I’ve always had an appreciation for edged tools, especially the ones made one at a time, by hand. Commonly referred to as “artisans”, in some cases the title of “artist” might be more fitting for these makers of bespoke goods. Regardless of what you want to call the craftsman behind the scenes, they always have an interesting story to tell. Let me introduce you to H&S Knives, makers of edged tools “handmade for hard work”.

I first discovered H&S Knives via Instagram, when I began seeing posts appear in my feed as a recommended social media account. It was apparent that Justin Wells, the man behind the company was a fellow Traditional bowhunter, so of course, I had to reach out to him for a knife of my own. Justin began making knives in his parent’s garage as a teenager, and once out of the house and on his own, he continued to hone his craft as a young adult. Like many talented individuals who enjoy practicing a certain craft employed as a passion project to earn extra income; Justin has found that recent demand for his knives has “forced” him to devote even more time to what started out as just a hobby.

You might have noticed that H&S Knives is a new advertiser within the pages of TBM, but until this time, the company has relied heavily on social media and word of mouth as its main modes of advertising. During our first conversation, Justin informed me that once his knives are completed, they rarely make it to his website before they’re spoken for. And to further attest to the level of his craftsmanship, a large number of his business is made up of repeat customers. He’s happy to report that his production capacity has recently been increased, which gives everyone an equal chance to score one of his knives without having to get on the waitlist. So, be sure to visit the H&S Knives website, support a small business, and get yourself a high-quality handmade knife this hunting season. Be sure to tell Justin that Traditional Bowhunter Magazine sent you!

The Nuts and Bolts

While H&S offers a few different knife models and at least one tomahawk design, I was drawn to the slim and lightweight “Nomad”, which happens to be the flagship model. Coming in at an overall length of 7 ¼”, and weighing only 4.8 ounces, “elegant” is the one word that I’d use to describe the Nomad. This knife feels nimble and highly capable as it sits nestled in your fingers. The blade shape is a hybrid skinner-drop point, which is perfect for most meat care and even some bushcraft and camp chores. The knife feels supremely comfortable in both standard and hammer-style grips. The slim, and sculpted linen micarta handle scales offer just the right amount of texture, regardless of the grip style being employed. This boosts functionality and expands the potential use beyond a backwoods companion and into the EDC (everyday carry) and defensive realm. A large, half-moon relief is cut into the spine of the knife, just forward of the handle scales. This allows either a thumb or forefinger to be moved farther up the spine of the blade, offering a more secure purchase, which can either help generate more shearing force for slicing or offer more dexterity while performing precision cuts.

The Nomad (and all current models) come with a custom Kydex sheath that’s equipped with an Ulti-Clip for numerous carry options that include attaching to a bino bivy, MOLLE webbing, and even deep pocket carry for EDC use. I regularly carry a small fixed blade horizontally on my belt, just next to my belt buckle via a sheath equipped with beta loops. The Nomad is absolutely perfect for carrying as an EDC blade in this fashion. Justin has mentioned that he may start offering beta loops as an option for his sheaths in the near future, which would allow for the ”scout” style of belt carry. Now that the Fall hunting season is finally here, I look forward to having the H&S Nomad along for the ride and will be looking for opportunities to put it to the test!

Product Specs

– Model: Nomad
– Overall blade length: 7 ¼”
– Weight (without sheath): 4.8 ozs
– Blade Steel: AEB-L Stainless or 80 CRV2
– Handle Scales: Linen Micarta, Dymalux, various exotic wood options
– Sheath: Kydex with Ulti-Clip
– Retail Price: $200 (base)
For more info, visit the H&S Knives website.