Todd Begg made his first knife in 1983, in junior high school. His father collected knives; the family hunted, fished, and spent time outdoors. The child who ground his first blade had no idea he was beginning a 40-year obsession. He read voraciously — consuming everything he could about steel, heat treatment, handle geometry, and design — and credits Bob Loveless's book How To Make Knives as the spark that turned interest into vocation.

When Todd was twenty, he enlisted in the United States Army and served as an NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) Recon team member. He carried tactical knives in the field every day — learning firsthand what a knife needs to do when it actually matters, in conditions where failure is not an option. That field experience shaped his design philosophy permanently: a knife must be functional first, beautiful second, and it must be both.

After the Army, Todd committed fully to knifemaking. In 1998, he completed a Machine Shop Technology Program at San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico. The formal machining education transformed his craft — giving him the precision engineering vocabulary to match his artistic vision. From that point, his work began earning serious recognition in the custom knife community.

Todd is a Board Director of the Knifemakers' Guild and creates approximately 150 custom knives per year, sometimes spending three weeks on a single elaborate piece. His guiding standard: "a knife with zero tool marks — as if it was born and not built." That standard applies whether the knife is a full custom piece at $2,500 or a Steelcraft production knife at $450.

Begg Knives operates across three distinct tiers — each serving a different buyer at a different investment level, but all sharing the same design DNA and lifetime warranty.

Three engineering elements distinguish a Begg knife from nearly anything else in the production knife market. Understanding each one explains why Begg commands the prices it does and why collectors keep buying more.

IKBS Ceramic Ball Bearing System: IKBS (Ikoma Korth Bearing System) is a spherical ceramic ball bearing pivot used in Todd Begg's custom work and carried through to every Steelcraft production model. Unlike flat washers or conventional ABEC bearings, IKBS places a ring of ceramic balls between two races machined into the blade and handle — creating an almost frictionless pivot that produces the distinctive smooth, fast, and snappy flipper action Begg knives are famous for. Ceramic balls are harder and more wear-resistant than steel balls, maintaining their precision longer under daily carry conditions. The IKBS pivot is one of the reasons Begg knives feel unlike anything else at any price point.

Signature Handle Fluting: The distinctive fluted milling pattern on Begg handle scales is not purely aesthetic — although it is undeniably beautiful. The fluting serves three functional purposes: it reduces handle weight by removing material from the titanium; it creates a natural indexing texture that improves grip without aggressive jimping or sharp checkering; and it reveals the quality of the underlying titanium machining. No handle fluting can be done sloppily and look good — the fluting is simultaneously decoration and quality proof. Todd's various fluting patterns (fan, diamond, checkered, scallop) are as recognizable as a designer's signature.

Replaceable Lockbar Insert: On Begg titanium frame lock knives, the lockbar insert — the small piece of hardened steel or ceramic that contacts the blade tang when locked — is replaceable. This addresses one of the most common failure modes in frame lock folders: wear of the lockbar contact point over years of use. A worn lockbar allows the lock to walk too far across the tang, eventually failing. The replaceable insert means a Begg knife can be maintained to original specification indefinitely — another reason the lifetime warranty is a meaningful promise rather than a legal formality.

Todd Begg takes his customers' investments seriously enough to publish an official authenticity guide. Understanding which tier a Begg knife belongs to is important for both collectors and buyers wanting to ensure they receive what they paid for.

• "Todd Begg USA" logo: A full custom or Field Grade knife made by Todd himself or under his direct USA supervision. These are the highest tier pieces — each one a handmade or hand-finished item from Todd's shop.
• "TB Steelcraft Series" stamp: Production knife based on Todd's designs, manufactured by Reate Knives in China to Begg's specifications. Fully authorized, genuine Begg product — just produced offshore. These are clearly marked to distinguish them from USA-made pieces.
• No official marking / unlicensed copies: Imitation Begg knives exist — usually poorly made copies of the Bodega sold at a fraction of the price. These carry no Begg marking, no lifetime warranty, and no connection to Todd Begg. Purchasing from authorized dealers like Knifeworks eliminates this risk entirely.