One of the draws of this type of craftsmanship is the deeply ingrained appreciation for ‘real’ and natural materials and simple methods. Many of the shop operations depend on human power and handwork. The charcoal fuel for forging is made from reclaimed… Continue reading
Inspired by the Japanese art of swordsmithing, Dave began making knives in 1990. His approach brings together a fusion of cultural and artistic styles from his experiences in Africa, North America, and Asia. Highlighting the potential for creative transformation in discarded objects,… Continue reading
1992 marked the completion of an intense short-term foundation course under a skilled career blacksmith. The next decade was focused on furthering the skill set for creating chandeliers, furniture, utensils, candle holders, and other useful decorative items while developing knifemaking skills on… Continue reading
Blacksmithing is a unique craft with the ability to produce and modify its own tools. Understanding of various properties of wood and metals have led to applications in several areas including interior design, playspaces, pyrotechnics, tool repair, and skateboarding.
This began as a prototype and was my first attempt at a folding knife. Due to the small size of the piece I opted for a spring-tension lock system rather than an actual lock. This is quite a bit more complex than… Continue reading
*UPDATE* this knife was stolen from our vehicle January 19, 2018. If seen or found on the market please notify or return to its original home. I made this knife in 1996 at the age of 18. I wanted to continue to… Continue reading
This knife was custom designed with a client who was headed overseas. An ambitious project, the entire knife was forged and ground from a solid overload spring from a truck. The client wanted a heavy bowie style knife that was near indestructible… Continue reading
Reclaimed agricultural steel, a fused bronze guard pattern, and multi-colour hardwood laminate. The shape is based on a traditional design for an all-purpose companion knife. It is large enough to meet most tasks while eliminating excess weight and bulk. The full hidden… Continue reading
This is a piece from when I was first experimenting with the traditional Japanese method of clay-tempering blades (yaki-ire) in the early 1990’s. A thin clay mask creates dual temperature zones in the quenching bath, leaving the blade harder at the edge… Continue reading
This piece of steel, bone handle material, steel wire pins, and its weathered mounting board came from the dusty remains of a homestead in Saskatchewan, Canada. Around the turn of the century the blade would have served as a leaf-spring on a… Continue reading
This piece of steel came from the dusty remains of a homestead in Saskatchewan, Canada. Around the turn of the century it would have served as a leaf-spring on a horse-drawn farm wagon. I wanted to preserve the beautiful and unique surface… Continue reading