About the Maker | Kraken's Key Trading Company

Hey, I'm Ruben, the founder and sole crafter behind Kraken's Key Trading Company. I work out of my small shop right here in York, Pennsylvania, fueled by a mild obsession with everyday carry gear, hopes and dreams. When I'm not working on leather, you can usually find me deep into a coding project, keeping up with the latest tech, or spending time with my wife and kids.

Portrait of Ruben

How My Leathercraft Journey Began

I've carried gear in my pockets for as long as I can remember. I was a Cub and Boy Scout growing up, which instilled a sense of "being prepared". At a minimum that meant always having a good knife on me.

About six or seven years ago, I noticed my phone screen was getting scratched from rubbing against other gear in my pockets. As a software developer, I'm a problem solver at heart. I saw an issue and thought, 'How do I prevent this?' So, I bought some cheap leather, a few basic tools, and some dye, and got started experimenting to make my own pocket organizers and knife slips.

A few years into making leather gear for myself, I got my hands on some good quality leather and really started dialing in my fundamentals. Over time, I realized I could get consistent, high-quality results by designing and making my own templates. My wife encouraged me to turn it into a business, and she even helped me come up with the name.

The Workbench: Crafting Heritage EDC Gear

My philosophy at the workbench is simple: gear needs to be functional, durable, and good-looking. I primarily craft with premium vegetable-tanned leathers from Wickett & Craig, and I have also incorporated exceptional Italian hides like Badalassi Carlo Pueblo. To pull it all together, I rely on Maine Thread Company's braided waxed cord.

Every piece that leaves my shop is 100% hand-stitched and hand-finished. I don't take shortcuts. Before I even consider adding a new design to the store, it goes through rigorous testing and multiple iterations. In fact, if you empty my pockets right now, you will find the battered first prototypes of the gear I currently sell and the ones I plan to release next. I carry them every single day to guarantee they hold up to real-world use before they ever make it to yours.

Top-down image of maker's pocket dump

My Personal Daily Carry (Pocket Dump)

Because I am always testing new concepts and refining my gear, my daily carry is a mix of trusted staples and Kraken's Key Trading Company prototypes. Here is exactly what I am carrying right now:

  • Wallet & Organizer: I am currently testing our "Captain's Wallet" prototype alongside the "Boatswain V2" pocket organizer prototype (name pending).

  • Inside the Organizer: The Boatswain holds my Case Sowbelly Stockman (Pocket Worn Crandall Jig Gray Bone in Carbon Steel), a Big I Design brass bolt action mini pen, and a Reylight Pineapple Mini.

  • Belt Knives: On my waist, I carry a Battle Horse Knives Woodsman (natural canvas micarta, O1 tool steel) in a horizontal sheath I made just for myself, along with a Buck 250 Saunter (OD micarta) in a custom pancake sheath.

  • Multitool: A Leatherman Arc riding in a first-iteration horizontal carry sheath I built. I am actually reworking this design right now to make it production-friendly so I can offer it in the shop soon.

  • Extras: An Olight Baton 4 Pro in green, plus a custom hank I made on my sewing machine with cotton on one side and a microfiber cloth on the other.