My upbringing was heavily influenced by the outdoors. I spent the majority of my childhood in the woods building forts, playing baseball, hiking, hunting, fishing, shooting, whittling, riding a dirt bike, anything a boy could do outside I did it. At age 11 I was sent to a place called Eagle Ranch where I spent 2 years in a group home learning how to properly resolve problems a troubled kid would have to face throughout his life. I learned how to be kind to one another and treat people with respect. How to work through your issues, face your fears and how to talk to God. I have to give a lot credit to my house parents Mike and Kim Flory for my resilience through hard times and for bringing me to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Though for years I admit I was astray from God, he has repeatedly reminded me that he is in control and I am here by his grace! I've had a lot of roles throughout my years, none more exciting and important than fatherhood. I have found no greater purpose than raising four fantastic children with my wife beautiful wife. With a full rebranding I thought it would be good to give some insight on why I chose to go this way. I can't possibly tell my entire life story but I'd like to share what got me here now.

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As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

Joshua 24:15
 

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My father was a stone mason for nearly 30 years. I worked the trade until the recession of 2008 set us on the decline. By the end of 2009 there was nearly nothing left of the business and the reinvention of ourselves came in the form of knife making. Having been lifelong knife enthusiasts and collectors, the knife making trade seemed to present an opportunity to express creativity in a passionate way. In early 2010, 2 Jakes Knives took flight and was successful enough to continue growing. Today, the current serial number for 2 Jakes knives is in the 6000's. Along the way I picked up a job for a big knife supply company where I was tasked with sometimes five hundred blades a week. The money was good, the experience gained was far more valuable. I quickly began to master the grinder as repetition became consistent practice. I was overwhelmed to say the least, so I decided to move on from that and focus on doing my own thing. Having learned the ways of mass production I developed the urge to make a knife that was not so much custom as it was workable. In 2016 I created Bloodline Knives with the goal of producing a nearly indestructible yet affordable knife for the general public. Around 400 Bloodline Knives were made and sold. Many customers touting their knife as the toughest and most dependable knife they have ever owned. Though things went relatively well, I didn't like the way marketing was out of my control. By 2020 I cut production of Bloodline entirely. I continued to put effort into the rapidly expanding and very successful 2 Jakes Knives. Nearly every knife that came out of the shop stamped with 2 Jakes was my bladework as well as a good portion of the handlework. The knives became well known and are still distributed today in a chain of stores across the western USA. After a string of events I decided in 2022 to leave 2 Jakes Knives and take a break from the knives. I spent half of 2022 in a wheel chair following an accident and had plenty of time to decide what to do with myself when I was back on my feet. My soul search took me on a roller coaster ride and I eventually settled on making knives again. It was hard to deny my skills in the trade, and it was all I had done for 12 years straight. Once you do something for that long its hard to do anything else. So in March of 2023 I gathered my setup from the 2 Jakes shop and converted my bike shop over for knife making. The shop is small but functional and having all the experience made it easy to know exactly how machines needed to be placed for an efficient setup.

 

So after a couple of breaks and a break, I am very excited to bring this to the table. Everyone deserves to have a good knife, a Very Good knife. There's a lot of handmade in the USA knives on the market that most people look at and say 'That's too nice for me I wouldn't ever use it.' or 'That's a lot of money for a knife that I'm going to beat up.'. There's also a lot of really crappy knives on the market now too. I really believe Very Good has what a lot of people are looking for which is a tough as nails and fairly attractive knife that's affordable to the workin' man. There are so many new makers out there right now its hard to get your name out, and if your name isn't already out people think you're new. I've been doing this a long time. I've had enough recognition and I don't feel the need to be 'the best' or 'most famous'. I don't think its important and I don't see a point in being arrogant about having made X amount of knives or having high profile clients. But people do want to know what kind of experience you have. I wouldn't want to buy anything I'm going to really depend on from someone who has no idea what they are doing. That's fair. I tend to let my work speak for itself. If you spent time with me in the shop, my experience would show quickly. I've done a lot of teaching and have heard a lot of  'man you make that look so easy'. My answer will always be the same. If you do anything long enough, you'll get real good at it. I have seen every side of knife making from gung-ho tactical makers to masterful artisans. Some are far better bullshitters than they are knife makers, able to sell you a knife with their elaborate glorious story of how the materials are so very rare and out of this world. And there is nothing more frustrating to me than all the makers who claim to be the best and most unique. I have a lot of respect for some of the real bests of the trade, the pioneers and innovators of modern day knife making. The wave of new makers that followed the Forged in Fire hype revealed a disease I like to call 'I did it first'. It's been a plague to the industry. Almost everything has been done already by someone. Originality is a fine line. I don't claim to be the first to bring knives like this to the market but there are a lot of knives like this on the market that are just overpriced. My time is valuable but its not more valuable than anyone else's. There's a lot of people who don't feel it necessary to spend 3 days pay on a knife you are going to get rough with and I agree 100%. I don't think its fair to dupe people into buying your products either. The world has had enough of the bullshit and people want to know exactly what they are getting. That's where Very Good is born.

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-Jacob Asuit