The Knife Maker
Artist and toolmaker Dhruva Sanchai from Coimbatore, India, makes knives out of a passion for creation
From a young age, Dhruva Sanchai had a keen interest for tools and making equipment.
At a young age, the Coimbatore, India, resident began making electric cars and motor boats and racing them on a track that he built. His passion for projects continued to grow, and today, he finds himself selling the knives that he makes from scratch.
As a standard work ethic, Sanchai chooses to work alone. From buying the raw materials to packing the knives for sale, he does it all.
“I enjoy making them this way,” Sanchai says as he crafts a custom outdoor knife for one of his customers.
Living in a city surrounded by forests, Sanchai chooses to make handles for his knives from wood harvest from native trees, like ebony and rosewood. Apart from knives, Sanchai makes keychains and bottle openers.
Sanchai learned his skill from watching YouTube videos and practicing making knives during weekends. Having just graduated from high school, he now has more time to create, which he says he’s excited about.
Sanchai recently started an Instagram page where he posts the process of making knives and the latest knives that he’s selling.
Since Sanchai makes his knives from scratch, he puts in a lot of time — often between 16 to 17 hours per knife — which results in an expensive final product.
“People who appreciate good knives and collect them will be willing to spend a lot of money on it,” Sanchai said. “Others won’t be willing to spend as much.”
Although Sanchai enjoys making knives, he doesn’t look at it as an optimistic business for his future.
“Like any other product you sell,” he said, “it takes a knife brand a long time to earn its name.”
