In early 2019, Andrew discovered the balisong community and quickly became obsessed with flipping and collecting. Before long, he began experimenting with modding his own knives, and soon after, those of friends within the community. Modding only deepened Andrew’s passion for knives, leading him to make the difficult decision to drop out of college and pursue the craft full-time.

He was hired by a knife company in Phoenix, Arizona, where he learned how to hand-grind blades and work at a production level. Over time, he became responsible for all finishing and anodizing, developing valuable professional skills. While working there, Andrew started AMKW on the side, using his newly acquired expertise to mod knives. His work gained a strong following, but balancing a full-time job with a rapidly growing side business became unsustainable.

Ultimately, Andrew left the company and moved back home. Within a year, he and his father, Tim, released the AEON. Andrew’s first knife design was an immediate success, setting them on a path of growth that led to the purchase of a CNC mill and the transition to producing all parts in-house.