosting, credit card fees, and shipping insurance—that all subtract from profit, and these must be factored into the final price.
Episode 31 | Questions from W.L. Ray
Q: There is much discussion about HRC. What do you think is optimal, and how important is it for routine daily tasks?
Optimal hardness is steel-specific; there isn't a universal number. The sweet spot depends on the steel's composition, heat treatment, and intended use, so what works well for MagnaCut may not for another steel. For everyday tasks, you should consider how the steel performs at its own sweet spot rather than chasing a single hardness.
Episode 29 | Purple Syrup
Q: Where do you see the business in five years?
Chase envisions maintaining a one-man show in the near term with growth through smarter workflow, potentially adding CNC capabilities, while Jonathan imagines expanding production and eventually increasing staff and facilities to support a larger catalog.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Knife Freak Show

What is The Knife Freak Show about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two knife-makers and small-business owners share candid, practical insights from running a US-based manufacturing operation. Episodes frequently center on production strategy, design-to-production workflows, trade shows, direct-to-consumer drops, and community-building within the knife-making world. The duo discuss growth challenges, staffing, shipping logistics, branding, and the balance between traditional craftsmanship and scalable manufacturing, often weaving in real-world anecdotes from Blade Show appearances, WhatNot drops, licensing, and customer engagement. A standout theme is maintaining US-made standards while navigating costs, markets, and industry dynamics, making the show a grounded resource for makers, small shop operators, an... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Knife Freak Show?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Knife Freak Show:

1. The Bladeology Podcast
2. Knife Perspective Podcast
3. Mark of the Maker
4. High Carbon
5. Knives Templars

How many episodes of The Knife Freak Show are there?

The Knife Freak Show launched 2 years ago and published 61 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Knife Freak Show?

Recent guests on The Knife Freak Show include:

1. David Mayer
2. Tyler Davis
3. Bobby Branton
4. Ernest Emerson
5. Amy McNees

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