Shay Butler Knives

Shay Butler Knives began in 2015 when founder Shay returned from a Montana elk hunt realizing he'd made a critical packing error: no skinning knife. Rather than buy off-the-shelf, he decided to teach himself custom blade making. Nine years later, SBK has grown from a homemade forge and hand file to a full manufacturing operation—and Shay still doesn't own one of his own knives.

Every blade is designed and manufactured at their Lily Lake, Illinois facility. The operation has evolved dramatically:

• •2014-2015: Hand-cut blades, homemade forge, 22+ hours per knife
• •2021: Invested in CNC mill to scale production without sacrificing quality
• •January 2023: First complete CAD/CAM to finished blade
• •2023: Factory certified as Cerakote applicator for in-house finishing

"I only wanted to make one knife" - A quote Shay still repeats as SBK has taken off

Specialized hunting knives tailored for field work. Current lineup includes:

• •Instinct, Special Ops, Intrepid - Core designs
• •Ultimate Backwoods, Outdoorsman, Whitetail Hunter's Essential - Hunting-focused
• •Rhino, Heavy Duty - Heavy-use applications
• •Valor, Reacher - Tactical frame lock folders

SBK focuses on repeatable, heirloom-quality blades. Cerakote finishing provides durability and corrosion resistance with customizable color options. All manufacturing—from blade forging to final finish—happens under one roof, giving them complete control over quality.

• •By Hunters — For Hunters remains their philosophy. The knives are functional artwork designed for the demands of hunting, law enforcement, and military professionals.

If the current lineup doesn't fit your needs, they take custom projects. Email or call to discuss specifications.