Forging form, function and beauty into living art
SPECIES FEATURED IN THIS ARTICLE: African Blackwood
FIND INFORMATION ON THIS AND ADDITIONAL SPECIES AT WWW.IWPAWOOD.ORG
Steven Bryan, an award-winning bladesmith, uses woods from around the world to give his handcrafted knives and swords the aesthetic and feel discerning customers expect in works of fine art.
Fabricating bespoke wooden knife handles is precision work that requires special tools and painstaking techniques. “First, I work with my wood supplier, Cormark International, to choose the right wood. After I choose the wood, I start with a rough cut, then grind the handles gradually using finer and finer grinds to achieve the shape, luster, balance and beauty desired for the finished product,” Bryan said.
Bryan selects the wood for each knife individually based on its color, figuring, stability, and quality. For period pieces, he also considers the aesthetic of the time. His favored species include African Blackwood (Diospyros melanoxylon), Olivewood (Olea europaea and Olea capensis), and Snakewood (Piratinera guianensis) which is considered by some experts to be the rarest commercially available species. He also uses Bocote, Wenge, Walnut, and Curly Maple. It’s critical in this type of application that the wood be stable and hold up to humidity, pressure, changes in climate, and the precise workmanship required for this art form.
In addition to sculpting the wooden hilts, Bryan forges the blades for his knives, plasticizes and pattern welds the steel, and uses complex processes to paint the blades to recreate authentic patinas that are unique and durable. Creating a custom knife or sword can take days or even weeks.
Handle crafted of black walnut and stained
As a kid, Bryan loved to draw the images he saw in comic books, both the characters and their weapons. Later on, a friend introduced him to the craft of blade making and eventually he opened his own shop.
“But the COVID-19 pandemic really jumpstarted my business. During the pandemic, many people shopped therapeutically, looking for unique items, doing research about details of art forms that interested them,” Bryan said. “Customers would contact me and ask about edge geometry, grind types and obscure knife forms. There was like a cult of people who cared about art and wanted to support artisans through the pandemic and beyond. The market just opened up.”
“I look at a knife as a whole, three-dimensional object,” Bryan says. “It’s a marriage of performance and beauty. Whether you are slashing, slicing, thrusting, carving, or performing some other action, you should feel like the knife is an extension of your hand.”
Left: Wooden handles craftedin a variety of species. top to bottom: Bolivian rosewood, thuya burl, curly maple, and African blackwood.
Center: Tomahawk made of stained curly maple
Right: Handle crafted with stained Leopardwood
Bryan saw a surge in interest after being featured in a History Channel episode called Forged in Fire. **( SEE VIDEO BELOW) **He was recently commissioned to make period-appropriate weapons and tools for an upcoming feature film on the life of Davy Crockett. The project involves crafting twelve to fifteen pieces, including knives, tomahawks, a war hammer, a dagger and several swords. Woods to be used in the project will include domestic Walnut, Curly Maple and Ash as well as Desert Ironwood and African Blackwood. Davy Crockett’s knife will feature a stag horn handle and a sword will have a handle made from springbok horn.
Watch him compete against one of the Forged in Fire judges as they compete in a challenge making MEDIEVAL ARMING SWORD.
“A hand-forged knife is a living piece of art, a synergy of form, function and beauty,” said Bryan. “For me, it’s a privilege to be a part of the bladesmith community and carry on the tradition of this time-honored art form.” iw
Connect with Stephen Bryan on social media:
Website
Frequently asked questions
What wood species does Steven Bryan use for his handcrafted knife handles?+
Bryan's favored species include African Blackwood, Olivewood, and Snakewood, which is considered one of the rarest commercially available species. He also uses Bocote, Wenge, Walnut, Curly Maple, Bolivian Rosewood, Thuya Burl, Leopardwood, and Desert Ironwood.
How does Steven Bryan make a custom knife handle?+
Bryan works with his wood supplier, Cormark International, to choose the right wood, then starts with a rough cut and grinds the handle gradually using finer and finer grinds to achieve the desired shape, luster, balance, and beauty. Creating a custom knife or sword can take days or even weeks.
Why is wood stability important for knife handles?+
The wood must hold up to humidity, pressure, and changes in climate, as well as withstand the precise workmanship required for the art form. Bryan selects each piece individually based on color, figuring, stability, and quality.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect Steven Bryan's bladesmithing business?+
The pandemic jumpstarted his business as people shopped therapeutically for unique items and researched art forms that interested them. Customers contacted him asking about edge geometry, grind types, and obscure knife forms, opening up a new market of collectors supporting artisans.
What woods will be used for the Davy Crockett film weapons?+
Bryan was commissioned to craft 12 to 15 period-appropriate pieces using domestic Walnut, Curly Maple, and Ash, along with Desert Ironwood and African Blackwood. Davy Crockett's knife will feature a stag horn handle, and one sword will have a handle made from springbok horn.
What television show featured Steven Bryan's bladesmithing work?+
Bryan was featured in an episode of the History Channel's Forged in Fire, which led to a surge in interest in his work. He also competed against one of the show's judges in a medieval arming sword challenge.