thrillist

Many artists have channeled their love of nature into their work, but as with everything that a man loves, eventually he just wants to kill it. For an artist whose side project can kill that which he so adores: Big Rock Forge.

Run out of the deep woodlands of northern Wisconsin, BRF's a bladesmithing operation helmed by a celebrated nature photographer (commissioned by the BBC to shoot for Planet Earth) who's taken to turning out a variety of cutlery he describes as "in the form of traditional, functional, yet beautiful tools", which also happens to be the rubric used by casting directors for the Real World. Citing ranging inspirations from Scandinavia to Native American traditions, the handmade stock includes outdoors pieces like the 12.5" Clay Quenched Camp, forged w/ a straight steel blade and a copper-pinned burled maple handle; the 7" Recurved Hunter, w/ curved blade and handle carved from whitetail antlers; and the tiny 4" Skinner Dashi, boasting a short, wide blade fashioned from the same piece of jagged steel that functions as its handle, the outer edge of which's been hammer finished, making it perfect anytime you have to stop and break it down. More peculiar weaponry runs from a tomahawk forged from an old-school railroad spike (with a long, polished maple handle), to unassuming-yet-deadly-sharp "utility blades" modeled after traditional Japanese Kiridashis; you can also have most any piece custom-made from materials of your choice (particular scrap metal, an old coin, etc.), or order a handle-less blade should you wish to set it yourself, likely forcing you to come to grips with your lack of any.

As a bonus, each piece comes with a rugged, hand-sewn leather sheath, hopefully protecting you from accidentally murdering that which you love the most: yourself.

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Score one-of-a-kind blades at BigRockForge.com