Carolina Crafted Bladesby Josh Henry / North Carolina
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Carolina Crafted Blades · North Carolina

Hand-forged knives. Built to be used.

Made one at a time in North Carolina by U.S. Army veteran Josh Henry. Shop what is on the bench today, or talk to Josh about a custom.

Shop knivesWatch him work
  • Veteran ownedArmy infantry, Iraq
  • Since 2013Forging in NC
  • One at a timeNo two alike
A Josh Henry Damascus finger-ring knife with a turquoise inlay in a red-brown handle, laid on its Kydex sheath

On the bench now

Ready to ship.

New knives are on the way. Follow @joshhenryworkshop for the next drop, or see his past work in the shop.

Shop all knives

Straight off the shop floor

Watch him work.

Josh’s own reels from @joshhenryworkshop. Point at one, or tap play, to watch it.

Josh Henry at the power hammer in his North Carolina shop

Meet the maker

Josh Henry.

I’m Josh Henry, a North Carolina Bladesmith and former Army Combat Infantryman. Inspired by my father, who made knives from old files and rasps, I forged my first blade in 2013.

For years, knife making was a part-time pursuit, with the goal of one day making it my full-time craft. Life had other plans. After my son’s catastrophic brain injury led me to retire early, I found a new path forward: building knives from my home shop while being there for my family.

  • Built to be usedKitchen, field and everyday carry. Made to work, not to sit in a drawer.
  • One at a timeJosh forges, grinds and fits each knife himself.
  • Made in North CarolinaFrom his own shop, with pattern dies he made himself.

Why he makes knives

“I believe a good knife should be more than something to look at.”

Josh Henry

It should feel right, perform as intended, and reflect the care that went into making it. There’s something special about creating a piece that may be used, appreciated, and passed down long after I’m gone.

Functional pieces of art, handcrafted by Josh Henry in North Carolina.

How it’s made

From a bar of steel to your hand.

How to show the process

Josh's own shop photos. Switch to 3D to watch the forge.

  1. Heat: The steel goes into the forge and stays there until it glows.01

    Heat

    The steel goes into the forge and stays there until it glows.

  2. Pattern: Dies Josh made himself press the pattern into the hot billet.02

    Pattern

    Dies Josh made himself press the pattern into the hot billet.

  3. Forge: Drawn out under the power hammer, heat after heat.03

    Forge

    Drawn out under the power hammer, heat after heat.

  4. Roll: A pass through the rolling mill to bring it to thickness.04

    Roll

    A pass through the rolling mill to bring it to thickness.

  5. Finish: Ground, heat treated and etched, so the pattern comes up out of the steel.05

    Finish

    Ground, heat treated and etched, so the pattern comes up out of the steel.

Turn it in your hand

Off his bench, in 3D.

Three of Josh’s knives, built in 3D from his own studio photos. Drag to turn one over and see the pattern, the inlay and the grind. Or pick his canister Damascus to watch it turn in his hand on video.

Watch the full reel

Damascus, a red-brown handle with a turquoise inlay, and a finger ring.

Custom work

Talk to Josh about a custom.

What you picture and what Josh sees should be the same knife, so every custom starts with a conversation, not a menu of options.

Tell him what you have in mind. He gets back to you to talk it through before any steel gets cut.