Starting with the Swiss Army knife his dad gave him as a child, Jorge Almedina has long been fascinated with the craftsmanship of knives. A 2020 visit to a small knife retailer in Monument inspired him to pursue it as a side project while serving in the U.S. Army. Almedina later purchased the shop’s remaining inventory and taught himself marketing, photography and web design. Following an unexpected medical discharge, he opened Apex Knife Co. as a specialty shop in Colorado Springs.
Almedina’s passion for metallurgy, blade geometry and the challenge of creating the perfect edge shapes the shopping experience in his store. In contrast to what might happen in big-box retailers, Apex customers are encouraged to compare different steel types, handle knives before purchasing and learn how to care for them. Every knife is hand sharpened to the customer's preferences, a level of service that simply can't be replicated by automated sharpening systems.
Some of the shop's most meaningful work isn't selling new knives—it's restoring old ones. Forgotten cutlery, like a kitchen knife used to prepare dinners for many generations, is returned to life after careful restoration. Apex not only preserves a knife’s functionality but also its memories.
"My favorite knives to work on are those that have a backstory or sentimental value," Almedina says. "We get so many knives that have not been used in years due to their condition, but customers didn’t want to get rid of them because their grandma or someone else used them for 50 years to make their favorite meals. The smiles we get when a knife goes from a rusty piece of metal to something they can use themselves are always a pleasure. "
Today, Apex attracts professional chefs, home cooks, outdoor enthusiasts, collectors and anyone who appreciates quality tools. The shop has grown to provide sharpening services, engraving and restoration. Soon, Almedina will offer knife skills classes designed to help customers confidently use and maintain their investment. He also plans to collaborate with Golden-based cutlery company Spyderco on future products and to introduce an exclusive line of Colorado-made kitchen knives.
Apex Knife Co.
5910 Stetson Hills Blvd., Suite 120
719.900.7974
apexknifeco.com