Rick Hinderer’s journey in knife making began in the late 1980s in a 14’ x 18’ turkey coop, no heat, no running water, just a drive to build something better. What started as experimental art knives evolved into purpose-built tools shaped by real-world use.

That shift came when Rick began serving as a Firefighter/EMT. The knives he carried weren’t just gear, they were tools that had to perform when it mattered. That experience still drives every design that leaves our shop.

For decades, Rick also pushed the boundaries of what was possible in knife design, including automatic mechanisms he had been engineering for over 30 years. But until recently, manufacturing automatic knives in Ohio wasn’t legally possible.

In 2022, that changed. Rick was directly involved in helping drive that change, working alongside lawmakers and industry advocates to repeal Ohio’s ban on manufacturing automatic knives. Through that effort, he helped make it possible for companies like ours to bring automatic knife production back home and build these tools in-house here in Ohio.

That moment opened the door for the next evolution of Hinderer knives.

Today, Rick Hinderer Knives operates out of our facility in Shreve, Ohio, known by our customers as The Ranch. While we’ve grown into a state-of-the-art production facility with CNC mills, lathes, and grinders, every knife is still hand-assembled, tuned, and built to perform.

Our automatic knives represent the next step in that evolution.

Built with the same hard-use mindset, our autos are designed for reliability, strength, and consistency. Our Aluminum models feature our patent-pending titanium liners, reinforcing the knife while maintaining a lightweight, balanced feel and delivering performance where it counts.

But what truly sets this platform apart is control.

This system allows you to configure your knife your way, choosing blade styles, finishes, scale materials, and hardware combinations to build something that fits how you actually use it. Not just a knife off the shelf, but a tool built with purpose.

Because at the end of the day, that’s what has always driven us:

Purpose-built knives. Real-world performance.
And the ability to Make It Your Own.