I first made a proper forged blade sometime in the early cold months of 2013. My father-in-law, Randy, had shown me a knife he’d found at a garage sale - if I recall correctly. It was an R.H. Ruana. A model 14B stamped with RH RUANA, Bonner, Montana and an “m,” to be exact, which dates it between 1962-1984. Mr Ruana began his knife making company in 1938 and they’re still going today. I was fascinated with that blade and its construction. Ruana knives are very uniquely crafted with their cast aluminum handles and dove-tailed elk antler inserts. En route from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone, we visited the Ruana shop.

Afterward, probably to the chagrin of my wonderful wife, Dusty Rose, I began studying bladesmithing. And I had to buy an anvil. And a forge. And some hammers. And tongs. And where to find steel? And what kind of steel? And you can’t have just one anvil…

The HOA we were a part of heavily discouraged noise, and such dark dirty sooty smoke. Enter Joe. Joe had a shop and an interest in forging. He agreed to set up the forge in his farm’s carriage house. Our first dozen or dozens of blades were pretty rough. Some still are today.

We left the HOA in late 2017 and found a little 3 acre piece in the foothills of the rainforest of the Pacific Northwest Coast Range. We fixed up the cabin, then the old logger’s home, then rebuilt the existing dilapidated shop. By this time, I’d realized that I prefered a much slimmer handle than those cool looking blades by the Ruana guys.

I am not certain when I first saw the neck knife. I am certain it was in Rickreall, Oregon, but the date escapes me. As a gentleman walked past me I commented on the knife he had hanging around his neck. He was happy to show it to me. It slid right out of the kydex sheath and upon examination was next level epic. Like that Ruana, it had a few stamps on it; Carter, some symbols I didn’t recognize, and an “MS.” I’d look that up later, I told myself. I looked.

So began the study of Murray Carter, 17th Generation Yoshimoto Bladesmith and American Bladesmith Master Smith. So continues the study of Murray Carter’s specific dedication and adherence to the centuries old art of Japanese bladesmithing. It has at once been daunting and humbling to learn directly from the master, but a great pleasure, as well. So far, under his direct guidance, I have worked on thirty five knives. And on a small scale I have duplicated his shop to maximize the possibility of producing, via Japanese techniques, stellar artisan forged blades. He is a wise teacher.

Now I call Murray a good friend! And I know we’ll do a few more blades together.

Being a bladesmith is rewarding and fun and hard. Sometimes it’s über frustrating. I’ve had overwhelming encouragement and support from everyone who has been involved in my business over the last couple of years, including all the bladesmiths who have come out to forge with me! Thank you, sincerely,

Gordon - vonhelmick