Steel & Stories – Knife Maker’s Wife Edition:

Karina aka @karinabaglionianso

Be honest: What was your first thought when you saw the TOKO? And has it grown on you?

My first thought was that it was too big, because I really love the AROS and its size. It didn’t feel like it fit as well in my hand. But it has really grown on me, and I love how it flips. Every TOKO that gets shipped out, I flip open to note the serial number—so I get to flip A LOT.

If you had to gift a TOKO to someone who’s not a “knife person,” who would survive the surprise, and why?

I would give it to Jens’s brother, Niels. He’s a hunter, and I think he would enjoy it. He’s also the type of person who doesn’t often spend money on himself. It should be the DLC-coated version with amber details.

What’s one thing you bring to the shop every day, that has nothing to do with knives—but everything to do with getting things done?

I bring two things to the shop every day: a bottle of water and my EarPods. I really like to listen to books when I pack the knives.

If you could swap jobs with Jens for a day — what part of the knife-making would you (maybe) enjoy… and what part would you leave to him forever?

I think I’d like to try organizing the knife parts before assembling them. I really enjoy organizing things. (Always be knolling!)
I would never, ever try to sharpen knives. I don’t think I’d be good at it.

You pack a lot of knives. How do you know when one’s extra special—and what’s the weirdest request you’ve seen?

One of the most special knives Jens has ever made had a blade composed of two different steels, held together with gold pins. That’s by far my favorite—and something I’ve convinced him to repeat a few times.

There aren’t many weird requests that pass by me, because I know Jens has a tendency to stick to his own taste—and because of that, he often talks customers out of adding anything too strange.
I don’t enjoy too much of what Jens calls “layered cake”—too many exotic materials that don’t necessarily match.

What’s the most surprising thing about running a knife business that people outside the shop would never guess?

The most surprising thing I’ve experienced over the years is the close connections we’ve built with so many of our customers. I really feel like we have a wide, kind community across the world. The attention to detail I put into packaging and writing cards for each order seems to be noticed and appreciated. When people come up to me at knife shows—or send me a message—to say they noticed that care, it makes me happy every single time.

One other thing I’ve been happily surprised by is how well Jens and I work together. There are no guarantees that a couple will get along working side by side—but we work very closely, share most meals together, and I still miss him when he’s out of town.