{"id":1614,"date":"2016-11-17T16:33:53","date_gmt":"2016-11-17T16:33:53","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2021-08-03T16:41:04","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T16:41:04","slug":"meet-maker-zieba-knives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/meet-maker-zieba-knives\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Maker: Zieba Knives"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Michael Zieba<\/a> was 11 years old, he found himself lusting after a pair of Adidas \u2014 decidedly different footwear from the more practical shoes his parents had been eyeing for the upcoming school year. So, Michael\u2019s father encouraged him to work at his furniture factory to help him earn spending money.<\/p>\n

At first, Michael assisted with small tasks like sweeping and folding blankets, over time taking on larger responsibilities like carrying wood, transporting furniture, and, ultimately, crafting his own furniture designs.  <\/p>\n

\u201cDoing something by hand was always something that I loved,\u201d says Michael.<\/p>\n

Today, Michael is a knifemaker and owner of Zieba Knives<\/a> in Brooklyn, New York. Shinola and Zieba Knives collaborated to create an MS3 Style Manhattan Pocket Knife with a M390 stainless steel\u202fblade<\/a>, a \u202fdurable custom grey titanium \u202fbody and blue anodized parts. It is\u202f guaranteed by\u202f Zieba\u202f New York against flaws in craftsmanship.<\/p>\n

Read more about Michael\u2019s journey immigrating from Poland to Brooklyn, New York, and starting his own business below.<\/p>\n

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Shop the MS3 Style Manhattan Pocket Knife<\/a> (pictured above)<\/p>\n

After immigrating to America at age 18 in 2005, Michael took on various carpentry and metal work jobs, teaching himself industrial design and mechanics along the way. Still, he continued to be drawn to knifemaking, which he attributes to his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was a little kid, he didn\u2019t want me to own a knife,\u201d recalls MIke, who was eager to grow a collection. “For me, it’s not a weapon \u2014 it’s a tool.”<\/p>\n

When the merchandise manager at Harley-Davidson of New York City offered to buy a dozen of Michael\u2019s knives and all 12 sold, Michael knew it was time to follow the siren call of knifemaking. He began developing new designs and investing in steel from Aldo Bruno of New Jersey Steel Baron, LLC.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the steel is good, then the knife is good,\u201d Michael says.<\/p>\n

In March 2016, he officially launched Zieba Knives as a way to carve his own niche in the industry. \u201cI don\u2019t want to copy anybody,\u201d says Michael, who was recognized as the Best New Maker<\/a> at the 2016 Blade Show.<\/p>\n

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Shop the MS3 Style Manhattan Pocket Knife<\/a> (pictured above)<\/p>\n

He stays motivated by the unexpected \u2014 think titanium and aluminum plating, antique copper and bronze finishing, and jewelry techniques.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s more important to be unique and make something special,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Zieba Knives are at Shinola for the second year in a row, which Michael says was a conscious decision to partner with a brand that doesn’t compromise on quality.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s more sophisticated than other brands,\u201d Michael says of Shinola\u2019s classic aesthetic, which he was drawn to after first seeing the label\u2019s billboards in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I like about Shinola is that they approached me and they said, \u2018We\u2019re looking for quality product made here.\u2019\u201dAs it is for Shinola, community is also of utmost importance for Michael. Zeiba Knives\u2019 workshop is based in Greenpoint, and as an active member in Brooklyn\u2019s Chamber of Commerce, Michael is proud that his company has achieved Brooklyn-Made certification at the highest level.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis country gave me everything,\u201d says the father of three, who\u2019s passionate about sourcing materials from American-owned and operated companies.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to contribute something for my community, and I believe we\u2019ve got to stick together.\u201d It might be a premium investment, but it\u2019s one he believes in wholeheartedly. \u201cWe\u2019re making our future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shop the MS3 Style Manhattan Pocket Knife<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Michael Zieba was 11 years old, he found himself lusting after a pair of Adidas \u2014 decidedly different footwear from the more practical shoes his parents had been eyeing for the upcoming school year. So, Michael\u2019s father encouraged him to work at his furniture factory to help him earn spending money. At first, Michael […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[7,19],"yoast_head":"\nMeet the Maker: Zieba Knives - Our Stories<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/meet-maker-zieba-knives\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Meet the Maker: Zieba Knives - Our Stories\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When Michael Zieba was 11 years old, he found himself lusting after a pair of Adidas \u2014 decidedly different footwear from the more practical shoes his parents had been eyeing for the upcoming school year. 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