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Interview with Randy Church of Church & Son Knives

by Dan Jackson 6 Comments

This post contains affiliate links. We may get paid an affiliate commission if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of the links on this web page.

Mr. Randy Church of Church and Son Knives is a man from a forgotten time. Operating out of the Rosebud Forge, Randy is a maker of old world tools. Not only are these old world tools, but he uses old world methods – he makes these pieces entirely without electricity! This has resulted in some wicked looking stuff(if I do say so), from period pieces with historic details to post-apocalyptic inspired tools designed to hold off the end of the world. And as a 4th generation blacksmith Randy’s family history is just as rich and interesting as his work. I am so happy to have discovered Church and Son knives, and I hope everyone enjoys the interview.

Hi Randy, welcome to the site. I am very excited to have you here as you make some very cool stuff! To start off, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hey Dan, first off I appreciate your interest on my old rusty/crustys. I’m 51, married to the same lovely bride for 21 years and have two boys, one 26 and the other 16, both in Collage, please send money. We live in very rural area south of Greensboro NC. I build Trade Show Exhibits to pay the bills, come home and beat on hot iron for fun.

Randy Church Knives

Where did your fascination with old world knives and tools come from?

My Grandparents. She was Apache Indian married 71 years to an Appalachian mountain man outside of Boone NC. I pretty much grew up on their place. He was a dairy farmer who made all his own farming tools, including a steam engine to run the sawmill. She taught school and told fascinating story’s about her early life on a reservation. They started a appreciation of historical techniques that are no longer being taught. Namely, if you need it and nature doesn’t provide it, then make it.

Too cool. Your site says that you are a 4th generation blacksmith, please tell us about that.

My Great Grandfather was a ferrier/ blacksmith in Linville NC, who taught all 12 of his boys. My Grandfather made all of his 10 boys spend time at the anvil. My Father, a Minister, taught blacksmithing in the Army after WW2, and until his death enjoyed tinkering with old guns, mainly flintlocks, and made all the actions. The Church family has iron in the blood. That trickles down to me, and I’m determined to pass it along. Our boys may never beat on hot metal again but they do know how.

Randy Church Knives

How old were you when you first started forging / making knives?

About 7-8 I was old enough to crank the blower and rake coal. I made gun racks and twisted every piece of metal in sight during my teens. I got very interested in knives about 10 years ago when I quit running the highways. I restored old houses for years all over the country. Working in New Mexico spurred my interest in the Plains Indians.

Randy Church Knives

I know you are a family operation, so tell us a little about your son.

“VooDoo” is 16 and in the first year of collage. His interests are more tactical than mine (but maybe there’s hope). He plays MilSim Airsoft and makes airsoft legal tomahawks based on real steel versions. Although he will fire up the charcoal forge and twist some hooks, I have a suspicion that if I wasn’t watching he would run power to the Redbud Forge and buy a grinder (some day I might help).

He plays blues guitar and apparently learned that girls smell good.

Randy Church Knives

Do you have a particular design “philosophy” when you set out to make a knife?

Not really, I wish I did. Some of the great Bladesmiths draw sketches and adhere to a plan. I don’t have that much discipline. The most I do is look at a particular piece of iron and say, “might make a good chopper.” As Jimmy Buffett said, “I don’t have it, must not need it.” On the period pieces I do try to use the same techniques and materials that were available at the time. I am still very much a student of history.

How exactly do you make these pieces?

I make my own charcoal from downed trees on our place. Use a forge made from a washtub and a hand cranked blower, beat it to submission on a hundred year old broken anvil, hot cut and hot filed. Then quenched in salt water and tempered on the forge. I don’t add hammer marks, I leave them.

Randy Church Knives

Right on! Where do you even find the materials to make this stuff?

I use what America doesn’t want anymore. MYSTERY STEEL. Lets start the arguments. I have never bought a new piece of steel. I pretty much know what I’m using . Mostly farm steel and old leaf springs. I’m still in good verses with the historical societies, so I get a call when old farms are getting cleaned out to make way for new plastic houses. Leather is traded for or purchased at flea markets or yard sales. Old leather nail aprons are my favorite find for sheaths, I even made one sheath for an Apocalypse chopper from one boot. TRADE – it is alive and well here. I trade to hunters for rawhides, and if you see some guys outside of a leaf spring shop throwing a tomahawk at lunch time, I’ve been there.

My new statement is “Re-made in America.” Re-use, it’s a way of life here.

Randy Church Knives

That is definitely a lesson more people could stand to learn. What’s on the horizon for Church & Son?

Finishing this sentence, that’s about as far as I think ahead… and getting VooDoo to do something.

I started the Apocalypse chopper series because the recent movies such as The Book of Eli scared the **** out of me. That could happen, today. Am I ready? Could I look around for materials, build a forge and make tools/weapons to care for my family? I’ve been training for this my entire life and didn’t know it. I muzzle-load, make my own powder and shot and live way back in the woods.

I love doing the period pieces, beading is one of my favorite winter pastimes. Chuck Burrows is an inspiration for me. But I haven’t found the right customers yet so I have a drawer full of them.

Randy Church Knives

Well hopefully we can help spread the word today, I think you are turning out some awesome stuff. Last question, what knife do you carry with you every day?

A 35 yr. old “Old Timer” my dad gave me at 16. It is sharpened down to toothpicks. That, and a pocket Kiridashi made from a file. A couple of skinners and a tomahawk in my bag in case I run across a good trade.

Randy Church Knives

Randy, thanks so much for doing the interview – is there anything else you would like to add?

Buy from Americans boys and girls, the tribe you save may be your own.
Dan, I appreciate the interest and wish you the best.

You are welcome back any time, Randy. Thanks again!

To see more of Randy’s work and learn more about Church & Son Knives and the Rosebud Forge, visit the Church & Son’s Website website.

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Filed Under: Custom Knifemaker Interviews

About Dan Jackson

Dan is the creator of BladeReviews.com. He founded the site in 2010, and for the first 5 years Dan wrote all of the reviews and recorded all of the video reviews. He grew up using pocket knives, and the decision to start the website stemmed from his fascination of all things sharp combined with a deep passion for writing. He has personally reviewed almost 300 knives of all shapes, sizes, and price points. He is recognized as an authority on daily carry knives and has consulted with knife companies on product design.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Matt says

    July 12, 2011 at 7:21 pm

    I love the first bowie and seax. You have to love a guy that makes knives and quotes Jimmy Buffest.

    Reply
    • Dan says

      July 12, 2011 at 8:36 pm

      Matt, I totally agree. You do not meet makers like Randy Church every day. Thanks for the comment.

      Reply
  2. peter oehl says

    July 15, 2011 at 7:34 am

    I found Randy’s website and immediately bought a bowie from him.
    What a great bowie!!!! It is solid and has a finger guard that could be used to smash the face of a zombie or terroist. The sheath is also a work of art and functional.
    I consider Randy’s knives not only functional but beautiful because of the way they are made. Randy and his family have been blessed with a gift and are sharing it with everyone… Thanks Randy!!!

    Reply
    • Dan says

      July 15, 2011 at 3:26 pm

      Very cool Peter! His bowies look very nice!

      Reply
  3. Grafton says

    July 16, 2011 at 6:19 pm

    I saw some of Randy’s work online a while back. I had something in mind I wanted so I got in touch with him to make the items for me. I was blown away with what he produced, bought another knife he made and have been a fan ever since.

    No one else out there producing stuff like this for sale in my opinion. It just has a certain character to it that is hard to describe …but you know what I mean….original….old world….real….historic……just plain neat. Hell, the man brings class to a flea market. When I see one of his works I can see the thought process of man through the ages….all saying “I need a tool…I will make the tool”. He captures something basic that is in us all.

    Recently I started messing around with forging some knives and Randy was a big help in getting me started.

    I have never met the man but feel I can call him a friend at this point.

    Great guy and maker. Randy is a talented but humble guy who will probably give me a hard time over this love fest but I am gonna call it like I see it.

    I love ya brother 🙂

    You will not be sorry getting one of Randy’s works as each piece is truly one of a kind.

    Reply
    • Dan says

      July 16, 2011 at 8:10 pm

      Grafton,

      That is a heart felt endorsement if I ever read one! I tell ya though, his work spoke to me too, which is why I was so excited about the interview. Don’t get me wrong, I am very excited about every maker on this site, they all do great work – but Randy has got something really unique here and I am so happy to see I’m not the only person who recognizes it.

      Reply

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