Meet Tim Gelnett: A Knife Steel Expert Who Built His Career from the Ground Up

When you buy or make a knife, you’re relying on the steel at its core. Behind every premium blade is a team of people who know how to make steel perform, and one of those people is knife steel expert Tim Gelnett.

Tim’s journey at Niagara Specialty Metals didn’t start in the executive office. It began on the shop floor, cutting scrap and working side by side with mill operators. Over the years, he learned not just how steel is rolled, but also how to connect with customers and help them choose the right material for their knives.

From Intern to Knife Steel Expert

Tim was a student at the University at Buffalo when he first joined Niagara as an intern. “I was just trying to get something on my résumé,” he recalled. “I started working here, cutting scrap—nothing glamorous—but it was a start.”

That start turned into a career. As openings came up, Tim took on more responsibility. He worked as a roller—one of the toughest jobs in the mill. He didn’t just roll steel; he studied it, perfected processes, and focused on precision. “Gauge control was always the problem, and we figured out how to make it near perfect. If I got a piece undersized, it would bother me for days.”

That commitment to quality and learning transformed him into the knife steel expert customers trust today.

Building Relationships Through Steel

For Tim, steel is about more than numbers on a spec sheet—it’s about relationships. “I always wanted to be more of a sponge than a spoiled college kid walking through a manufacturing plant,” he said. “I wanted people to know that I cared.”

That attitude helped him earn respect from seasoned operators and customers alike. Over the years, Tim became known not only for his technical knowledge but also for his willingness to educate. “I consider us the masters of the knife market. It’s our job to educate and support makers so they know the difference between one grade and another.”

Passion for Knife Steel and Blade Steel

Today, Tim focuses much of his expertise on knife steel and blade steel, guiding makers through the rapidly growing array of available options. From entry-level grades to advanced PM steels, he helps match each application with the right material.

He’s particularly proud of steels like MagnaCut, which balance toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. “MagnaCut gives you almost the best of all three. For a while there, I was selling 30,000 pounds a month. It’s amazing to know how many knives are made, and that’s just one grade.”

Supporting Small Makers and Big Brands

One of Tim’s priorities as a knife steel expert is making sure small shops aren’t left behind. “A lot of the small guys don’t like calling distributors because they feel like they won’t get serviced,” he explained. “That’s why it’s so important they have someone to call directly.”

Whether you’re producing a handful of custom blades or thousands of production knives, Tim believes you should have access to the same high-performance steels—and the knowledge to use them well.

Final Thoughts

Tim Gelnett’s story is proof that expertise isn’t built overnight. From rolling steel to educating knife makers, he has become a trusted knife steel expert whose work influences countless blades in pockets, kitchens, and workshops around the world.

Tim says, “It is my job to guide our customers to the best grade that matches how they are using their knife to achieve wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and toughness. We are not the knife maker, so once they get into further details of working with certain grades after heat treatment, the knife maker learns what is easiest to work with versus other grades. I help them select the best grade, but we don’t necessarily make the knife where other questions may appear with further processing down the line.”

If you want knives that perform, it helps to have someone like Tim in your corner—a partner who understands steel inside and out and is committed to helping you make the best choices for your blades.