Custom Bladesmith · Est. Lancaster, Massachusetts

Japanese-inspired blades, forged by one maker.

Swords, tantos, and folders made by traditional and modern methods. Commissions and finished pieces by conversation, not shopping cart.

Ask about a commission Knife sharpening, $5–$10

As seen on History's Forged in Fire

Close view of the hamon temper line on a hand-forged blade — The hamon — the temper line that appears where edge meets spine. The pursuit behind every blade.

The blades

Steel, folded and finished.

Real pieces off the anvil, photographed as they left the shop.

Forge-folded tanto

3,200 layers of steel, folded and welded in the fire, then hardened so the hamon rises along the edge like a wave line.

Tanto in full custom mount on a wooden display stand

Tanto in full mount

Blade, fittings, wrap, and saya built as one piece. Every mounting is made for the blade it carries.

1000-layer forge-folded katana in full custom mount

1,000-layer katana

W2 steel folded to a thousand layers, mounted in full custom fittings. Commissioned work, built to a brief.

Folding kogatana with camel bone and masur birch handle — Folding kogatana — camel bone & masur birch

Kogatana knife in 1095 steel with black handle and copper accents — Kogatana in 1095 steel

16-inch chopper in 1075 steel with snakewood scales — 16-inch chopper — 1075, snakewood

Knife sharpening

Bring your dull knives to the booth.

Knives under 5 inches$5
Knives over 5 inches$10
Scissors$10

Sharpened by the same hands that forge blades from raw steel. Most knives are done while you shop the market. House calls for kitchens and collections near Lancaster. Email for details.

Where to find the booth

June through October, at farmers markets across Greater Boston. Recent seasons have included:

Lexington · Dedham · Harvard

Each week's schedule is posted on Instagram at @venier_forge.

The maker

One man. One forge. One blade at a time.

Matt Venier forges Japanese-inspired blades in Lancaster, Massachusetts — katana, tanto, kogatana, and machined titanium folders. His pieces are held by collectors and carried by national dealers including Blade HQ and PVK, and he has spent over a decade sharpening knives at farmers markets across the region.

Forged in Fire · Man At Arms: Reforge

Folded steel grain, the hada, on a forge-folded blade

Start the conversation
matt@venierdesign.com

Commission, sharpening question, or a piece you saw here — describe it and you'll hear back from Matt himself. Reference photos welcome.

Lancaster, MA 01523 Instagram — @venier_forge Markets June–October