Meet the Maker - Mike Gibson
I grew up on a dairy in eastern Colorado, where hard work was simply part of everyday life. Later, I spent several years working on ranches, and those experiences taught me the value of having tools that are practical, dependable, and built to handle real work.
In 1993, I taught myself how to build cowboy knives by hand. I learned through patience, practice, and plenty of trial and error. What began as an interest soon grew into 9 Lazy 3 Knives.
The name 9 Lazy 3 comes from my livestock brand. I mark every knife with it because I take pride in the work that leaves my shop. To me, that brand is more than a logo, it is my promise that each knife was made with care, purpose, and attention to detail.
Many of my designs are inspired by the jobs I have seen and done throughout my years around cattle, horses, ranching, and rodeo. Some knives are created for a specific task, while others are built to be dependable everyday tools. Every knife is made by hand, one at a time, so no two are exactly alike. The natural differences in bone, horn, antler, resin, and other handle materials give each knife its own character.
In 2019, I began learning how to engrave with the help of my two sons and my daughter. Engraving allowed us to add another personal touch to our work, whether that means adding a name, livestock brand, design, or something meaningful to the person receiving the knife.
Today, my family and I live on our ranch near Cheraw, Colorado. My ranching background still influences the knives I design and build. I want every knife to be more than something that looks good—I want it to be something you can carry, use, depend on, and hopefully pass down someday.
Every knife that leaves my shop carries the 9 Lazy 3 brand, and I am proud to stand behind the craftsmanship it represents.
In 1993, I taught myself how to build cowboy knives by hand. I learned through patience, practice, and plenty of trial and error. What began as an interest soon grew into 9 Lazy 3 Knives.
The name 9 Lazy 3 comes from my livestock brand. I mark every knife with it because I take pride in the work that leaves my shop. To me, that brand is more than a logo, it is my promise that each knife was made with care, purpose, and attention to detail.
Many of my designs are inspired by the jobs I have seen and done throughout my years around cattle, horses, ranching, and rodeo. Some knives are created for a specific task, while others are built to be dependable everyday tools. Every knife is made by hand, one at a time, so no two are exactly alike. The natural differences in bone, horn, antler, resin, and other handle materials give each knife its own character.
In 2019, I began learning how to engrave with the help of my two sons and my daughter. Engraving allowed us to add another personal touch to our work, whether that means adding a name, livestock brand, design, or something meaningful to the person receiving the knife.
Today, my family and I live on our ranch near Cheraw, Colorado. My ranching background still influences the knives I design and build. I want every knife to be more than something that looks good—I want it to be something you can carry, use, depend on, and hopefully pass down someday.
Every knife that leaves my shop carries the 9 Lazy 3 brand, and I am proud to stand behind the craftsmanship it represents.