Kitchens, Knives & KUFs: The Rise of Liong Mah Designs

The Story of Liong Mah Designs and Eutektik Knives

Liong Mah is a name known in the knife community for creating stylish, high-performance folding knives. But before he was a knife designer, he was a chef—and that early career in the kitchen inspired some of his most well-known creations today.

Liong was born in Penang, Malaysia, and moved with his family to New York City in 1983. He attended school in Queens, went on to Franklin K. Lane High School, and later received a full scholarship for culinary studies at New York City Technical College. From the age of 14, he was already working in kitchens and eventually focused on French cuisine. But behind the stove, another passion was quietly growing—his love for knives.

Even as a kid, Liong was fascinated by pocket knives. His uncle would give him knives, and he carried one with him everywhere—even to school. It wasn’t about danger. It was about convenience. He began sketching ideas for improved knives in his school notebooks and studying every knife magazine he could get his hands on. Over time, he discovered the world of knife shows and the community of custom knife makers who craft knives by hand. Inspired, he began approaching makers with his own designs. After some time and persistence, a few even agreed to work with him. This marked the beginning of Liong’s journey as a knife designer.

For years, Liong juggled long hours in high-end kitchens while continuing to network with custom knife makers to refine his designs. He started collaborating with them, turning his ideas into physical knives. Eventually, he pitched one of his designs, a unique spork and multi-tool, to Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT). At first, they were unsure. But they saw the potential and gave him a contract. That tool became known as the Eat’n Tool, a clever and practical item for campers and backpackers.

Still, Liong had a bigger dream—to create his own knife brand that focused on custom-level quality. He wanted to produce high-end knives that weren’t just functional, but also beautiful and built to last. However, many companies didn’t see the value in high-end production knives, and kept closing the door. Just when he was ready to give up, he discovered Reate, a new knife manufacturer in China. Reate’s photos showed its excellent craftsmanship and premium material selection. After six months of back-and-forth conversations, the company agreed to produce samples of Liong’s Warrior One design. The results were beyond what he expected—the fit and finish were nearly perfect. That was the start of a partnership that has lasted over a decade and helped launch Liong Mah Designs into the spotlight.

One of Liong Mah’s most popular knives, the KUF 3.5, is part of his Kitchen Utility Folder series. The original KUF was the first folding kitchen-style knife of its kind. Liong designed it using his background in the culinary world. He wanted a folding knife that could perform like a chef’s knife but still be compact enough for everyday carry or camping.

The KUF features a low edge, which is ideal for slicing, and a flat ground blade with a thin edge that makes food prep a breeze. One clever detail is the opening hole in the blade that is positioned so that it doesn’t interfere when slicing cheese or other foods. The KUF 3.5 is considered the best version yet. The handle is designed with sculpted curves that fit naturally in the hand, and the clip is positioned so it won’t create hot spots during use. It’s a tool you’ll want to keep using, whether you’re in the kitchen or out in the woods.

Despite the success of Liong Mah Designs, Liong wanted to do more. He noticed that high-quality knives often came with high price tags, making them inaccessible to many people. That’s what led him to create Eutektik—a more affordable line that still maintains strong design and reliable function. With Eutektik, Liong aims to make thoughtful knife design available to more people without sacrificing performance.

Liong Mah’s journey from chef to designer shows how passion, persistence, and creativity can turn a simple interest into a lifelong career. Whether you’re slicing food by a campfire or opening a box at home, his knives are built to perform—and they carry a story in every curve and cut.

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