Knives for Violin & String Instrument Makers
Director: John Schmidt
Schmidt Knives is a specialty knife-making organization dedicated to producing high-performance knives for the makers of violins, violas, cellos, guitars, and other string instruments. Our knives are engineered for the precision demands of lutherie — where edge quality, sharpness, and retention are not optional extras but essentials of the craft.
Using advanced powder metallurgy steels, our knives outperform conventional O1 and A2 blades in both edge retention and ease of sharpening. Every knife is made by hand, to order, by our director John Schmidt.
"I have been a professional maker of violins, violas and cellos for 50 plus years, and the 'powdered metal' knife I have from John Schmidt is the best knife I have ever used."David Burgess — burgessviolins.com
I made these knives and sold them to violin makers for several years. The feedback I received was always positive, often highly positive. The knives I made were easy to sharpen and had edge-holding ability three times that of O1 knives. I wrote about this in The Scroll, Volume 4 No. 2, Summer 2019 — a VSA publication.
Upon moving to Wellington, New Zealand in 2020, to serve — with my wife — as Resident Friend at Wellington Quaker Meeting, I stopped knife making. Now I am starting up again.
Since 2020, I have received so many requests for these "PMX" knives that I am quite sure there is a strong demand for them among violin makers and guitar makers.
Powder metallurgy knives are superior to O1 and A2 steel knives in edge retention. The science behind this is explained in depth by materials scientist Larrin Thomas, Ph.D. of Knife Steel Nerds.
All Schmidt knives are 2.4 mm thick and available in a range of widths, grind types, and profiles to suit the full breadth of lutherie work — from purfling channels to scroll work.
If you have questions about our knives, we'd love to hear from you.