Kirsten G. - Son’s EDC

One of the unexpected joys of sharing my knifemaking journey has been reconnecting with people from different seasons of my life. This knife began when someone I had known years ago reached out after quietly following my work. She asked if I would build a custom knife for her sixteen-year-old son—something that reflected his love of the outdoors and would be uniquely his.

As with every custom commission, the project began with conversation. I had the opportunity to speak with both mother and son, learning about the kinds of activities he enjoyed and discussing the features and style they envisioned. Together we developed a design that balanced everyday practicality with a more rugged, outdoors-inspired character, resulting in a knife that felt both personal and purposeful.

The blade was forged from one of my own pieces of custom twist Damascus, paired with a handle crafted from stabilized redwood burl and curly maple. This build also gave me the perfect opportunity to use a beautiful block of redwood burl that had been sitting in my collection for quite some time, waiting for the right project. Its rich color and distinctive figure paired naturally with the flowing Damascus pattern, while the curly maple added warmth and contrast to the overall design.

Projects like this remind me that one of the most rewarding parts of custom knifemaking is the collaboration that takes place before a single piece of steel is ever shaped. Every commission is an opportunity to create something that reflects the person who will carry it, and this knife was no exception. It was a pleasure to build, and I hope it accompanies many years of adventures in the outdoors.