Paulo Simoes: knife making as a complete craft

The work of Paulo Simoes is particularly useful for understanding why a knife is much more than a steel grade and a blade shape.

In his workshop, the different stages remain connected.

A knife begins with an idea and a drawing. Steel is shaped, blade geometry is established, heat treatment is carried out, and then come fitting, handle work, finishing, sharpening and, where appropriate, sheath making.

Simoes presents himself as a knife maker and bladesmith since 1990. After working in Normandy and Brittany, he moved to Clermont in the Landes region near Dax in 2021.

Today, his workshop combines knife making, metalwork, leathercraft and teaching.

From idea to shape

Before discussing forging, the process begins with design.

A knife has to answer several questions: size, grip, blade geometry, balance, materials and intended use.

The blade can then be made in different ways.

Paulo Simoes works with both forging and stock removal, where material is progressively removed from a piece of steel until the required blade geometry is achieved.

This distinction matters because a forged knife is not automatically better than a stock-removal knife.

The quality of the final result depends on the entire process, particularly geometry and heat treatment.

Forging and stock removal: two routes to a blade

Forging shapes steel by deforming it while hot.

Stock removal begins with steel stock and removes material until the desired shape and bevels are achieved.

Both techniques are capable of producing excellent knives when properly executed.

The stages that follow — shaping, grinding, preparation, heat treatment and finishing — are just as important.

That wider view of the process is one of the defining characteristics of Paulo Simoes' workshop.

Heat treatment: a decisive stage

Steel does not acquire its final properties simply because a particular alloy name appears on a specification sheet.

Hardening and tempering are among the operations that determine the behaviour of the finished blade.

A highly regarded steel with poor heat treatment can produce a disappointing knife. A more conventional steel with appropriate geometry and carefully controlled heat treatment may make an excellent tool.

For this reason, MaxKnives treats the steel grade as one element of the complete knife, not as a performance guarantee by itself.

The handle is part of the knife

Even after the blade is complete, the knife is not finished.

Handle geometry must make sense for the size and intended use of the knife. Materials, contours and fitting all contribute directly to how the knife feels in the hand.

In his own handmade work, Paulo Simoes uses different materials and carries out the fitting and finishing operations himself.

The MK113SQ translates this idea in a particularly simple way: it uses a one-piece construction with a green paracord-wrapped handle.

The wrapping is not there to conceal the simplicity of the design.

It is part of it.

From knife to sheath

Knife making does not necessarily stop once the edge is sharpened.

Paulo Simoes also works with leather, producing sheaths and other leather accessories within his own craft practice.

This brings another perspective to knife design.

A sheath is not simply packaging added after the knife has been completed. It must protect the blade, retain the knife appropriately and match its geometry.

Paulo Simoes x MaxKnives

The current MaxKnives collaboration is represented by the MK113SQ Simoes SQ.

The model was designed by Paulo Simoes and edited by MaxKnives. It translates his function-led approach into a product far simpler than the fully handmade knives produced in his own workshop.

The documented model is a compact one-piece fixed blade featuring:

• 440C stainless steel;
• green paracord wrapping around the handle;
• a leather sheath;
• individual numbering as currently stated in the product documentation.

A knife maker who teaches the craft

Teaching is an important part of Paulo Simoes' activity.

His workshop offers training in:

• forging;
• knife making;
• metallurgy;
• leatherwork.

Courses are adapted to different levels and projects, from fixed blades to more complex folding constructions.

This teaching activity also says something important about his work.

To teach a craft, each stage has to be understood well enough to explain why it is done.

Why this geometry? Why remove material here? What is heat treatment actually doing? How should a handle fit? How does a sheath relate to the knife?

A knife is not finished simply because it cuts

That may be the clearest way to summarise the Paulo Simoes approach.

A blade may already cut while the knife is still unfinished.

Balance, grip, finish, final sharpening, sheath design and inspection still remain.

This also explains the difference between a technical specification and the knife itself.

A product sheet can give steel, length and weight.

It cannot, by itself, describe the quality of a fit, the geometry of an edge or how well a sheath works with the finished knife.

Who is the MK113SQ for?

The MK113SQ occupies an unusual place within the MaxKnives catalogue.

It may appeal to someone looking for:

A very compact fixed blade
The overall dimensions are deliberately small.

Simple construction
There is no pivot, spring or locking mechanism: the design is one-piece.

A paracord-wrapped grip
The wrapping adds grip volume to an otherwise thin metal structure.

Caring for 440C steel

440C is a stainless steel with a long history in knife making.

“Stainless”, however, does not mean that the knife should be left wet indefinitely.

After use:

• clean the blade;
• remove residue;
• dry it thoroughly;
• apply suitable protection where required.

When sharpening, choose abrasives and an angle appropriate to the original blade geometry.

Caring for the paracord wrap

Paracord requires relatively little maintenance, but it can retain more moisture than a bare metal handle.

If it becomes wet:

• avoid immediately storing the knife in its sheath;
• allow the paracord to dry completely;
• make sure moisture is not trapped between the wrapping and the metal.

Avoid unnecessary prolonged soaking of the complete knife.

Caring for the leather sheath

Leather requires different care from the blade.

If wet, allow the sheath to dry naturally and separately from the knife.

Do not leave a damp blade inside a leather sheath. Leather may retain moisture and keep the metal in an unfavourable environment.

Avoid strong direct heat when drying leather.

Purchase, possession, carry and transport

A sheath protects and stores a knife.

It does not provide legal authorisation to carry it.

Carry and transport rules depend on the product, circumstances and applicable law.

Before travelling with the knife, consult our guide to knife purchase, possession, carry and transport in France and the rules applicable at your destination.