Cody Statham lives with his wife, Gigi, and their two daughters in Wilmer, BC (a stone’s throw from Brisco – home of Canadian Knifemaker Supply Ltd). He grew up in a farming family and noticed that his paternal Grandmother had used old farming equipment to make the sickle-blade knife that she used to cut baler twine. Also, when he was 10 years old, his maternal Grandfather, whom he had hunted and fished with from an early age, made him a knife from an old file. Cody treasured that knife, but when he was in College, someone broke into his truck and stole it.
After many years, no matter how much he spent, he was never satisfied with a knife. About 10 years ago, while working as a full-time mechanic, he took a M12 bolt and started hammering it into the shape of a knife blade. He then used a bench grinder to finish it. Still, he kept hammering away at the handle; he drilled some holes and added some wood, creating a knife he was happy with. That started his passion for knifemaking.
He spent some time learning about knifemaking (e.g. drilling the handle holes before heat treating), and he picked up some scrap metal and wear plates from a local machine shop. Then he started “heating and beating”. After making a couple more knives, he built a 2x48 grinder and began profiling. Gigi is a cabinet maker, so he had access to wood, and she taught him how to work with it. He made about 10-12 knives, and much to his surprise, people wanted them.
He then became intrigued with knife design and forging and spent about two years learning the techniques and methods. He watched “Forged in Fire” and contacted some of the contestants. “I was pleasantly surprised by how open they were to share their knowledge. I learned by trial and error with many failures – for example, I learned not to hit Damascus too hard, and I also learned the value of a 2x72 grinder.”
During this time, he also discovered a creative part of himself that he never knew existed. He was very analytical in school and excelled at physics and chemistry, and for the past 30 years, he has been a mechanic. He says knife designs just come to him, “I have a general concept, but they change as my creativity takes over. I may draw them, shape them from wood, or they come alive while I am hammering or grinding. Sometimes I can’t see where I want to go, but it evolves as I work with it. All my knives are unique; there are no two that are the same. I could use the same template, but the blade curve or handle materials are different. In fact, if someone wanted a matched set, I don’t believe I could do that. I would have to make them differently.”
Cody loves knifemaking for many reasons, especially the endless learning. He knows that when he thinks he has learned everything, he has just started. For example, three years ago, he started making sheaths. “It is a nice way to personalize a knife for my customers. I put their initials on the sheath and/ or their names on the belt loop.” Now he wants to learn more about metallurgy and making mosaic pins.
He makes chef knives if customers request them but his heart is in the hunters because hunting has always been part of his life. His customers come from all parts of North America. He was a competitive archer and when a long time archer friend from the US retired, Cody gave him a knife. That led to several commissions from the States. While he doesn’t have a website, his social media page gets many inquiries. Many of his customers are local from Alberta and BC.
His main limitation is time. He works long hours as a mechanic and he enjoys time with his family. He would like his daughters to share his love of knifemaking. His youngest daughter wanted a knife so he let her pick out some handle material (she chose the most expensive one) and they made the knife together. Now his eldest daughter wants to make a knife. He also likes to teach other kids and, when time permits, he has them in his shop learning basic knifemaking skills.
Favorite materials – he likes working with 1095 and 15N20 for Damascus and 1084 and 80CRV2. Most of his knives are forged, even with stock removal he often uses his forge. For handle material he likes a hybrid of wood (Maple, Jatoba, Iron wood and Black Walnut) and resins that he pours himself.
After 10 years, Cody feels he is still very early into knifemaking because there is so much to learn. However, he shares a common bond with other knifemakers... the extreme satisfaction of creating something beautiful and functional.
If he were to do it all again, he would start when he was younger and become more connected with other knifemakers much earlier. He had no idea how open knifemakers are to share their knowledge and expertise. He feels he could have saved 4-5 years of trial and error.
Words of wisdom for the new knifemaker – "Immerse yourself in knifemaking knowledge by getting together with other makers and through social media. Be prepared for failure and heart break; for example, when you spend 80 hours making a Damascus blade and then it delaminates. But learn from it and enjoy the learning. Don’t get frustrated … do it for fun and enjoy it."
See more of Cody’s Knives on Facebook - CAS Blades Codys Handmade Knives https://www.facebook.com/codysknives/
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