NOLEN KNIVES are built for serious hunters, with durability and functionality as our top priorities. Though many collectors appreciate our knives, they’re made first and foremost as working tools—not display pieces.
We began making knives in 1968 as a hobby, crafting them for personal use. As demand grew, we expanded, eventually shipping knives across all 50 states and to over 15 countries worldwide.
Much of our progress is thanks to customer feedback. Their suggestions have helped refine and improve the quality of every NOLEN KNIFE.
We’re also grateful to our peers in the knifemaking community—especially Jimmy Lile, Clyde Fischer, and others—and to the writers and editors who’ve shared our work, including B.R. Hughes, Sid Lathem, John Wootters, Jack Lewis, Jim Carmichel, Jim Woods, Mel Tappan, George Martin, and Ken Elliott.
Knife Steels
The core of a quality knife is its steel and how it’s tempered. We use D-2 and 440C tool steels for their proven performance in the field.
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D-2: A high-carbon tool steel known for excellent edge retention and toughness. It’s semi-stainless, so some care is needed.
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440C: A high-carbon stainless steel with strong corrosion resistance and solid edge retention, requiring minimal maintenance.
Tempering
Tempering is critical. We heat treat every blade ourselves and verify hardness using a Rockwell tester, aiming for a range of C57–C60. This ensures the best balance between edge retention and ease of sharpening.
Keep in mind: no steel holds an edge forever. D-2 and 440C are tough but not miracle metals. They will dull over time and can be challenging—but not impossible—to sharpen. How long the edge lasts depends on usage and care.
Our goal is simple: to make a knife you can rely on and be proud to own.
