Bio

Greetings Grinders,

I am Kolter Livengood, my old kitchen brethren call me “Train”, that's where the logo comes from. Those with a keen eye will see the last tie is crooked, you see, the train went off track around 2019.

I left my restaurant partnership to pursue a concept I had come up with that would require the grind of my life, a solo endeavor where I would host parties of 6 by myself twice a night. What I discovered while visualizing what this concept would take from me physically and mentally, I realized I had zero passion for giving my life away one bite at a time. I had recently rediscovered my health as a shit but passionate boxer, and the thought of growing increasingly unhealthy working 16 hours a day was rather unattractive. 

Then covid happened, established chef-rauntures were losing everything, and I knew all hopes of my future in the industry in Chicago were gone. I escaped back home to Dallas, Texas. I sold my epic chef knife collection to take a year off to run some ultra marathons. Worked at a dog prison / daycare, then landed in construction as an electrician. I'm studying for my journeyman's test for 2025. We build homes for billionaires, it's kinda disgusting, but interesting. 

February 2024 I decided to chase my actual dream. I demoed my garage, added a lot of lighting and receptacles, installed HVAC, spray foam insulated it myself, built a wall for a small grinding room, painted it all white, built some shelves and workbenches, and finally bought a bunch of tools I didn't know how to use. I've been working 7 days a week since this all started, on top of a full training schedule in the climbing gym, it's been a grind, but that's what you are here for. 

Now I make chef knives in whatever style I feel like will challenge my skill set and inspire curiosity. “Is that even functional?”...well sir, that really depends on you. Concept knives are what I like to call them, Art knives that can still function if you want them to. They are not going to be for everyone, and that's ok. 

“One small step for me, One giant leap through my mind, I am dedicated to the grind” 

“Neil Armstrong” 

Kolter Livengood