Growing up I always did well in school and grew up around machining. From a young age I have always been skilled in mathematics and computers. Unofficially Stoner CNC started in March of 2009 and perhaps years earlier depending on how you count.
I was formally trained in automobile engineering with a masters in manufacturing. However, no-one was buying vehicles in March of 2009 and the prospects for a young engineer where non-existent. My dad had a hobby level CNC mill in his garage. This machine was capable of making knife scales and pistol grips. So that’s what I made. Sort of as hobby but also to pay the bills.
Somewhere along the way I started to become skilled in design, machining and managed to make enough grips to afford a better machine. In 2013 with the help of a second mortgage I purchased a CNC Mill that actually had a tool changer and went official. Sales started to take off and I talked my father into retiring early and partnering in the company. A few years later Stoner CNC was ready for a proper shop that wasn’t based in a garage.
In 2017 we purchased our first “world class” milling machine. We couldn’t afford a new one but a 3-year-old machine would be fine for making grips. The business decision was great but created a bitter disagreement over fundamental issues between me and my father. Basically a man in his early 60’s has very different goals than one in his early 30’s. So I bought out his half and was heavily in debt to the bank. Defaulting on the bank is never a good option; so the only choice for me was too work long hours and seriously expand my skill set. As the saying goes the harder you work the luckier you become.
In late 2019 I was approached by a few different knife makers who were down on their luck and just starting out; as I was 10 years prior. These guys had good designs and needed some manufacturing know how. After several years of closely working with these talented knife makers they all had companies that where worth multiples of mine. I was doing the kydex for a company widely regarded as having excellent kydex. I was doing the grips for a company widely regarded as having excellent grips and the blades for yet another company known for blades. All of these companies are still dear to me and Stoner CNC still works with all them.
However, after years of being a supplier I know in my heart it’s time to transition to a manufacture. Since my origins are based as a supplier it’s important to me that all my designs are based on original work. I know this path will be wrought with its own challenges but believe we can churn out some excellently designs for the knife community.
I was formally trained in automobile engineering with a masters in manufacturing. However, no-one was buying vehicles in March of 2009 and the prospects for a young engineer where non-existent. My dad had a hobby level CNC mill in his garage. This machine was capable of making knife scales and pistol grips. So that’s what I made. Sort of as hobby but also to pay the bills.
Somewhere along the way I started to become skilled in design, machining and managed to make enough grips to afford a better machine. In 2013 with the help of a second mortgage I purchased a CNC Mill that actually had a tool changer and went official. Sales started to take off and I talked my father into retiring early and partnering in the company. A few years later Stoner CNC was ready for a proper shop that wasn’t based in a garage.
In 2017 we purchased our first “world class” milling machine. We couldn’t afford a new one but a 3-year-old machine would be fine for making grips. The business decision was great but created a bitter disagreement over fundamental issues between me and my father. Basically a man in his early 60’s has very different goals than one in his early 30’s. So I bought out his half and was heavily in debt to the bank. Defaulting on the bank is never a good option; so the only choice for me was too work long hours and seriously expand my skill set. As the saying goes the harder you work the luckier you become.
In late 2019 I was approached by a few different knife makers who were down on their luck and just starting out; as I was 10 years prior. These guys had good designs and needed some manufacturing know how. After several years of closely working with these talented knife makers they all had companies that where worth multiples of mine. I was doing the kydex for a company widely regarded as having excellent kydex. I was doing the grips for a company widely regarded as having excellent grips and the blades for yet another company known for blades. All of these companies are still dear to me and Stoner CNC still works with all them.
However, after years of being a supplier I know in my heart it’s time to transition to a manufacture. Since my origins are based as a supplier it’s important to me that all my designs are based on original work. I know this path will be wrought with its own challenges but believe we can churn out some excellently designs for the knife community.
