Download the Membership Application here.

Requirements for Membership

To become a Full member of the Georgia Custom Knifemakers’ Guild, an Individual must complete the Application for Membership and pay their dues. To complete their Full Membership, they must be “Juried In” by presenting (3) of their 100% handmade knives to the Board of Directors. These knifes shall be the sole work of the individual applicant. Computer Numerical Control (“CNC”) machining as well as other machining methods will disqualify the knife from being used for jurying purposes. Likewise, knives constructed form premade kits but assembled and finished by the individual do not qualify for jurying purposes. The Board of Directors will determine if the submitted knives qualify the applicant for Full Membership. All decisions of the Board of Directors shall be final.

Once Juried in, the member may produce or continue to produce knives using any technique or machinery they desire. However, members must abide by GCKG’s Standard of Conduct which requires, among other things, that members honestly display and represent their work based on its method of manufacture. The Guild recognizes that the term “Handmade Knife” is difficult to define and subject to varying interpretations, but holds that, at a minimum, it requires that a maker personally grind, forge, or knap the blade and honestly disclose how each component is produced. The Board of Directors shall have the ultimate decision as to whether a knife is “handmade” for purposes of consideration for Full membership in the Guild and determination of whether a Member has complied with the Guild’s Standard of Conduct.


There are five (5) classes of membership. Except as otherwise provided herein, membership in each class shall be granted by, and at the discretion of, the Board of Directors to individuals who fulfill the qualifications set forth below. All members are bound by the By-Laws, rules and regulations of the Guild. Voting members shall be entitled to one vote per membership.

Full Members

  1. A Full Member must be a knife maker by stock removal or bladesmithing, that has had three (3) pieces of his work evaluated by the Board and been accepted in accordance with the criteria that are set out above.
  2. A Full Member does not have to be a Georgia resident.
  3. Full Members may hold elected offices and serve on the Board.
  4. A Full Member has full voting rights.

Download the Membership Application here.

Affiliate Members

  1. An Affiliate Member is an organization (not an individual) which shares one or more common interest with Members of Guild and/or the topics which are addressed at Guild meetings.
  2. An Affiliate Member does not have to reside in Georgia.
  3. An Affiliate Member may not hold elected offices or serve on the Board.
  4. An Affiliate Member has no voting rights.
  5. Affiliate Members must be approved by the Board of Directors.

Probationary Members

  1. A Probationary Member is someone who has expressed interest in becoming a Member and has paid dues and submitted one or more knives to the Board for evaluation but who has not yet been accepted for membership. If submissions by an applicant have been rejected for any reason, probationary members are encouraged to submit additional knives for consideration by the Board.
  2. A Probationary Member moves to Full Membership immediately upon acceptance of his work and payment of applicable dues.
  3. A Probationary Member does not have voting rights.

Youth Member

  1. A Youth Member must be under the age of 19 years of age. Upon reaching 19 years of age, the Youth Member must move into one of the above categories.
  2. A Youth Member does not have to reside in Georgia.
  3. A Youth Member may not hold an elected office or serve on the Board of Directors.
  4. A Youth Member does not have voting rights.

Dues
Membership dues are per calendar year and are payable by the first regular Guild meeting of each year.

Full/Probationary Members–$60

Senior – Full/Probationary Members 70 Years of older as of January 1-$25

Affiliate Members————-$50.00

Youth Members—————-$30.00

Failure to pay dues, and continued failure to pay same after written request for same from the
Guild, shall be grounds for termination of Membership in the Guild. All dues shall be
deposited by the Guild in one or more bank accounts in the name of the Guild and no dues
will be deposited in an account belonging to any other individual or entity.