Saratoga Business Journal
By Jill Nagy
Gabriel Frankewich bills himself as the Blade Doctor and tries to bring military precision to sharpening knives, blades, and surgical tools. Headquartered in several former garages in Ballston Lake, he does most of his work from his van
“I am in my van almost all day,” he said, bringing the business to the customer. He brings some very large jobs back to his shop. He describes himself as “detail oriented. . . . a little on the perfectionist side.” He attributes that to his military training and experience as an MP.
He covers a broad area, roughly from Lake George to the Catskills.
As a boy, he was fascinated by his grandfather’s grindstone and began grinding everything he could lay his hands on, including a shovel. His grandfather taught him how to use the grindstone properly and he was off to a lifetime of grinding and sharpening. In the military, he sharpened his buddies’ pocket knives. Later, when living in Israel, he spent so much time sharpening knives and utensils for other people that his father suggested that he make a business out of it. So, he did. He had a sharpening business in Tel Aviv, Israel, for three years before returning to the United States seven years ago.
Much of Frankewich’s current work consists of sharpening the surgical tools of area dentists, doctors, and orthodontists. He said that he wants to do more of that kind of work and that he expects, in another two years or so, to do that exclusively.
He has also done some training, including an eight-hour course for beauticians, teaching them how to properly sharpen their shears.
Right now, the Blade Doctor is a solo operation. Although he trained a few potential employees, Frankewich did not hire any of them because, he said, he did not like their attitudes. He is looking for people who place more emphasis on doing the job right than on just earning a paycheck.
In addition to the sharpening business, Frankewich is in his second year as a beekeeper. He and his younger son keep their hives on land he owns in Charlton where he hopes to build in the future. He gives away the honey.
To make an appointment for the Blade Doctor to come to you, call Frankewich at 518-813-3664.