I am Stuart Smith, a full time Bladesmith dedicated to the art of the forged knife.
On this website you will find examples of my work and my dedication to the art.

Here is a little information about me. The hows and why's of being a bladesmith.

I was interested in knives from a young age and would by buy cheap knives from flea markets, many of which I still own.
However, my pocket money did not allow for my expensive tastes.
My father suggested that I make my own knife.  So we got an old file cut a dagger shape into it and got to work.
With crude tools, sweat and determination I filed the dagger to its point and cutting edge. As with all young boys I soon lost interest in knifemaking afterthat.

In 2000 my interest in knifemaking was rekindled and my father sent me on a knifecourse with Kevin Harvey at his Gold Reef City workshop.  Little did I know what I was getting myself into.  Kevin showed me the amazing art of forging knives, an all but forgotten craft among today's stock removal methods. The thrill of the blazing forge and
ringing anvil struck a cord deep in side me and I knew then what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.  Money, however decided otherwise.

Working on knives every second or third weekend while I repped to earn money would have to do for the time being.
Eventually I found a fantastic job that paid a lot of money and it seemed that all our (my wife and I) problems were over.
But as I discovered, money isn't everything. Stressful working conditions and a boss that I despised started to cause me physical illness. It was then, that, with the support of my wife Michelle, I resigned and started making knives full time.
Sadly, however, being a knife maker is like being an artist of any kind. There is a tendency to starve before you become known and start making money.