Arcadian Blades
I have been a full time knife maker since 2017, starting my journey as the founding member of Ironside Edge Works, I’m now continuing solo under The Arcadian.
My design philosophy and methodology is heavily influenced by Japanese traditions and my martial arts / combatives journey. I specialise in contemporary defensive EDC knives with an aesthetic influence rooted in the Japanese tradition. I love using traditional Japanese materials for my Tsukamaki handles and combining them with more modern ones. I like to pair this with sleek and elegant blade designs using high carbon steels, Clay Hamon and traditional finishings.
I’m focusing my career on knifemaking that is aimed at the discerning user or collector. Despite appearances, my knives remain fully functional and task oriented. I am also pursuing the art of the Japanese sword and spending more time blade smithing on the road to creating traditional Japanese blades of my own.
I don’t make many pieces in a season and I prefer a quality over quantity approach. I like to focus on a single project at any time, and while I do accept custom projects, my aim is primarily to explore my own creative themes and ideas.
Thank you for looking. Gavin Coleman