Andy Burcham
Andy Burcham is a Marine Corps and Gulf War veteran. While in the Marines, he quickly learned the value of a good knife.
In 2016, Andy started blacksmith classes in Logan, Ohio where he learned the basic skills of forging with a hammer and an anvil. After a few years of blacksmithing and watching Forged in Fire, he switched his focus to knife making.
Since then, Andy took every opportunity to learn the art of bladesmithing and continued to refine his skills. He joined the American Bladesmith Society (ABS) and studied under ABS Mastersmith Burt Foster and ABS Journeyman John Summerhill. Both gentlemen are Forged in Fire winners and are a great inspiration to Andy.
Andy truly enjoys making knives and adopted many techniques that originated from our ancestors. He believes a knife is an expression of art and each of his pieces can be handed down for generations to love and share.
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My Knives
Each knife is unique and the materials I use depend on the overall design and function. This ranges from the type of steel, the handle material and the design of the sheath.
When it comes to the steel, there is no perfect or “magic” steel. Each type of steel has different qualities and the steel we choose depends on the job or the design of the knife. We primarily use high carbon steels for their strength, simple heat treat methods, durability and ability to hold a great edge. I go deeper on choosing steel in Bladesmithing 101: The Best Steels for New Bladesmiths .
I also use a wide variety of handle materials, from local hardwoods and exotic woods from Africa and South America to deer antler and the latest high tech polymer handle materials. I select each handle material individually, taking into account the knife's purpose and appearance.
Lastly, I make my own custom sheaths from raw leather. I like leather for its beauty and ability to protect the knife. Each sheath is cut from hide to fit the knife, dyed to match and hand stitched. There are no machines involved. You can watch the process in my leather sheath tutorial .
I bring craftsmanship and beauty together to create unique knives for my customers, from display mantle pieces to functional hunting knives. I look forward to designing and creating the knife you have been dreaming about. When you are ready to talk it through, use the contact form.
Why Custom Knives?
For thousands of years man used knives for utility, art, symbolism, and survival. In the modern world, we still rely on the knife for many tasks — in the kitchen, in the field, or on a special occasion.
Whether you are a craftsman in the kitchen preparing the finest meal for your guests or cutting the ribbon during your wedding ceremony, it pays to have a proper tool for the job.
Having a knife custom made is an experience you can't get from a store-bought blade. You develop a bond with the piece and it becomes a natural extension of yourself.