Banker cuts a crack from day job by earning knives

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Kumar Muthusamy is a banker by working day and a professional customized knife maker by night time.

KLANG: Most persons really do not assume of knives as just about anything other than sharp utensils for meals prep in the kitchen.

And even though a handful of people today do obsess in excess of and acquire them, they may well not be equipped to hold a candle to Kumar Muthusamy – a bank director who has turned his knife-creating interest into a beneficial facet company.

“Just like how girls are passionate about sneakers and handbags, adult males have a point for knives,” laughed Kumar.

This 45-calendar year-aged chap may possibly search like your regular family members person with a typical nine-to-5 work at the bank, but at the time he’s clocked off, you are going to come across him tinkering absent with blades and steel in his alternatively roomy workshop in his Klang residence.

Here, he indulges in his not-so-key passion of turning standard metal blades into smooth, sharp knives – complete with his signature ‘brand’, Vicious Instruments, carved on them.

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Kumar generating himself snug in his workshop.

Kumar admitted that as a younger boy, he was under no circumstances captivated to the notion of soccer or any other sports activities like other youngsters his age. Alternatively, he located a enthusiasm for knives and commenced gathering them.

Even right after considerably time experienced passed, Kumar remained devoted to his passion and even played with the idea of making his have knives. In the long run, 8 several years ago, he dived correct into it.

He confessed that the initially knife he at any time created by no means got the opportunity to see the light-weight of working day, as he experienced no concept how to warmth handle it.

Nevertheless, the spirited banker did not let this insignificant setback hinder any type of development. He threw himself into learning how to make knives from scratch by looking through guides these types of as ‘50 Greenback Knife Shop’ by Wayne Godard, looking at YouTube tutorials and lastly, investing in the applications to make the aspiration appear genuine.

“I’ve in all probability invested RM300,000 on my workshop and produced about 500 knives,” he said, surveying his get the job done space like a happy father.

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From left: 220mm Gyuto Chef knife with Honduran rosewood burl deal with, Tactical Fighter knife, FTE (MK1) titanium liner lock folder, Okeanos Dive Knife, MK4 Necker camping knife and a Nakiri chef knife.

In accordance to Kumar, the difference in between an normal knife and a custom made-designed knife is that the previous is generally heat-taken care of to manufacturing facility technical specs and some procedures may be dropped to help you save value and speed up the runtime.

In the meantime, the system of building a custom made-made knife is a sluggish and arduous a person, which necessitates the bladesmith to painstakingly heat-deal with it.

All Kumar’s really hard operate and hours used on his interest have compensated off while, as he now takes orders from enthusiastic knife makers and collectors in Malaysia, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand and even South Africa.

“Most of my consumers are chefs for the reason that I can obtain superior concentrations of metal hardness, which chefs like, because they never have to hold sharpening their knives when they perform. In point, a customised chef knife can go for RM1,000 and above,” described Kumar.

Kumar also practises the Japanese process of building knives, as numerous individuals think that Japanese knives are the best in the entire world.

“I use handles which are stabilised – essentially Woodbridge impregnated with acrylic alternatives, so it is a lot more solid and impervious to substances this sort of as drinking water and oil.”

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Kumar exhibiting the 3D design of his knife.

“I do make knives by inventory elimination, wherever a person normally takes metal bars and eliminates material till the desired blade profile and knife condition is attained for chefs.

“But I’ve also long gone on to do CNC (laptop or computer numerical regulate) machining for those people who choose more compact knives,” shared Kumar.

Clearly devoted to the subject matter of all issues sharp and shiny, Kumar also taught himself the artwork of applying a CNC equipment from scratch.

“I had my knee operated on right before, so I had to acquire six months off perform. I utilised this sweet prospect to buy a CNC equipment, sit at household with my laptop computer and notepad, and educate myself how to work it.”

By the time the CNC machine arrived at the residence, Kumar was armed with more than enough understanding and even drew out his 1st CAD (personal computer-aided style) programme.

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Kumar functioning the machine made use of to measure steel hardness.

Regardless of getting a relatively renowned name in the knife-earning community, Kumar has no intention of turning his pastime into a whole-time gig.

“I take pleasure in my function as a banker,” he confessed, incorporating that he prefers to perform on knives for the duration of weekends, primarily considering that it has now grow to be a second occupation.

When questioned regardless of whether his colleagues know of his other profession, Kumar explained that they are frequently intrigued by his knife-making process and that his manager is extremely supportive of this enthusiasm. In fact, he has even procured some of Kumar’s knives.

It’s not that easy to buy knives from Vicious Tools, nevertheless, as Kumar only can take up to four orders a thirty day period. He is also, at the minute, fully booked until the thirty day period of June, so individuals wanting to buy one (or some) really should approach ahead. No cutting in line!

Check out Kumar’s masterpieces and study your choices on Vicious Tools’ Instagram web site listed here.