STEELPORT Knife Co. is dedicated to reintroducing American-forged carbon steel cutlery, combining iconic design with functional detail. Using all US-sourced materials, each STEELPORT knife is handcrafted in Portland, Oregon.
Backed by a lifetime guarantee and their SharpForever™ free sharpening for life service, STEELPORT’s heirloom quality knives help create treasured memories and family traditions in the kitchen.
Founding Story
STEELPORT Founders:
Ron Khormaei, Founder and CEO
Dr. Ron Khormaei received his engineering Ph.D. from Oregon State University and has been active in local businesses over the past 30 years. He worked in executive roles with multiple international companies growing global engineering and manufacturing teams. He continues to mentor other entrepreneurs and serves in faculty roles at both Oregon State University and Portland State University. His strong belief in the value and strength of local manufacturing led him to be a co-founder of FINEX Cast Iron cookware in 2012. The success of this premium American-made cookware product highlighted the missing value of an American premium cutlery choice and the opportunity for another Modern Heirloom offering in the kitchens.
Eytan Zias, Co-founder and Bladesmith
Eytan Zias’ career began as a busboy, and he rose through the kitchen ranks in New York City, before moving to Scottsdale, Arizona. His love of the art and craft of cooking guided him to start sharpening knives for himself and friends, and then to open up a sharpening and retail shop in 2007. He channeled his passion for knives into learning forging techniques and has pursued the art for the last 10 years. As an expert in the field, he guides chefs to the best knives and has heard all the shortcomings of available knives. STEELPORT has been the culmination of all the best features a chef would want in their ultimate kitchen tool.
“After 25 years of sharpening, using, selling, and making knives, we’ve created the knife that I would want to use for myself.”
Eytan Zias, Co-founder and Bladesmith
How STEELPORT Started
Seeing what was available, Eytan and Ron were frustrated that there were no high quality kitchen knives widely available, when they knew that America had the capability of making true modern heirloom cutlery. first knife, the 8” Chef Knife, was released in 2021, receiving positive reviews from customers, chefs and the media. STEELPORT continues to expand, and offers a full set of handcrafted carbon steel cutlery and accessories.
Our Promise
STEELPORT Knife Co. believes in craftsmanship without compromise. Each knife we produce has a beautiful individuality only found in handcrafted products that use natural materials. No two wooden handles or blades can have identical grain patterns, and each knife will patina a little differently over time, telling a story of all the meals it has helped prepare. We hold every product we make to unwavering, extremely high quality standards, backed by a Lifetime Warranty to cover all STEELPORT products through proper use. We are also proud to offer the STEELPORT SharpForever program, which provides free STEELPORT knife sharpening for life. Our Lifetime Warranty and SharpForever program were created to provide our customers total coverage, convenience and care of their premium American handcrafted kitchen knives. As a STEELPORT knife owner, not only are you covered for life, you are also cared for life. Our customers invest in a STEELPORT – for themselves or as a gift – with the knowledge and confidence that a STEELPORT is an heirloom quality knife that will help create treasured memories and family traditions in the kitchen for a lifetime of use. View Products
Eytan Zias’ career began as a busboy, and he rose through the kitchen ranks in New York City, and then attending culinary school in Arizona. He worked at Craft Bar, Le Cote Basque and Fiamma Osteria in NYC, then moved to Phoenix to help open Fiamma Trattoria at the James Hotel, and stayed to work at Kai, the only 5 Star/5 Diamond property in Arizona. Eytan initially developed an interest in cutlery out of necessity in the kitchen, but quickly found knife-work to be his favorite part of the day, and sharpening to be his way to relax and compose his thoughts. After a ten year cooking career, he opened the Phoenix Knife House in 2007, creating the go-to place for the culinary community and home cooks alike to purchase and learn about knives. In 2014, he relocated to Portland, Oregon with his family and opened a second outpost of Knife House. His two shops contain one of the largest collections of kitchen knives of any independently owned store in the country. During all of this, Eytan was simultaneously pursuing a personal passion for knife making, studying and experimenting with steel properties, blade geometry and traditional forging techniques. He channeled his passion for knives into learning forging techniques and has pursued the art for the last 15 years. With 30 years of experience using, sharpening, selling and making knifes, Eytan is expert in the field. STEELPORT has been the culmination of all of his experience an understanding of the best features a chef would want in their ultimate kitchen tool.
“After 25 years of sharpening, using, selling, and making knives, we’ve created the knife that I would want to use for myself.”
Eytan Zias, Co-founder and Bladesmith
Ron Khormaei
Founder & CEO
see bio
STEELPORT Founder/CEO, Dr. Ron Khormaei (PhD) is Iranian-born (Persian), and left his home at 15 alone, ending up here in Oregon where he finished high school - cooking at home was always a way for him to feel connected to his roots and family from afar. He is a lifelong entrepreneur who uses his vast corporate leadership experience - including 15 years in executive roles at global technology brands HP and Logitech, as well as several CEO and VP of Engineering roles at smaller NW companies - to provide business and operations consulting to growing companies, and Co-found successful startups of his own, including premium cookware brand FINEX Cast Iron Cookware Co. in 2012. Ron earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Oregon State University in 1995 and has maintained a strong academic connection over the last decade. He has taught graduate-level courses at universities including Oregon State, UC-Riverside, and Portland State University, and has been an Associate Professor at Portland State University for over a decade with courses and research in technology management, strategic planning and new product development. He has been awarded 2012 OSU Academy of Distinguished Engineers recognition, published over 30 papers, and has 15 US patents. The success of this premium American-made cookware product FINEX highlighted the missing value of an American premium cutlery choice, and the opportunity for another Modern Heirloom offering in the kitchens, founding STEELPORT Knife Co. with his business partner and Bladesmith Eytan Zias in spring of 2020.
