Why the Skur Became One of Our Best-Selling Knives | THE SHED KNIVES BLOG #105

January 1, 2026

Introduction: A Knife That Was Never Supposed to Exist

2026 Shed Knives Skur fixed blade knife made in the USA with 154CM steel and CNC-milled G-10 scales

The Skur was not designed on a whiteboard. It was not born from trend analysis or influencer feedback. It came from a mistake.

In 2020, I was still grinding knives by hand in my shed. I was working on a U.S. Tanto and grinding the finger groove on a bench grinder with a stone wheel. I took too much material off. That finger groove turned into what is now the sharpening choil.

Instead of scrapping the blade, I kept going.

I put an edge on it and thought, this is a cool knife.

That positive mistake became the Skur.

I called a friend in Norway and asked for knife names. One of the names he said was Skur pronounced “skyour.” I asked what it meant. He said it’s Norwegian for shed. That was it. The knife was conceived, designed, and built in a shed. The name locked in the identity & origin of the knife.

Early Market Signals: When Demand Shows Up Uninvited

The Skur immediately behaved differently than our other models.

Dealers showed more interest
Customers bought them as gifts
Repeat buyers ordered different colors
Social engagement was higher
At shows, people asked for it by name

By 2023, the Skur was sold out with a 3-4 month waitlist. That is not marketing hype. That is constrained supply meeting real demand.

The Skur has consistently held our #1 & #2 sales positions, and in multiple years shared top placement with the U.S. Tanto. Dealers continue to request it first. Customers continue to buy multiples.

Marketing helps visibility. It does not create repeat buyers. The Skur earned that on performance.

Why the Skur Succeeds Where Small Fixed Blades Usually Fail

Most small fixed blades fail for one reason: they ask you to compromise.

They are small but weak
Or strong but too large for daily carry

The Skur solves that problem mechanically, not cosmetically.

Key reality:
The Skur is built from ¼-inch thick, 100% USA-made 154CM steel that is properly heat treated.

That combination is rare.

It is hard to find:

Quarter-inch thickness
American-made steel
In a compact, carryable platform
That can baton, split, and do real work

The Skur does all of that & my goodness does it do it well.

How I Personally Use the Skur

I carry the 2026 Skur daily.

Pocket carry with the clip
Vehicle carry
Field use
Fire prep
Batoning
Shelter setup

Yes, it is heavier than most EDC knives but that's intentional.

I like feeling my knife. Shed Knives has never been a lightweight brand. Even our Skur Light, a skeletonized version, weighs 1.6 oz and is still made from ¼-inch 154CM steel.

Everything we build is overbuilt on purpose.

Year-by-Year: One Meaningful Improvement, Every Single Year

2020: Accidental Design, Intentional Performance

Original Skur shape discovered
550 cord wrap
No lanyard hole
Hand ground, hand finished

2021: First Functional Upgrade

Added rear lanyard hole
Improved carry options

2022: Cord System Refined

Added second hole mid-handle
Total of three cord points
Last year of 550 cord wraps

2023: Structural Evolution

First year cut via waterjet
Added sharpening choil
Added spine jimping
Introduced G-10 scales (six color options)
Switched to 154CM steel
Introduced Kydex sheaths
Discontinued cord wraps permanently

2024: CNC Comes Home

Skur blank brought fully in-house
CNC milling replaced waterjet
Cleaner angles and tighter tolerances
Triangular lanyard hole introduced
Ivory white G-10 liners added
Switched from Chicago screws to black oxide Allen bolts
Laser engraving introduced

2025: Refinement Year

Flat grinds standardized
CNC grinds refined
Minor geometry and scale improvements
Learning from 2024 applied

2026: The Platform Perfected

Ambidextrous CNC-milled Kydex sheath
In-house laser engraving
Smaller, optimized triangular lanyard hole
Double milling passes on 2D contours
Cleaner grinds
Full 3D-contoured G-10 scales (top and sides)
Updated 2:1 color layer ratio
In-house heat treat
Improved packaging
Faster production
Better dealer margins

Steel Choice: Why We Stayed with 154CM

Customers ask why we don’t use MagnaCut.

Here is the honest answer.

MagnaCut was designed to beat 154CM.
In fixed blade field use, it does not justify its price.

154CM is stainless
It has sufficient carbon for hard use
It sharpens easily in the field
It is proven over decades

Bob Loveless built his reputation on 154CM. That matters.

MagnaCut excels in folding knives and corrosion-heavy environments. For fixed blades, it is significantly more expensive with minimal real-world gain.

We source steel from Niagara Specialty Metals (New York) because consistency, traceability, and reliability matter. I work with winners. Reliability is part of performance.

Manufacturing Results That Actually Matter

Before CNC:

Rejection rates: 10–15%
Inconsistent scale-to-tang fit
Waterjet taper issues

Now:

Rejection rates: ~5%
Tighter hole alignment
Better symmetry
Fewer hot spots
Safer handling
Better confidence in use

For us, CNC is not about speed.
It is about repeatability.

Who the Skur Is Built For

The Skur is not built for shelf collectors.

It is built for people who act.

It is built for campers, bushcrafters, EDC users, and field operators who want a knife that:

Carries well
Works hard
Lasts decades
Requires no excuses

I design knives for the end user in the field, not just the buyer.

Final Thoughts: Why the Skur Keeps Winning

The Skur did not become a bestseller by accident.

It earned that position by:

Solving a real carry problem
Improving every year without regression
Refusing outsourced shortcuts
Staying performance-first
Remaining American-made at every step

That is why people wait for it.
That is why they buy multiples.
That is why dealers request it.

There is no substitute.

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Explore the 2026 Skur here: https://shedknives.com/products/2026-skur

Know another outdoor enthusiast who may find value in this blog? Feel free to share the link of this blog with them so we can continue to educate & encourage our fellow outdoor & knife enthusiasts. Thank you for your support. - WJB

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About The Author:

W. Jack Billings - CEO & Founder, Shed Knives shedknives.com

Jack Billings is the 21 year old CEO and Founder of Shed Knives, a rising manufacturer of high-quality fixed blade bushcraft knives. With over 5 years of experience as a knife maker, he has developed a reputation for crafting durable, reliable knives that are designed for outdoor enthusiasts and bushcrafters alike. Jack started making knives at the age of 13 and has been refining his craft ever since.

In addition to his expertise in knife making, Jack has a High School Degree from POLYTECH High School, where he studied Automotive Technology and obtained his ASE Certification. He is also a content creator for Shed Knives and has reached the eyes of over 1,000,000 people on Shed Knives platforms across the world through his work.

When he's not working on knives, Jack enjoys exploring the outdoors and has a passion for bushcraft. He also has a passion for the automotive world and enjoys learning about new technologies and advancements. Additionally, he has a great interest in language and is studying Spanish, German, Russian, and Arabic.

Jack's personal mission is to constantly improve himself, his products, and his processes in order to stay ahead of the rapidly changing interests of the knife industry and to surpass the competition. He takes great pride in American manufacturing and is committed to contributing to the growth of the world knife industry through his work.

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