How We Build a Cochran Knife

Every decision we make comes from 85 years of family knife making and three generations of hunting in the Pacific Northwest.

The Steel

Every Cochran knife starts as a 2 foot by 3 foot sheet of 440C stainless steel sourced from Niagara Steel in New York — the largest American steel manufacturer. We chose 440C specifically for its combination of edge retention, corrosion resistance, and toughness. After the blade profile is cut and ground, every knife is heat treated and sub-zero treated to achieve approximately 59 Rockwell hardness. This process ensures the blade holds a sharp edge through the most demanding field use without becoming brittle.

The Bone Handle

Our bone handles are one of our most distinctive features — and one of the most misunderstood. We source, process, and dye all of our bone handles ourselves in Sweet Home, Oregon. Each handle is cut to size, dyed in one of our seven signature colors, and set into an inlaid pocket in the knife — then sealed with adhesive to create a waterproof bond. The inlaid pocket is our own design and provides significantly more strength than a traditional pinned handle. Because bone is a natural material it accepts dye differently based on its unique density and grain. No two handles are ever identical. We consider this a feature not a flaw — you are carrying something genuinely one of a kind.

The Custom Bone Option

One of our most popular and personal services — we can build your knife handle from the bone of an animal you harvested yourself. Hunters bring us elk shin bones, blacktail femurs, deer bones — any animal they've taken. We process the bone, dye it to your preference, and build it into your knife handle. We can even laser engrave the date you killed the animal on the blade. Every time you pick up that knife you're carrying that animal with you. Contact us to discuss your custom bone project.

The Leather Sheath

Every Cochran knife comes with a custom leather sheath built specifically for that knife model. The sheath features a belt loop, an open top design for fast access, and a paracord retention lanyard with a reflective tracer for low light visibility. Sheaths are available in light brown, dark brown, and painted brown. If you have a sheath color preference please note it at checkout and we will do our best to accommodate it.

Hand Finishing

Before any Cochran knife leaves our shop in Sweet Home, Oregon it goes through our hand finishing process. Every blade is polished by hand to either our mirror high polish finish or our tactical stonewash finish. We inspect every knife personally — edge geometry, handle fit, sheath function. If it doesn't meet our standards it doesn't ship. This is not a factory. Every knife that arrives at your door has been touched, inspected, and approved by a member of the Cochran family.

Laser Engraving

We offer custom laser engraving on all Cochran knives. Personal names, dates, meaningful phrases, company logos — engraved directly on the blade with precision. Engraving is available at checkout through our custom engraving option. For corporate orders with logo engraving contact us directly for bulk pricing and artwork requirements.