Hi there!
I'm John, and I'm excited to share a bit about myself and my passion for crafting knives. It all began in 2021 when my wife suggested we take a class with Will from Heartwood Forge, and I haven't looked back!
One aspect that drew me to knifemaking is being able to repurpose materials in a meaningful way. There's nothing more rewarding to me than knowing where materials come from to give each piece it's own story, like making the handle out of a piece of wood that I’ve harvested from my family’s land, or forging the blade from an old rasp that once belonged to a friend’s grandfather. Each knife I make is one of a kind and handcrafted right in the heart of Appalachia, much like the Hellbender salamander that inspired our name.
Outside of making knives, I enjoy playing old time music and spending time with my wonderful wife, Sarah. She's my biggest supporter and source of inspiration, always encouraging me to push the boundaries of my creativity. Together with our trusty dogs (Storm, Remi, and Grizz), we strive to create more than just tools. We want each piece to carry stories of their origins and the hands that shaped them. Thank you for joining us on this journey.
John, Sarah, Storm, Remi, and Grizz