Dragontail Forge

Dragontail Forge A small bladesmithing shop in Cashmere, Washington.

06/02/2026

It's a family operation. After we got ready for bed last night, he said, "Dad, can I work with you again tomorrow?"

This is how generational curses are broken. This is how legacies are remade.

One piece of sandpaper at a time.

My daughter asked if she could decorate something in the shop, "...so you'll always think about me, Daddy."Me: "Sure dar...
05/17/2026

My daughter asked if she could decorate something in the shop, "...so you'll always think about me, Daddy."

Me: "Sure darlin'. Surprise me."

Consider me surprised.

Daughter: "It's a T-Rex! With a magic wand! [7 year old crazy laugh] AND GUESS WHAT, DADDY?! HE'S POOPING!!"

I'm always looking for ways to bring my kids into the business. My 9 year old son helps me pack boxes for orders. My 2 year old son runs into the garage in the middle of heat treat day to give me a hug.

And, from now on, every new knife that comes out of the shop has a little bit of 7 year old magic in it.

I don't take on pet projects much these days, but this is one I want to remember.Many moons ago now, I met a guy who qui...
05/02/2026

I don't take on pet projects much these days, but this is one I want to remember.

Many moons ago now, I met a guy who quickly became a good friend. Long before I started making knives, and even longer before I deserved real, genuine friendship.

I had just gotten clean and sober almost exactly a year after I had broken my back on a fire I was working. To say I was a hot mess is an understatement.

He showed me a level of kindness I legitimately didn't deserve. But that's who he is. Kind, dependable, tough, and honest. Without his hard - but loving - honesty and friendship, I don't know where I'd be today. Likely not married. Even more likely not alive.

And now it's his turn. He's marrying an amazing gal tomorrow and though friendship doesn't require returning of favors, I had to do something.

This is a K-tip made out of Core Line damascus, and handle material in their wedding colors. And yes, I finished it tonight because that's life.

Making money is nice. Having a successful business is great. Being able to celebrate a friend's well-deserved happiness is one of the best things in life.

I'm so proud, so happy, that I can use the skills I've built to give back in this very small way. Friends like that make life all the better, and I'm so stoked to dance my face off tomorrow celebrating life with some of the greatest people I've ever known..

Customer shots are the best. It's one thing to make something. It's another entirely to see that thing being used to fee...
04/26/2026

Customer shots are the best. It's one thing to make something. It's another entirely to see that thing being used to feed a family.

I’ve been working on this for a while.It smells like a legionnaire kissing his wife and kids goodbye.Like a father givin...
04/16/2026

I’ve been working on this for a while.

It smells like a legionnaire kissing his wife and kids goodbye.
Like a father giving a son his first knife.
Like a man in recovery quietly building furniture by hand.

I believe the things we carry often tell our stories better than we can. That’s why I like carbon steel knives. They age with the user. They remember.

And tools like that deserve to be protected.

This will come standard with my high-end knives, with a small batch available for purchase here.

My first in-house composite scales I ever made in their natural habitat.Like I said. It's my favorite time of year.
10/14/2025

My first in-house composite scales I ever made in their natural habitat.

Like I said. It's my favorite time of year.

It's my favorite time of year. Men I know, love, and admire sending pictures of things I've made being put to work.Look ...
10/12/2025

It's my favorite time of year. Men I know, love, and admire sending pictures of things I've made being put to work.

Look at the patina on that blade. It's seen a couple of Washington deer seasons.

I'll probably never be MKC or anything close, but holy smokes, do I love being able to create tools that people can rely on.

I appreciate all of you. You fill my cup to overflowing.

I love customer pictures. Washington special permit cow elk. "I skinned that beast and never had to sharpen your knife t...
09/07/2025

I love customer pictures. Washington special permit cow elk.

"I skinned that beast and never had to sharpen your knife through it, excellent steel and craftsmanship, brother."

52100 blade, sculpted G10 handle. Kydex sheath by not pictured.

My dad was busy all the time. He worked hard. There was always food. Nice toilet paper. A fire in the hearth. We never w...
07/26/2025

My dad was busy all the time. He worked hard. There was always food. Nice toilet paper. A fire in the hearth. We never wanted for anything.

Except for want of a dad.

Now I find myself a father. A busy one, and strangely, I feel a lot more compassionate towards him and those years in this specific area.

The move has been tough on all of us. So tonight, instead of discipline from a truly difficult day, we opted to work together. My kids, especially my boy, change when we're working.

Abraham has a very difficult time focusing. He has a hard time looking people in the eye. But you bring hard work and power tools out? Laser focus.

He probably won't remember the night he helped his dad work on a workbench in the garage. But he will remember that I was there. That I trusted him to help me with a tough job.

And I'll never forget that every knife I make from now on will have a little bit of our shared sweat and laughter in it.

THIS is how you change a generational curse of absent, busy, I'm-too-tired-let's-do-it-later fatherlessness.

One lag bolt at a time.

Life is hard. Might as well build some stuff to work through it.The shop is slowly taking shape.
07/20/2025

Life is hard. Might as well build some stuff to work through it.

The shop is slowly taking shape.

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Cashmere, WA

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