Throughout the history of our species, we have formed ourselves into societies large and small. The largest of these societies is the empire, with few empires as iconic as the Roman Empire. Founded in the 7th Century BC, this Empire was a dominating force on the world stage for nearly a thousand years until its fall in the 5th Century AD. When we conjure imagery of the Roman Empire, what often comes to mind is its legionnaires and its gladiators, and we can scarcely consider either without thinking of their weapons. Chief among the swords of the Roman Empire is the gladius, followed by the spa ..read more

The Roman Empire is such an icon of human history that it hardly requires any introduction. And among its deep and rich imagery, two warriors stand out as icons of ancient Rome, the legionnaire, and the gladiator. And of these iconic warriors, nothing is perhaps more symbolic than their sword, the Roman gladius. What is a gladius sword? Most will envision the sword carried by Russell Crowe’s Maximus in the film ‘Gladiator’ from the year 2000. In actual fact, this sword represents a variant, and there are many more to choose from. During the Punic Wars in the 3rd and 2nd Centuries BCE, the fear ..read more

I earned the title of Master Bladesmith, usually shortened to Master Smith, in 2019, joining a short list of top rated makers. Though the chef knife is my most popular knife, as a Master Bladesmith I am equipped with the skills to tackle just about any project. The American Bladesmith Society has only awarded the rank to 144 individuals since its inception.  How did I become a Master Bladesmith? A smith must pass two tests to earn the title, a performance test and a presentation test. These two tests together demonstrate that the smith has both the technical know-how and the artistic abil ..read more

If you are paying any attention to the world of handmade knives, you will know that the best knife is a damascus knife. Be it a chef knife or a hunter, a letter opener, or a longsword, damascus knives are at the top of the heap. As a custom knife maker, I make little else, and over more than 15 years of work, I have had some favorites.  Pick 1 Though it may not be my best damascus chef knife, the first standout is the one that turned out to be the initial prototype for what has become my signature knife. I based my design on the knives I reached for the most in my own kitchen, seeking to ..read more

For centuries and more, elevated craft has been the domain of apprentices, journeymen, and masters. Over time, many craftsmen organized themselves into guilds or associations, with formalized structures for how to advance in rank. An apprentice could become a journeyman when his master deemed that he had sufficient skill to journey around and ply his trade beyond the master’s direct control. When a journeyman was ready to become a master himself, he had to submit work to demonstrate his worthiness. This often came in the form of a single piece, and this is where the term “masterpiece” comes fr ..read more

I have always found the term “hunting knife” somewhat irksome. It tends to be used as a vague catchall for any sort of small to medium sized knife that doesn’t specifically fit into any other category. While knives of this size are ideally suited to the work demanded of a knife that is used for hunting, more often than not there is nothing about it that makes it unsuited for anything else.  When I display my work at shows, a question I get more often than I would expect is, “what do you do with these?” My answer is always the same: “cut stuff!” After all, that is what any knife is for, by ..read more

Swords have been a part of our history for more than 5,000 years. For much of that time—in fact up until only the last century or so—the sword has served dual roles as both an object of function and deadly purpose, and also as an object of ceremony and symbolism. Although they clearly play less of a part in modern society, it is worth asking the question of why someone might want to own a custom sword today.   Much of my thinking on this topic has been developed in conversation with renowned swordsmith Peter Johnsson, a dear friend and close colleague. He is widely regarded as the finest ..read more

    There are plenty of details to factor in when considering what makes a good chef knife. As a professional knife maker or blade smith, I have spent more than a decade tuning the details of my own signature chef knife. Tucked away in rural New Hampshire, I have developed a design that is a unique blend of French, German, and Japanese style knives. Let’s take a look at some of the factors that make these knives so special.   The Fit   You have to be able to hold it comfortably, and when you’re holding it comfortably, the edge must present in a natural and ergonomic way. Th ..read more

What Makes A Good Chef’s Knife?   There are plenty of details to factor in when considering what makes a good chef knife. As a professional knife maker or blade smith, I have spent more than a decade tuning the details of my own signature chef knife. Tucked away in rural New Hampshire, I have developed a design that is a unique blend of French, German, and Japanese style knives. Let’s take a look at some of the factors that make these knives so special.   The Fit   You have to be able to hold it comfortably, and when you’re holding it comfortably, the edge must present in a natu ..read more

If you are paying any attention to the world of handmade knives, you will know that the best knife is a damascus knife. Be it a chef knife or a hunter, a letter opener, or a longsword, damascus knives are at the top of the heap. As a custom knife maker, I make little else, and over more than 15 years of work, I have had some favorites.    Pick 1   Though it may not be my best damascus chef knife, the first standout is the one that turned out to be the initial prototype for what has become my signature knife. I based my design on the knives I reached for the most in my own kitche ..read more