Hold Fast Knives –
Your Central Valley EDC Destination
Premium knives, expert sharpening, and custom work since 2025. Rooted in Fresno, built for those who carry every day.
Our Story
Hold Fast Knives was born from a simple idea: the right tool in your hand should feel like an extension of who you are. Located in the heart of Fresno at 101 W. Olive Ave, we’ve become the go-to destination for knife enthusiasts, tradespeople, first responders, and everyday carriers across the Central Valley.
What started as a passion for quality cutlery has grown into a full-service EDC hub. We carry premium production brands, American-made favorites, and unique custom pieces. We also offer professional sharpening, and expert advice from people who actually carry and use what we sell.
Our Mission
We exist to equip the Central Valley with tools that last, blades you can trust, and service you can count on. Whether you’re looking for a reliable daily carrier, a serious work knife, a kitchen workhorse, or a standout custom piece — we’ve got you covered.
We believe in:
- Supporting American makers and small brands
- Honest, no-BS advice
- Keeping skills alive (sharpening, custom work, education)
- Building a real community of knife people in Fresno and beyond
What We Stand For
Quality First
Only brands and tools we personally trust and carry.
Community Focused
Meetups, events, and a welcoming space for everyone
Hands-On Service
Sharpening, custom knives, everything in the store can be handled, and our advice is free..
Transparency
Real stock, fair pricing, and straight talk about steel, heat treat, and performance..
David Richardson founded Hold Fast Knives so Central Valley people could handle real knives in a real shop — not just scroll photos.
He picks what he’d carry himself: production blades, kitchen cutlery, and solid EDC. Beginners and collectors get the same treatment: honest advice, sharpening, custom work, no pitch.
When he’s not behind the counter, he’s using the gear. That’s the shop: quality you can hold, service that doesn’t waste your time.
David Kobzeff is a partner at Hold Fast Knives and a Fresno native. Fabrication is his background; knives are the job now.
He’s newer to making blades and learning in public — fixed-blade designs, anodizing, sharpening, and the daily grind of inventory and the floor. Same goal as the rest of the shop: the right knife in your hand, not a speech.
Off the clock you’ll find him sketching, fishing, or talking gear. He wants you walking out with something you’ll actually carry.