Master Bladesmith Teaches His Second Year of Apprentices The Art of Crafting Knives

NOME, N.D. (KVRR) — The art of crafting has been a huge part of Jed Anderson’s life. Bringing to life knives and swords for hunting, cooking, fishing, and for fun.

“It is incredibly therapeutic being able to do this kind of stuff. Not just you know, I have a bad day come into the shop grab a big hammer and start beating on something it’s great. I love making knives, I love being able to create something with my own hands. And if I can you know help encourage people to do something like that, it doesn’t have to be blacksmithing or bladesmithing, just anything creative,” said Jed Anderson, Professional Bladesmith.

When Anderson was 11 years old he met a traveling blacksmith at a county fair in northern Minnesota. The blacksmith made him a candlestick holder and from there he was amazed by the craft. And in 2016 he made the first step to making his own knife.

“I was on such a high after holding that knife. I just wow it just made me feel amazing and that’s when I realized that that’s what I wanted to do and just yeah went with it,” said Anderson.

Since 2016, Anderson began down the road of honing his craft and eventually was approached to take his crafting into the teaching world. With the aid of the North Dakota Folk Arts and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program, Anderson is able to share his craft. In his first year he had one student and this year he has four.

“It’s been great I enjoy it. It’s one thing I always been fascinated with I always wanted to do and thanks to Jed now I can start doing it myself doing at my own farm and just a new hobby I have,” said Caden Johnston, Apprentice for about 5 years.

Anderson hopes to one day open up his own school to have more space to bring on more apprentices.