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Since I was very young, I’ve loved the look and feel of a really well-made blade. Today, I live and work at Fudo Forge in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, producing a broad range of high-end knives and cutting tools.
As a second-generation master blacksmith, I grew up working with my uncle, Ed Claypoole, who operates Atlas Forge in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He gave me a wonderful education in tool making and forging, and I’ll always be grateful to him for that. In my life, I’ve been a Marine, a professional skydiver and test jumper, and an executive in the corporate world. Now, with Fudo Forge, I’m thrilled every day to wake up and do the work I love most.
My blades reflect a blend of Western and Eastern cultures, and are especially influenced by my years-long study of Budo Taijutsu—specifically in Shindin Fudo-Ryu, a traditional Japanese martial art.
I make a lot of custom kitchen cutlery, producing functional art pieces for professionals and home users alike. I’ve created one-of-a-kind 8” knives for professional chefs and entire sets of knives for home kitchens. I also like to make fine art pieces of medieval weaponry, both Eastern and Western. My specialties include Damascus and San Mai blades.
Thanks for your interest. It’s my sincere privilege to use timeless craftsmanship to develop blades that you will use, treasure and hopefully pass down for generations.