Everyday life made unique! Inspired by Scandinavian pragmatism and driven by unbridled ambition, Alex Kremer, born in Fulda in 1993, combines lived adventures with technical know-how and timeless designs in his creations. The stated goal: to get the best out of every cut and make EDC even more exciting! Daily Knives is a joint project of Daily Customs and Böker, where innovative approaches and more than 150 years of manufacturing expertise in knifemaking, bearing the "Handmade in Germany" seal, form an unparalleled synergy. With great success, as the fixed-blade Böker Daily Knives AK1, with its carefully selected variations, has already achieved an exceptional position in the knife world. Developed as a compact and practical everyday knife, the series is now considered a pioneer in the high degree of modifiability for fixed-blade knives. Those who choose a Daily Knives not only receive a high-quality and thoughtfully designed knife, but also passion, custom-made! Alex Kremer reveals below which materials are even an option for his knives and what is an absolute red flag for him .
How did you first come into contact with the topic of knives?
As children and teenagers, we often spent our holidays in Scandinavia. This involved a lot of hiking, fishing, and discovering nature in all its facets. But there was always a lot of work to be done at home, too. My grandfather ran a small-scale farm, for which a knife was, of course, always essential.
When did you design your first knife?
It's hard to say, I'd guess 2009 or 2010. Although I started out (in the traditional way) with purchased Scandi blades, I always had my own ideas in mind, but unfortunately they weren't feasible at the time. Back then, in 11th grade, I still thought that a file and sandpaper were cheaper than buying knives.
How long have you been working as a custom knifemaker?
I work full-time as a development engineer. I've been making knives as a side business since around 2012. The two often complement each other surprisingly well. The overlap between ergonomics, function, and styling is particularly interesting.
What does your professional background look like so far?
After graduating from high school, I began a dual study program in mechanical engineering, then worked as a design engineer in plant engineering, and for the past two years I have been working in vehicle development. Knives have always been a constant companion.
Is there someone you would describe as your mentor?
Unfortunately not. I have many inspirations and admirers. I try to do many things myself, but I often get in my own way until the perfect solution finally falls into my lap. Nevertheless, I enjoy exchanging technical information with several knifemakers on a friendly basis and, of course, offering advice. However, there are many designs and knifemakers active between 1990 and 2000 that I find very appealing. This ranges from Microtech knives (from 1990 onwards) to the Japanese classics from Al-Mar and SOG, all the way to modern tactical knives. Walter Brend, Robert Terzuola, Michael Walker, Shane Sibert, Tom Krein , and Kiku Matsuda are masters of their craft and have significantly shaped the knife industry.
What do you see as your greatest talent as a knifemaker?
I really enjoy repairing badly damaged knives and restoring their sharpness. Many production knives can be considered a "good base" and further optimized. Thinning the blade a bit or making it sharp again after a few sharpening sessions often breathes new life into knives; that's what I find particularly enjoyable.
What do you like most about your job?
Satisfied customers who keep coming back with ideas and orders. Fortunately, for many, the first order is not the last.
Where should you start if you want to make your first knife?
Buy good materials, get some basic tools, and get started. It's much easier if you have clear goals in mind.
Which materials do you prefer to use?
For the blade, I particularly prefer steels with high hardness and edge retention , such as CPM-S-90V, M4, Cruwear, D2 , K390, and others. I often can't understand the motivation behind using VG-10 , 440C , N690 , AUS-8 , O1 , 1.2842, and similar steels (apart from kitchen knives). For me, long-lasting, reasonably sharpness is important. Therefore, I'm pleased that the current Böker CPM-3V blades are very well-made. I prefer my blades with a flat grind , as this combines good cutting properties with good repairability and can be thinned if necessary. For handle materials, I prefer synthetic materials because they don't shrink or swell. They are also more visually homogeneous. G10 , CFRP, and Micarta are my top three.
What makes your designs stand out?
Clear lines, functionally optimized shapes, little unnecessary frills, good sandability, good repairability and uncompromising performance.
What motivates or inspires you to create new designs?
My goal is to create better knives than those currently available. They should cut more efficiently, be more robust, easier to handle, and have a simple design. Even if my knives often don't boast fancy details or colorful materials, they still stand out. That's what makes them so special to me.
Can I simply order a custom-made, handcrafted knife from you?
Unfortunately not at the moment. However, I try to have handcrafted new products based on my current ideas ready for trade fairs.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
With building a house, having a child, a job and a side business, there haven't been any typical days for about two years.
What projects are you currently working on?
Daily Customs is to be further expanded; there are currently a couple of things in the works. Otherwise, I hope to have more time soon to implement my ideas. I'm currently setting up a new workshop and hope that everything will be a bit nicer, cleaner, and better.
Do you sometimes get fed up with knives?
Rarely. If so, it's usually from people. Unfortunately, there are far too many "experts" with little technical or practical background who nevertheless like to push themselves to the forefront. In my opinion, a lot of half-baked knowledge is spread in the process, which is often very tiresome. I also often struggle to understand the motivation of many "designers" with little practical experience. This lack of experience is consequently evident in their designs, which is absolutely not my concern. I also dislike the trend of having everything cheaply manufactured in the Far East and selling it here with a 300% markup. For me, knives are only a secondary means of earning money, which is why I want to keep it a side business. That way, I can better afford to hold this opinion.
What about your wife? Does she share this passion?
Probably not. But she has come to greatly appreciate good, sharp knives.
Do you still have time for other things besides your demanding job?
I always make time for my family, even though things have been very busy lately. Building a house is currently a priority, but there are also always general repairs to be done. Old cars and mopeds are always interesting, and every now and then I manage to squeeze in a day of fishing.
What's the best way for you to switch off in your free time?
There's really no such thing as switching off. There's always something going on.
Do you have any other hobbies that have nothing to do with knives?
Vacation, fishing, tinkering with cars, spending good time with my friends, or even tool shopping.
What are you absolutely unable to do?
Leatherwork hasn't been my strong suit so far; woodworking has also been rather limited. I'm much better at working with metal.
Is there anything else you'd like to say to our customers?
I think Böker is currently on a very good path. A lot has been changed and improved, especially regarding steels and grinds. The prototype blades and pre-production knives I recently received of the AK1 and AK4 really blew me away. Very hard, very thin – that's absolute custom-level performance. Therefore, I'm very pleased and proud to be able to contribute my modest part. Especially since manufacturing in Germany is also a special motivation for me. There are enough watered-down, full-tifer flippers from the Far East; we don't need another one. But high-quality products from Europe are becoming rare.
Dear Alex, thank you so much for taking the time for us and our customers.