How long does a commission take?

It depends. Every knife is different — the complexity of the design, the materials involved, and where you land in the queue all factor in. When you reach out about a commission, I'll give you a realistic timeline so there are no surprises. The short answer is: good things take time, and I'd rather take the time to get it right than rush something out the door.

How do I get into the commission queue?

Once you're happy with the design, the materials have been chosen, and a price has been agreed upon, your commission is added to the queue by purchasing a gift card. The gift card is then applied to the purchase of the finished knife before it ships to you.

What steels do you use?

It depends on the knife. Different steels excel at different jobs — what works beautifully in a kitchen knife isn't necessarily the right choice for a hard-use bushcraft blade. When we talk through your commission, we'll discuss what the knife needs to do and choose the steel that fits.

How do you heat-treat your knives?

Heat treatment is an involved process. It can be relatively straightforward with stock removal of simpler carbon steels, but once a steel has been worked by hammer and anvil, power hammer, or press, things get more complicated. There are specific rounds of grain refinement that need to happen before hardening and tempering can take place. Tempering alone can be a 4+ hour process.

I use a professional-grade Evenheat kiln made specifically for heat-treating knives. For quenching, I use Parks 50, an engineered oil designed to rapidly and evenly remove heat from steel.

Do you sharpen knives?

Yes. And, there is no charge if it’s a Rainy Day Forge knife. I also sharpen different kinds of knives. Please, reach out to justin@rainydayforge.ca with details about what you've got, and we'll go from there.

How do I care for my knife?

Every knife that ships from Rainy Day Forge comes with care instructions specific to that blade. Follow them, and your knife will last a lifetime. When in doubt, hand wash, dry immediately, and don't leave it sitting wet. Never place a sharp knife in a dishwasher.

Can I visit the workshop?

By appointment only. If you'd like to come by, get in touch, and we'll find a time that works.

Do you teach bladesmithing?

Not at this time. It's heads-down in the forge for now. Please visit www.mbblacksmiths.ca for information about classes or lessons.

I have a question that isn't answered here.

Easy! Just email justin@rainydayforge.ca or call 204.961.0197. I'm happy to help.