Into the Woods, Made in Canada
About Rainy Day Forge
From the Country to the Forge
I grew up in the rural heart of French Manitoba, between Ste. Anne, Richer, and St. Geneviève where spending a day harvesting berries, looking for morels or hunting for prairie chicken, ie spending time in the bush wasn't a hobby, it was just life. Summers were spent on the Canadian Shield near Bissett at Lake Wanipigow. This was the ultimate playground. Fishing, swimming, catching minnows, crayfish and nightcrawlers. My father was a wood carver who took meticulous care of his tools, always sharpening, always maintaining. That respect for a well-made blade stuck with me.
The spark that sent me toward the forge came from an unlikely place — the Festival du Voyageur. Watching blacksmiths work, shaping metal with hammer and fire, something clicked. I needed to learn how to do that.
The Manitoba Blacksmith Guild
In 2019, I helped bring the Manitoba Blacksmith Guild into existence, building a community for smiths across the province. I've served as president for most of the Guild's history, organizing events throughout the year and helping bring CanIRON, Canada's national blacksmithing conference, to Manitoba. If you're a smith or curious about the craft, the Guild is a great place to start.
Why RDF?
There are a lot of knives out there. What I make is different, not because I say so, but because every knife is built by one person who uses them, tests them in the Canadian wilderness, and stakes his reputation on every single blade. When you buy from Rainy Day Forge, you're not buying from a factory or a catalogue. You're getting a knife made by someone who grew up respecting sharp edges and has spent a decade perfecting how to make them.
The Craft
I spent years refining my skills through hands-on practice. The kind of learning that only happens when you're standing at the anvil, making mistakes, and figuring out why. Ten years later, Rainy Day Forge is my full-time livelihood and every knife that leaves the shop is still made by me, start to finish, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Every blade is ground, heat treated, and finished by hand. I use professional knife-grade steels, Evenheat kiln and Parks 50 quench oil or aluminum quench plates because the heat treatment process isn't a step you cut corners on, it's what separates a knife that lasts a lifetime from one that doesn't.
I am filled with excitement and anticipation. My goal is to continue creating and producing beautiful, functional knives for a wider audience. I am dedicated to expanding the RDF workshop, bringing my unique brand of craftsmanship to more people. I will always strive to improve the quality of my knives and push the boundaries of what is possible with my craft. Whether exploring new techniques or simply refining my existing ones, I am on the constant hunt to bring more beauty and functionality to the tools I create.
Beyond the Forge
In 2023, I was named the winner of the Metal My Way contest. This recognition meant a lot coming from within the craft community. I've been featured on CTV Morning Live three times, in the Winnipeg Free Press, and covered by Global News Winnipeg and the Brandon Sun for my involvement in CanIRON. I'm also the host of Fire & Slice, a television series airing on Bell MTS Fibe TV and Shaw Fibe TV.
Let's Build Something
Whether you're after a ready-to-ship blade or want to commission something made specifically for you, I'd love to help.
Shop Knives →| Start a Commission →
email: justin@rainydayforge.ca
FOLLOW:
@rainydayforge
