My name is Jan Lukes, and I was born in 1980 in Vrchlabi, where I have lived almost all my life. Vrchlabi is a small town in the foothills of the Gian Mountains (Krkonose) in Czechia in the centre of Europe. The other, yet much shorter part of my life that I spent away from my family and my home town was during my school years and due-military service.
I am not a cutler - knifemaker or leathersmith by trade, although, craftsmanship has always been something I have enjoyed and felt passionate about. Over the years I have mastered and perfectioned my knife making and leathercrafting skills using self-education, collecting tips from masters in the trade or artistry, and in the last, but not least, by trial and error, determination and hard-work. This all has led me to the point, at which I am proud to present my craft openly to the public.
To be more specific, the journey that had led me to knifemaking and later on leathercraft has started several years ago when my favourite kitchen knife produced by a well-known brand from a reputable manufacturer (I am happy to provide name and brand upon request) snapped by cutting Eidam cheese. After this rather embarrassing situation for the manufacturer, I couldn't believe what some manufacturers can get away with and are willing to offer as their "quality guaranteed" goods. After this incident, I've made up my mind I will only purchase from cutler, whose quality of work would overcome the general "standard-quality" of mass-produced knives. Sadly, my next experience with an independent cutler did not result in a successful purchase and a happy customer (but in this case not due fault of knifemaker), and that is why I have decided to go on the path of making my own knifes that led to a hobby and a passion that I would like to share with you all.
Moreover, maybe because the knifemaking coheres with many other crafts and skills, it had been easy to fell under the spell of this challenge and start my own, never-ending journey of self-improvement, development and perfection of tools and accessories necessary for the knifemaking craft itself, as well as exploring new production methods. Each product is carefully designed, build of the qualite materials and to the highest standards of craftsmanship. Each product is unique not only by its making, but everything I do has a piece of my heart and soul in it.
When working on products often than not, everything is far from easy, and every task requires much more than mere knowledge and handwork. It is time-consuming to look for new, yet often blind roads, when working with natural materials that may have its own deflects or imperfections. Craftmanship is a quest on a thorny path… “but he who dares not grasp the thorn, should never crave the rose”. From my point of view, I rejoice every time a new craft is made with a promise and hope that will bring joy and longevity to its new owner.
In short, that is all about me. I hope that you will like my products.
Jan