PREVIEW: Knives of Autumn

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1. Molten Mountains - Stainless Clad Chef

The upward reaching smokiness reminds me of the Blue Ridge Mountains that look like they’re on fire with the changing leaves, reaching toward the sun. Stainless steel over carbon steel: this material caught my eye over a decade ago and after learning to fuse and forge these two dissimilar materials under the tutelage of Bill Burke, I’ve fallen in love with the process as well. This k-tip chef is forged with high carbon steel sandwiched between two pieces of stainless steel. The versatile blade features a unique blend of flat & convex grinds. Full tang bolster imparts a stout feel while the majority hidden tang adds to the comfort and ease of maintenance while also shedding weight. Features sycamore that I was processing in June 2024 when I clipped my hand on the bandsaw and beautiful spalted maple from Asheville with a bocote spacer.

• size: 7 1/2” blade / 12 5/8” overall / 2” @ heel

• weight: 168 grams

• blade: 410 stainless steel, pure nickel and 80crv2 carbon steel

• handle: stabilized spalted Maple (Asheville, NC), bocote, stabilized golden sycamore (gift from C. Buchanan) Jonesborough, TN

• $1650

2. Clouds Above - Stainless Clad Chef

When the decadent Autumn skies put on a show, I’m often caught standing in the backyard looking up. Stainless steel over carbon steel: this material caught my eye over a decade ago and after learning to fuse and forge these two dissimilar materials under the tutelage of Bill Burke, I’ve fallen in love with the process as well. This k-tip chef is forged with high carbon steel sandwiched between two pieces of stainless steel. The versatile blade features a unique blend of flat & convex grinds. Full tang bolster imparts a stout feel while the majority hidden tang adds to the comfort and ease of maintenance while also shedding weight.

• size: 7 1/4” blade / 13” overall / 1 7/8” @ heel

• weight: 174 grams

• blade: 410 stainless steel, pure nickel and 80crv2 carbon steel

• handle: stabilized black ash burl, African Blackwood (Paris, clarinet factory), emerald micarta

• $1650

3. Petals - Cask Strength Hybrid Chef

The rhythmic pattern on this blade reminds me of some of our most cherished dahlias that come to life at the end of the season. Highlighting the beauty of salvaged materials, this versatile and large blade is made by fusing retired bourbon barrel bands, nickel and high carbon steel into a single, homogeneous piece. Meticulously forged to keep the core steel centered, the high carbon working edge is protected under the labor intensive recycled cladding. The slender gyuto style blade features a versatile, slightly convex grind that is thin behind the edge and easy to maintain and has a bit of a slicer feel. The full tang bolster imparts a confident feel, while the majority hidden tang adds to the comfort and ease of maintenance while also shedding weight. Features sycamore that I was processing in June 2024 when I clipped my hand on the bandsaw and beautiful spalted maple from Asheville with a bocote spacer.

• size: 9 1/8” blade / 14 1/2” overall / 1 15/16” @ heel

• weight: 214 grams

• blade: bourbon barrel strap (Willett Distillery, Bardstown, KY), pure nickel and 26C3 carbon steel

• handle: stabilized spalted Maple (Asheville, NC), bocote, golden sycamore (gift from C. Buchanan) Jonesborough, TN

• $2150

4. Cold Front - Cask Strength Hybrid Chef

The compression in the maple combined with what feels like a release of energy in the blade takes me to those blustering Autumn days when you can feel the weather changing, cooling minute by minute. Highlighting the beauty of salvaged materials, this versatile and large blade is made by fusing retired bourbon barrel bands, nickel and high carbon steel into a single, homogeneous piece. Meticulously forged to keep the core steel centered, the high carbon working edge is protected under the labor intensive recycled cladding. The k-tip blade features a versatile, slightly convex grind that is thin behind the edge and easy to maintain. The full tang bolster imparts a confident feel, while the majority hidden tang adds to the comfort and ease of maintenance while also shedding weight. Check out that honey gradient maple!

• size: 8” blade / 13” overall / 2” @ heel

• weight: 186 grams

• blade: bourbon barrel strap (Willett Distillery, Bardstown, KY), pure nickel and 26C3 carbon steel

• handle: stabilized Gibson guitars maple (TN), African Blackwood (Paris, clarinet factory)

• $1870

5. Dappled Sunlight - Cask Strength Hybrid Chef

The light changes with each season, with the sun lowering and days shortening, dappled sunlight in the Autumn has a feel like no other when it ignites the bed of fall leaves. Highlighting the beauty of salvaged materials, this versatile and large blade is made by fusing retired bourbon barrel bands, nickel and high carbon steel into a single, homogeneous piece. Meticulously forged to keep the core steel centered, the high carbon working edge is protected under the labor intensive recycled cladding. The gyuto style blade features a versatile, slightly convex grind that is thin behind the edge and easy to maintain. The full tang bolster imparts a confident feel, while the majority hidden tang adds to the comfort and ease of maintenance while also shedding weight. Octagonal handle.

• size: 7 5/8” blade / 12 7/8” overall / 2” @ heel

• weight: 172 grams

• blade: bourbon barrel strap (Willett Distillery, Bardstown, KY), pure nickel and 26C3 carbon steel, machine finish

• handle: stabilized Turkish walnut shotgun stock (Selma, AL, thanks B. Hunter), African Blackwood (Paris, clarinet factory), black hardware

• $1775

6. Waterways I - K-Tip Chef

The ambling creeks that nurture our landscape, trickle down from higher elevations, gaining force as they reach the lowlands. Coming from a blacksmith background, I find a lot of joy in the forging process and the risk/rewards of making my own materials from scratch and these early Autumn woods walks continue to feed my mind, body and spirit. The knives I make each season remind me as much of the process as they do the experiences beyond the doors of my shop. The topographic damascus series not only marks a point in time for me, but also a place, the beautiful & vast southern Appalachian landscape, where we’ve made our home. Hiking this unique terrain is nothing short of memorable, this first autumn as a family of four. Octagonal handle, hidden tang with a single domed copper pin.

• size: 7 1/4” blade / 11 1/2” overall / 1 13/16” @ heel

• weight: 146 grams

• blade: 15n20 & 1080 carbon steel - pattern welded damascus

• handle: cherry burl (Athens, GA), African Blackwood (Paris, clarinet factory)

• $1650

7. Waterways II - Gyuto Chef

The ambling creeks that nurture our landscape, trickle down from higher elevations, gaining force as they reach the lowlands. Coming from a blacksmith background, I find a lot of joy in the forging process and the risk/rewards of making my own materials from scratch and these early Autumn woods walks continue to feed my mind, body and spirit. The knives I make each season remind me as much of the process as they do the experiences beyond the doors of my shop. The topographic damascus series not only marks a point in time for me, but also a place, the beautiful & vast southern Appalachian landscape, where we’ve made our home. Hiking this unique terrain is nothing short of memorable, this first autumn as a family of four. Octagonal handle, hidden tang with a single domed copper pin.

• size: 8 1/2” blade / 14 11/16” overall / 1 5/8” @ heel

• weight: 146 grams

• blade: 15n20 & 1080 carbon steel - pattern welded damascus

• handle: cherry burl (Athens, GA), African Blackwood (Paris, clarinet factory)

• $1900

8. Large Trout Chef - Spalted Maple

This popularly sized performance chefs knife features a forge-textured spine with a durable kuroichi finish and a rainbow of torch temper colors - a finish reminiscent of trout, inspired by the rivers and creeks of beautiful east Tennessee. Bevels are polished to an easy-to-maintain satin. The full tang bolster imparts a stout feel while the majority hidden tang adds to the comfort and ease of maintenance while shedding weight. Features sycamore that I was processing in June 2024 when I clipped my hand on the bandsaw and beautiful spalted maple from Asheville with a bocote spacer.

• size: 8 1/4” blade / 13 1/2” overall / 2” @ heel

• weight: 178 grams

• blade: 26C3 carbon steel, trout finish

• handle: stabilized spalted Maple (Asheville, NC), bocote, stabilized golden sycamore (gift from C. Buchanan) Jonesborough, TN

• $1000

9. Large Trout Chef - Oak Burl

This popularly sized performance chefs knife features a forge-textured spine with a durable kuroichi finish and a rainbow of torch temper colors - a finish reminiscent of trout, inspired by the rivers and creeks of beautiful east Tennessee. Bevels are polished to an easy-to-maintain satin. The full tang bolster imparts a stout feel while the majority hidden tang adds to the comfort and ease of maintenance while shedding weight.

• size: 8 1/4” blade / 13 5/8” overall / 2 1/16” @ heel

• weight: 174 grams

• blade: 26C3 carbon steel, trout finish

• handle: stabilized Oak Burl (gift from N. Elizer) storm felled in Atlanta, GA - Hurricane Irma 2017, African Blackwood (Paris, clarinet factory), stabilized turquoise maple spacer

• $1000

10. Small Trout Chef - Osage

This popularly sized performance chefs knife features a forge-textured spine with a durable kuroichi finish and a rainbow of torch temper colors - a finish reminiscent of trout, inspired by the rivers and creeks of beautiful east Tennessee. Bevels are polished to an easy-to-maintain satin. The full tang bolster imparts a stout feel while the majority hidden tang adds to the comfort and ease of maintenance while shedding weight. (2 available, actual knife may differ slightly from image)

• size: 7 1/4” blade / 12 7/8” overall / 1 7/8” @ heel

• weight: 158 grams

• blade: 26C3 carbon steel, trout finish

• handle: Osage Orange (Gift from N. Elizer) Atlanta, GA, stabilized maple burl spacer, emerald micarta, copper

• $900

11. Small Trout Chef - Gibson Maple

This popularly sized performance chefs knife features a forge-textured spine with a durable kuroichi finish and a rainbow of torch temper colors - a finish reminiscent of trout, inspired by the rivers and creeks of beautiful east Tennessee. Bevels are polished to an easy-to-maintain satin. The full tang bolster imparts a stout feel while the majority hidden tang adds to the comfort and ease of maintenance while shedding weight.

• size: 7 3/8” blade / 13” overall / 1 7/8” @ heel

• weight: 168 grams

• blade: 26C3 carbon steel, trout finish

• handle: stabilized Gibson guitars maple (TN), stabilized ash burl spacer, natural micarta

• $900

12. Trout Nakiri I - Ash Burl

This performance series nakiri features a forge-textured spine with a durable kuroichi finish and a rainbow of torch temper colors - a finish reminiscent of trout, inspired by the rivers and creeks of beautiful east Tennessee. Bevels are polished to an easy-to-maintain satin. The full tang bolster imparts a stout feel while the majority hidden tang adds to the comfort and ease of maintenance while shedding weight.

• size: 6 1/2” blade / 12 1/4” overall / 2 1/8” @ heel

• weight: 210 grams

• blade: 26C3 carbon steel, trout finish

• handle: stabilized black ash burl, rosewood spacer (gift from O. Moss), deep purple micarta, copper

• $1175

14. Trout Nakiri II - Galactic Ash

This performance series nakiri features a forge-textured spine with a durable kuroichi finish and a rainbow of torch temper colors - a finish reminiscent of trout, inspired by the rivers and creeks of beautiful east Tennessee. Bevels are polished to an easy-to-maintain satin. The full tang bolster imparts a stout feel while the majority hidden tang adds to the comfort and ease of maintenance while shedding weight.

• size: 6 5/8” blade / 12 1/4” overall / 2 3/16” @ heel

• weight: 200 grams

• blade: 26C3 carbon steel, trout finish

• handle: stabilized galactic Ash burl (gift from R. Hernandez), dark denim micarta, African Blackwood (Paris, clarinet factory), copper

• $1175

15. Trout Nakiri III - Redbud

This performance series nakiri features a forge-textured spine with a durable kuroichi finish and a rainbow of torch temper colors - a finish reminiscent of trout, inspired by the rivers and creeks of beautiful east Tennessee. Bevels are polished to an easy-to-maintain satin. The full tang bolster imparts a stout feel while the majority hidden tang adds to the comfort and ease of maintenance while shedding weight.

• size: 6 3/4” blade / 12 3/8” overall / 2 3/16” @ heel

• weight: 216 grams

• blade: 26C3 carbon steel, trout finish

• handle: stabilized redbud (gift from D. Trent) Jonesborough, TN, moss green micarta, bone g10, nickel hardware

• $1175

16. Bandsaw Nakiri I

The Heritage line of blades is where storied materials and elegant finishes come together. The reclaimed carbon steel is lab tested before being forged. The sturdy full tang construction is enhanced by a rounded, comfortable spine. Satin finishes all around. (2 available, actual knife may differ slightly from image)

• size 6 1/2” blade / 11 3/8” overall / 2 1/8” @ heel

• weight: 158 grams

• blade: reclaimed lumber mill band saw carbon steel, Wrens, GA

• handle: stabilized walnut (gift from A. DeLisle) Oregon

• $775

17. Bandsaw Nakiri II

The Heritage line of blades is where storied materials and elegant finishes come together. The reclaimed carbon steel is lab tested before being forged. The sturdy full tang construction is enhanced by a rounded, comfortable spine. Stone washed blade.

• size 6 1/2” blade / 11 3/8” overall / 2 1/8” @ heel

• weight: 158 grams

• blade: reclaimed lumber mill band saw carbon steel, Wrens, GA

• handle: stabilized myrtle (gift from A. DeLisle) Oregon

• $800

18. Bronze Bone - Pablo Soto’s Petty

Pablo Soto of NOMA has found his most used knives are a petty and a slicer. Quite often, pettys are too small for detailed chopping or too short for slicing and slicers can be uncomfortably long during a busy service. I designed this for his detailed work like scoring squid, very thin slicing of preserved fruits or carving and slicing duck breast. This is my latest for the unofficial series of collaborative chef designs, and first within my Performance line. This particular release is inspired by the colors of shed antlers and the bronze leaves seen on a recent walk in the woods in beautiful East Tennessee. (2 available, actual knife may differ slightly from image)

• size: 7 1/4” blade / 11 7/8” overall / 1 1/2” @ heel

• weight: 200 grams

• blade: 26C3 carbon steel, stonewash finish

• handle: Bone g10, domed bronze hardware

• $800

19. Heritage Hollow Chef I - Osage

Coming from a blacksmith background, I find a lot of joy in the forging process. This blade is forged from century+ old lumber saw mill carbon steel that’s been chemically analyzed to insure proper heat treating. In order to prevent food from sticking, the upper 2/3s of this blade have a hollow forged in addition to retained forging texture and a black kuroichi finish for extra durability. This blade feels lighter than it looks, yet is made for heavy work.

• size: 8 1/2” blade / 14 3/4” overall / 2” heel

• weight: 220 grams

• blade: reclaimed century+ old lumber mill saw carbon steel (Monticello, GA)

• handle: Osage Orange (Gift from N. Elizer) Atlanta, GA, Epicurean cutting board (gift fromRichlite), moss green micarta & white g10 hardware

• $985

20. Heritage Hollow Chef II - Blackwood

Coming from a blacksmith background, I find a lot of joy in the forging process. This blade is forged from century+ old lumber saw mill carbon steel that’s been chemically analyzed to insure proper heat treating. In order to prevent food from sticking, the upper 2/3s of this blade have a hollow forged in addition to retained forging texture and a black kuroichi finish for extra durability. This blade feels lighter than it looks, yet is made for heavy work.

• size: 8 1/2” blade / 14 1/2” overall / 2 1/8” heel

• weight: 230 grams

• blade: reclaimed century+ old lumber mill saw carbon steel (Monticello, GA)

• handle: African Blackwood (Paris, clarinet factory), bronze spacer, stabilized cherry burl (Athens, GA)

• $985

21. Wild Turkey Paring I

The oversized bolster on this damascus kitchen paring is inspired by one of my all time favorite pocket knives, the Kershaw Wild Turkey. The tapered full tang on this versatile, classic paring knife imparts a balanced yet stout feel. Deeply etched and brightly polished, the pattern in the blade will persist throughout the development of patina from use.

• size: 4” blade / 8” overall

• weight: 92 grams

• blade: pattern welded high carbon damascus steel

• handle: stabilized black ash burl, copper

• $780