about_me

If you've landed on this page, its because you want to know about my knives, about how I make them, and about what makes Caffrey Knives tick.

First, If you're looking for "Cookie Cutter", "Mid-Tech", "Standard Models", or "Forged in Fire Fanaticism", then you might not want to waste your time reading any further, because me and/or my knives are none of those things.

IF you've come searching for a true "Handmade" knife, that's an individual, produced by one of less than 200 ABS Mastersmiths in the entire world... then read on.

Quoted from the ABS Website: "The workmanship of the Master Bladesmith must be judged to be “excellent” to “superlative” in quality, with examples of their work transcending to the level of functional art. Less than 200 individuals in the world hold this distinguished title. Those seeking the highest level of quality in a forged blade will find bladesmiths recognized as among the best on Earth."

"Cookie Cutter":    The closest that my knives come to this are my EBK line of straight knives, and my Model 7 Ultralight Folder/Flippers. Although these knives LOOK the same, and are produced using a "pattern", but due to the fact that they are made by hand, and NOT by a machine, NONE of the parts are interchangeable with others of the same "model(s)".

"Mid-Tech" : Is a term used to describe a knife that is typically assembled from parts that have been produced by a machine, and then those parts "assembled" by an individual, who will often put their name, or the name of their company on each knife... a streatching of the truth as best, and a flat out lie at the worst.   "Mid-tech" knives are no more "custom" or "handmade" knives than knives that are produced in a factory. The only difference is the number of human hands that actually touch the parts.

"Standard Models": I use this term to describe a couple of knives that I produce, and only because I can't find any other term that lets people know that I produce knives of the same pattern, size, and with the same materials. In reality there is nothing "standard" about any of them. The knives that I apply this label to may LOOK the same, but none of the parts from one, will fit another. This is the difference between something being made my a machine, versus the same item being made by hand.

"Forged in Fire Fanaticism": I've been to the studio in NY., I've "screen tested" to be one of the judges, and I've seen how "scripted" everything is.... and I am NOT a fan. Some would say that "Forged in Fire" is the best thing that's ever happened to Custom Knives... exposing our craft to the masses.   I disagree. All its done is DILUTED Bladesmithing into something that anyone who knows which end of a hammer to hold... can call themselves a "Bladesmith". It's nothing more than another TV Drama that has made the general public believe that a QUALITY "Custom Knife" can be produced in just a couple of hours, and that anyone can be a "Bladesmith".   A "Forged in Fire Champion" is nothing more than someone who had a one in four chance of winning, and beat the odds based on three quarters of the judges, whos' qualifications, with the exception of an/the MS Judge, to judge anything about a Forged blade is at best, questionable.

I can rant about it because I've been on the receiving end of phone call after phone call, and email after email asking me if I could make "A chopping knife like they make on Forged in Fire" and when I quote a price, get a sputtering "What!?!? Thats Bull! I know it only takes 3 hours to make a knife!" Sure! You just keep on believing that, and while you're at it....please go elsewhere looking for a legitimate Mastersmith to entertain your nonsense. And Good Luck with that!

The fact is that IF you want a QUALITY forged blade, it will require a Bladesmith who has made the efforts, practiced the techniques and spent the requisite time learning what is REQUIRED to become a qualified "Bladesmith", and even more so, for those of us who have disciplined ourselves and EARNED the title of ABS (American Bladesmith Society) Mastersmith.   In reference to the cost of a forged blade, produced by a Mastersmith, you're paying for knowledge, experience, and quality that can only come from years and years (in my case nearly 40 years) of practicing the craft.

You can read all of the testing requirements to become a Mastersmith at the following link..
-ABS Mastersmith testing rules/guidelines

So...IF all of that makes sense, and you've read this far, then it's a safe bet that you are the type of person who not only demands, but appreciates top shelf quality, and also the fact that each and every knife that comes out of Ed Caffrey's shop is an individual, created to be the best I, and my nearly 40 years of experience can offer.   From my line of every day carry EBKs, to my Highest End Collector Knives, you can be assured a knife that will endure for generations to come.

"Ordering" a Custom knife from me: As I've grown older, and been diagnosed with some chronic health conditions, I've come to realize that there are likely fewer days ahead than behind me... and there are still lots of knives I want to make. So with that in mind, I no longer take "custom" orders... as in those orders that nit-pick at each and every detail of a knife. What I do is make the knives that I want to make, and keep lists of names, along with the type (Bowie, Hunter, Fighter, Folder, etc) that each name on the list is interested in. Then, when I build a knife that fits a given type, I send out an email to those on that particular list, with pics, specs, and price. From there, the first to respond/claim that knife, gets it.
If you'd like to be added to the email lists, just send me an email, along with the particular TYPE of knife you'd like, and I will add your name. Lead times can vary widely due to my health status, so if you don't hear from me as soon as you'd like, feel free to email me and touch base.

Because teaching Bladesmithing is my passion, my son in law Tim and I have created KnifeMakerTraining.com As well as Knife Maker Training Forums, AND a Knife Maker Training FB Group for members only. (just send a request to join)