Princeton Wong
Member since 2022
Secretary 2022-2025
Address:
5702 Harrisburg Blvd
Houston, TX 77011
Phone: (832) 914-9299
Email: create@princecustoms.com
Bio
I’ve been fascinated by how things are created and what makes things work from a young age. I would take apart everything I could get my hands on while growing up, which led to an early appreciation of tools, including knives. With the added influence of martial arts training, and parents that kept me away from firearms, bladed implements became even more integral to my life.
I would always tinker on my own, but it wasn’t until I graduated high school that I got more serious about making things and purchased a small Sherline CNC mill to start teaching myself about machining. During college, performance cars were eventually the big draw that made me jump in and learn about as many fabrication techniques and tools as possible. I was fortunate to have a few friends with shops and equipment they trusted me to experiment with and had the pleasure of helping to build some of the fastest imports in those days.
My time in college led me to a design degree and I took on a career in graphics and environmental design in NY then eventually back in TX. While designing and art directing for global brands like RCI, Unilever, Boeing, and Lilly, I always had the itch to make products of my own.
After spending a couple years in Japan for my wife to gain foothold in her career path, we moved back to Texas and I decided it was time to open my own fabrication shop (Prince Customs). I started off with laser engraving firearms plus CNC machining of architectural components and automotive parts, always wanting to get into the knife world.
I signed up for Blade Show 2018 but realized just 2 months before the show I had yet to even attempt making a knife I had designed. I ordered a heat treat kiln and after a couple months of no sleep I showed up with my first design, the Daruma. It’s been a whirlwind ever since with various model releases and collaborations.
Making the most of the machinery I have in the shop, I like to push the limits of design and fabrication techniques in my knives. The high-tech arsenal currently consists of 5-axis CNC mills, live-tool lathes, 5-axis waterjet, various lasers, 3D printers, welders, and grinders.
Awards
ICCE 2021 - Most Innovative Design
ICCE 2021 - The Knifemakers Guild “Hank Rummel Award”, Best First-year Probationary Member
BladeShow 2021 - Best New Maker
BladeShow Texas 2022 - The Knifemakers Guild, Best Tactical Folder
