The blade has long been an elusive and paradoxical image; from the sickle that cut the golden bough from the oak of the Druids to the blade that slew Julius Caesar, or the sword of the crusaders, used as the implement as well as the justification for the plundering of ancient cultures on the borders of medieval Christendom. The archetype of the blade goes much deeper than the readily apparent connotation of weapon. It is a mercurial symbol, often representing the oppressor but also symbolizing the bringer of freedom, the sword in the stone, the blade of truth. It is a phallic symbol, used in ancient wedding rituals involving a blade and a cup, and it is a symbol of death which awakes hidden fears. It is a tool which reaps the crops at harvest time and brings babies into the world through Cesarian section."It is...difficult to admit that blades may fascinate us because they are associated with death. Nonetheless, this very paradox in the human psyche and the depth of feeling blades evoke make them remarkable vehicles for conceptual art." -Bonnie J. Miller (American Craft -Feb/march 1997)

I have been a bladesmith in my heart since longer than I can remember. As a boy I made swords out of anything and everything I could find. I remember the feeling when I worked my first forge at twelve, the smell of the coal and the flickering light suggesting mythologies unfolding on the walls at the corner of my eyes. As a small boy I spent my days wandering through the forest behind our farm, with my wooden sword, looking for noble deeds and nymphs; and though time passes and the world takes us in its folds of responsibility and age, it is the basic yearning for that bright world of swords in the green wood and the old tales that keeps sword smithing alive in this time of machine guns and smart bombs.

I make swords in the Celtic and Norse styles and it is my aspiration to keep searching and refining my pieces to capture the magic and grim beauty of those ancient swords. I strive to work towards the same standards of quality that historical smiths exhibited in there work and to make swords which are infused with my personality, and the energy that is given by a craftsman to an original piece, while remaining informed by a historical tradition. Working within the parameters of a time period and style enables me to explore the material in a way which would be more difficult if there where no boundaries to help focus the work.

My forge is located in the hamlet of Markhamville (population 30), in the hills of Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada, where I grew up. I have been working as a full time sword smith since 2001 and i have studied this craft since 1994.

A number of swordsmiths and blacksmiths have greatly influenced me and have selflessly given their time and expertise to help me along my way as an aspiring craftsman. Among them are Don Fogg with whom I have had the opportunity to discuss not only many of the technical aspects of bladesmithing, but also the philosophical and artistic aspects of the craft; his advice and humility in the face of celebrity are a great inspiration. Randal Graham has also given me many hours of his time. He gave me the excellent advice to stick with my passion and concentrate on Celtic pieces when I was at an uncertain stage in my development; his help and advice have stood me in good stead. Rob Hudson gave me the first real boot in the pants on the way to making fine pieces, and impressed upon me the values of diligence and attention to detail. Conrad Grillow first taught me how to forge Damascus in a dirty coal forge at a school in Vermont. One of my best friends and mentors, Bear, first taught me to forge at twelve. He filled me with the old tales of CuChullain and King Arthur, and of magic swords whose makers chanted incantations over the many layered blades.

I believe in making historically informed, light weight blades, which stand on their own both as swords and as crafted objects, and which feel as good in the hand as they look on the mantle. Since childhood I have been obsessed with studying Celtic and Norse mythology and history from the time of Fionn MacCumhal and Sigurd Fafnirsbane to Robert the Bruce and Iron Skegg. In my work, I hope to emulate the mystery and power which flows through the colourful folklore surrounding the Celtic and Norse heroes and heroines. I view my swords as stories that are told in steel and wood, bronze and leather.