AKTI’s survey of knife industry shows effects of tariffs

Costs expected to rise as a consequence of trade policy

“The upshot is that overwhelmingly, the majority of knife makers, not just importers, are seeing the cost of doing business increasing.”— Mark Schreiber, AKTI Industry Support Committee

The American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) today released the results of its 2025 industry-wide survey, confirming that tariffs represent a threat to the financial stability and market performance of U.S. knife manufacturers, retailers, and importers. The survey of industry stakeholders found overwhelming consensus that the current tariff structure is leading directly to increased operating costs, higher consumer prices, and a measurable decrease in sales.

The online survey, which concluded in early October 2025, gathered input from 50 participants, including leading manufacturers, custom makers, retailers, and importers. Key findings paint a clear picture of an industry struggling under the weight of trade policy:
* 90% of respondents believe the tariffs will increase the overall cost of knives and related products.
* 66% of respondents anticipate passing these increased costs directly to consumers, while an additional 20% are still undecided, suggesting that consumer prices are likely to climb further.
* 81% of respondents have already observed a significant change in consumer behavior, overwhelmingly reporting a demonstrable decrease in sales volume.
* 77% of industry participants believe the recent tariff increases will negatively affect the American knife industry.

“These numbers are a stark warning that the evolving tariff structure may inflict unintended damage on the knife industry as a whole,” said Mark Schreiber, President of CRKT and chair of AKTI’s Industry Support Committee. “The knife industry relies on materials and machinery that are not readily available domestically. The upshot is that overwhelmingly, the majority of knife makers, not just importers, are seeing the cost of doing business increasing.”

The results of AKTI’s surveys highlight a critical disconnect: trade policies intended to promote domestic manufacturing are instead damaging the financial health of the companies they are intended to support, while immediately impacting consumer affordability and market demand.

AKTI urges policymakers to review these findings and consider alternatives that support the growth and stability of the American knife and edged tool industry, rather than imposing costs that erode competitiveness and burden consumers.

Click here to see the results of the survey.

Jan Billeb
American Knife & Tool Institute
+1 307-587-8296