Question 1

Do you forge your blades?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All of our high carbon steel blades are hand forged to shape.  There are many styles and techniques in making knives, however standing in front of a forge, hammer in hand and sculpting a piece of steel on an anvil into the shape of a knife is an extremely rewarding and demanding process.

Question 2

Where did you learn to make knives?

Accepted Answer

In 2016, I took an Introduction to Bladesmithing class with Vulcan Knife in Tacoma, WA. The class was a peek into the ability to create and shape a knife out of steel with a hammer and forge. Later on in 2017, I began to start building skills in knife making. I was given the opportunity to be a student at Vulcan Knife and continue learning the craft under 40 year knife making veteran Paul Inman.

Question 3

Do you blades come with a sheath?

Accepted Answer

All utility knives come with either a custom leather sheath or a molded index sheath. Our kitchen cutlery do not come with a sheath. All custom orders include a cloth zippered carrying case for storage.

Question 4

How long have you been a bladesmith?

Accepted Answer

I finished my first hand forged knife from start to finish completely on my own in January 2018. This was beginning of my journey as a Bladesmith.

Question 5

Do you teach classes?

Accepted Answer

We currently offer no formal courses. We are happy to share in tips and techniques and share in-person during events or through our website or social media.

Question 6

What steel do you use?

Accepted Answer

Mostly all High Carbon steels for forging: 52100, 1095, 5160, O1, L6
Several steels for stock removal include: CPM154, CM 154, CPM 3V, S30V

Question 7

What handle material do you use or prefer?

Accepted Answer

We love to use stabilized classic woods: Curl Maple, Curly Oak, Ebony, Maple Burl, Spalted Maple, Oak Burls, Ironwood, Birch,
We also enjoy the toughness of various Mircartas, G10 materials.

Question 8

Do you ship products?

Accepted Answer

We currently ship to anywhere in the United States.

Question 9

Do you do your own heat treating?

Accepted Answer

We do all our heat treating in-house. This allows us to understand and have oversight of each and every process of the knife making build. We use a large Paragon heat treating oven for blades up to 24 inches in length.

Question 10

How do I care for my blade?

Accepted Answer

Clean your blade by removing any dirt and debris with soap and water.
Promptly dry with a clean cloth,. Prior to storage a very light coat of lubricating oil may be placed on the blade. If planning to store the blade for longer than 3 days, store the blade in a soft dry cloth outside of the sheath. Moisture can get trapped inside the sheath causing corrosion on the blade. Due to the organic nature of high carbon steel, your blade will develop a colorful patina with use and interaction with elements.

Question 11

How many people work at Showalter Smithing?

Accepted Answer

We are a small two person Veteran owned small business.  Steve works with most of the operations of the business including: design, forging, grinding, heat treating, tempering, handle work, testing, sharpening, customer service, shipping, events planning. Ashlee creates the custom leather sheaths, handles the administration side and photography.

Question 12

Do you take custom orders?

Accepted Answer

We are always open to discuss custom orders based on current workload and lead times.

HOWALTER
SMITHING

FAQ

Frequently asked questions