GET TO KNOW ME

THE PAST:

My name is Paul, and I am an artist, graphic designer, musician, and knife enthusiast.

There's a lot to be said about working on projects you love. Finding something you are passionate about and turning it into not just a source of self-fulfillment but also a way to make new friends, learn new things, and create something tangible from what started as a simple idea. It just never gets old.

Ever since I was a kid, I have been fascinated with just about anything with a blade. My dad always had a toolbox full of pocket knives, and I would see him use them for various things around the house every single day. Some of these knives were great, some ancient, and some even came straight out of a gas station display case.

It was never about the "what"; it was about the "why."

I learned at a young age the utility a pocket knife could bring into your life. It made things easier in ways that you really don't think about until you have one in your pocket on a daily basis.

Not only were they useful, but they were also fun. I cringe at the memories of me and my friends trying to throw pocket knives into a piece of wood. Still, it didn't matter. It was the "why," and the reason why was that we were having the time of our lives.

Sometimes my dad and I would whittle sticks into spikes for no other reason than to enjoy the process from beginning to end. We would sit in the backyard, talk, and bring fresh sticks to a point. Did we do anything with them? No, but that wasn't the purpose. We did it because the process itself was fulfilling. As cliché as it may be, it really is not about the destination. It's about how you get there.

Even now, thinking about the process of designing a knife, it feels strangely similar. Starting with a rough idea and refining, whittling down, closing the gaps, and ending up with something useful.

THE PRESENT:

My interest in knives waned during my teenage years, but for some reason, in a truck stop while on a 16-hour road trip, the intrigue was sparked again. On the whole ride home, I was researching pocket knives, learning about what makes a good knife, what makes good steel, and what was the best first knife for someone like me to buy. By the time I got home, I had ordered my first pocket knife, and the collection only grew from there.

That's when I learned how amazing the knife-collecting community is. I found collectors, creators, and even started speaking with designers and manufacturers about their work and how their ideas came to be.

I was fortunate enough to collaborate with many of these people by creating artwork for their brands and audiences. Eventually, I was convinced to try my hand at designing a knife. Kizer picked up the Comet, and the rest followed shortly after.work and how their ideas came to be.

I was fortunate enough to collaborate with many of these people, by creating artwork and for their brands and audiences. Eventually, I was convinced to try my hand at designing a knife. Kizer picked up the Comet, and the rest followed shortly after.

I have sincerely enjoyed my time in the knife community so far, and I look forward to many more years of designing, tinkering, and collaborating with all of the people I am lucky to call friends in the space.

Thank you to everyone reading this who supports me and what I do. The collectors, the collaborators, the reviewers, and those who simply leave a comment when my posts scroll by. You keep me motivated and make every day in this industry unique, exciting, and worth it. I couldn't do it without you!

-Paul Munko

INTERVIEWS

ARE YOU THAT COLORFUL FILTH GUY?

Yes I am! Before I got into knife design, I did a lot of artwork for knife designers and knife makers under the name "Colorful Filth". I've also done many collaborations with Northern Knives, which you may have seen before. To see more of my artwork, click below!