How It All Started

How I Got Started in Knife-Making: The Norse-Forge Story

My journey into knife-making began in 2008, under unexpected and challenging circumstances. After we lost our home—and my entire knife collection—in a devastating fire, I found myself at a knife show, looking to rebuild what I’d lost. It was there that the idea hit me: why not try making my own knives?

Not long after, I borrowed a book from the library on forging, along with one on how to build a forge. With some ingenuity (and a lot of curiosity), I set up a makeshift forge in my garage. I rigged a piece of pipe and a hair dryer to my kettle grill, used an old railroad track as my anvil, and crafted my very first knife from a file. I was instantly hooked.

What started as an experiment quickly became a passion. I began making knives for friends and family, and before I knew it, I was running a small shop—Norse-Forge—out of my garage. Today, with a fully equipped workshop and some modern tools, I’ve turned this once-humble hobby into a thriving business.

Every knife I create carries a piece of this journey with it. From that first handmade blade to the high-quality pieces I forge today, the spirit of Norse-Forge is rooted in resilience, creativity, and craftsmanship.