T H E S TAT E | I N D U S T R Y
A Sharp Set of Skills
Shawn Stropshire forges knives out of his workshop in Piedmont, and has won an array of awards for his work.
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sold at the annual Cow Thieves I’m drawn to the frontier style because of the materi- and Outlaws Reunion Fundraiser at Woolaroc Museum and als I get to use,” explains Wildlife Preserve in Bartlesville. bladesmith and SDS Knifeworks It’s a juried show with only 10 owner Shawn Shropshire. “The to 12 vendors who are different patina. The overall look and feel kinds of artists. I am inspired by of deer, ermine, beaver, bone, the work of other people.” rawhide, antler and natural In 2021, Shropshire won the elements. It is utilitarian art. “Best Forged Blade Knife” comEvery knife I make is made to be petition at the 32nd Salon Inused. Don’t just hang things on ternational du Couteau d’Art et the wall. Use the good stuff in de Collection (SICAC) in Paris, your life.” France. He’ll compete in Paris In his Piedmont workagain in late 2022. He also won shop, about half the knives the “Best Bowie” competition at Shropshire makes are frontier inspired, or have other histori- the 2022 Texas Select Custom Cutlery Event in Bellville, Texas. cal influences such as Native This year, Shropshire plans to American or European Viking. show his work in Atlanta, Ga., “I make a lot of Bowie knives. for the second year. The Bowie knife is the iconic “This is the largest knife American knife,” he says. “Jim show in the world,” Bowie was in the he says. “It draws the 1827 Sandbar most makers from all Fight in Louisiana. around the world.” As a result, he With 3.7K Facemade the knife book followers, famous. Bowie was Shropshire attended Shropshire spends a a South/Southwest East Central University lot of outdoor time regional, biggerin Ada, earning detesting his knives. He than-life character. grees in sociology and is also a member of And he was at the criminal justice. As an numerous organizaAlamo. But the Oklahoma City police tions, including the origin of the knife officer, he was on American Bladesmith is a gray area.” patrol for seven years, Society, which sets The other half and a motorcycle offiquality standards. of Shropshire’s cer for 13. He can also An active member creations include see him on the History of the Knife Group Assome chefs’ knives, Channel show Forged sociation of Oklahobut primarily in Fire Champion – ma (KGA), Shropshire they’re working season five, episode calls it the “state’s knives for cattle39 to be exact. knife maker group. men, used for the We have gatherings outdoors in fishing “It’s a game show; as part of the KGA. and hunting. there are four makers,” People can find us on “These are he says. “We’re given Facebook. So many smaller blades materials and have so makers have poured and are utilitarian. many hours to create. into me, and I’m Less decorative,” When I won that, that trying to do that for he says. “A working blew things up for me. the next generation of man can afford to So this went from a makers coming up.” buy and use them. part-time hobby to a CAROL MOWDY BOND For years, I’ve full-time career.”
FORGED IN FIRE
Shawn Shropshire creates one-of-a-kind knives for his clients in Piedmont. Photos courtesy Shawn Stropshire
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2022
On Enid’s Main Street, Settlers Brewing was a successful revitalization project spearheaded by Main Street America’s Oklahoma branch. Photos courtesy Main Street America Oklahoma Branch
Main Street, America
The Oklahoma Main Street Program helps to find and enhance the beauty of cities across the state.
O
klahoma’s favorite son Will Rogers once said: “We do more talking about progress that we do progressing.” And in some Oklahoma cities, progress often looks like orange traffic cones, delays and detours. Other progress has threatened one treasured asset in our small Oklahoma towns in the past century: the main street districts and historic downtown centers that reflect ample history and culture. In the not-too-distant past, Main Street in America was near the brink of extinction. The advent of big-box retailers, the increasing use of interstate highways and turnpikes and the economic collapse of our oil industry in the 1980’s all contributed to the decline of occupancy and utilization in these areas.
The Oklahoma Main Street Program
Enter The Oklahoma Main Street Program, which was launched in 1986 with funding from the state legislature, under the umbrella of the Department of Economic and Community Affairs – which later became the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The inau-
