Chris Linton brings a life spent around knives, in the modern knife community, and the knife industry to his custom work, under the shop name Osprey Knife & Tool. Linton tells us that an emphasis on ergonomics, flow, and minute, model-to-model adjustments make Osprey what it is today.
A fair few knife enthusiasts with mundane suburban jobs fantasize about a life spent working outdoors, where their favorite blades stop being collectibles and start becoming a day-to-day necessity. Linton lived that life, growing up on a small farm. “From a young age it was my chore to look after the animals, so a knife always had to be handy to cut rope on hay bails, open feed bags, or any other task you may need a small knife for,” he says. Reliable tools played an important role in his daily life and may have informed his creative spirit. “I have an appreciation for just about any type of art in various mediums. “I have always enjoyed working with my hands, creating things.”
That spirit would take a while to come into focus, as Linton served in the U.S. army throughout most of the aughts. In his transition to civilian life, a chance encounter changed the entire trajectory of his career. “I stumbled across a brochure flyer at a local firearms store for a knifemaker named Stephan Fowler,” Linton recalls. Throughout the years, Linton’s love for knives never abated – he has been a dyed-in-the-wool enthusiast since day one, and did lots of window shopping in classic publications like Blade and Knives Illustrated (the latter magazine has featured Linton’s work). “I had stacks of them my living room, and had even made a scrap book of knives I wanted to purchase one day, sort of a visual wishlist.”
On a whim, Linton rang up Fowler and asked if he could teach him how to make knives – to which Fowler graciously agreed, beginning a years-long friendship and apprenticeship where Linton learned the ropes. “I gained a base understanding of forging, grinding, heat treating and sculpting from Stephan,” says Linton. “It lit a fire inside of me that I felt had been lost once I left the military. I had a burning desire to go make stuff all of a sudden.”
So that’s exactly what Linton did. He began volunteering at Fiddleback Forge once a week, until owner Andy Roy offered him a full-time position, which came with an incredible benefit: space, time, and equipment make his own knives. “I knew this was an opportunity I had to seize so I threw myself into my job, and any spare time I had I was in the shop working on my stuff, learning, growing, perfecting my craft one knife at a time.”
Eventually Linton struck out on his own, and for four years he made knives full-time, articulating his house style. “Clean Lines, functionality; comfortable to use, and appealing to the eye,” are the words Linton uses to describe his knives. “I put a lot of thought and emphasis on handle structure and design,” he tells us. “The handle should first and foremost provide a proper interface and control of the blade otherwise its an unsafe tool.” Every Osprey knife is handmade, which means that Linton can – and does – sweat every single detail on each individual piece, from edge geometry, to choice of steel, and even more particulars. “Steel selection, thickness, edge geometry, heat treatment and handle material is all independently geared to that individual model, as opposed to uniform choices across models.”
While he is still a custom maker, Linton has also signed onto the team at RMJ Tactical, with a particular specialty in sharpening but input on all sorts of projects at the shop. “I have picked up new skills and ideas along the way and I am better because of it,” he says – and yes, if you’re wondering, the RMJ Osprey 9 kitchen knife is a Linton design.
When asked what his plans for the rest of 2025 were, Linton’s answer was simple: he is going to continue down the road of an artisan. “I plan on staying part of the RMJ crew, as well as continue with my own brand. I found that I am better and more enriched when I am surrounded by like minded people, but I still enjoy my independence to make my own stuff and have my own creative space and path forward with Osprey Knife and Tool.”
There are new Osprey custom knives available at KnivesShipFree today, from 10am EST.
Knives in Featured Image: [Top to bottom] Osprey Knife & Tool Warthog and Poon Tipped Mini Mamushi
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