Industry

Shawn Shropshire creates one-of-a-kind knives for his clients in Piedmont. Photos courtesy Shawn Stropshire

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.

“I’m drawn to the frontier style because of the materials I get to use,” explains bladesmith and SDS Knifeworks owner Shawn Shropshire. “ e patina. e overall look and feel of deer, ermine, beaver, bone, rawhide, antler and natural elements. It is utilitarian art. Every knife I make is made to be used. Don’t just hang things on the wall. Use the good stu in your life.”

In his Piedmont workshop, about half the knives Shropshire makes are frontier inspired, or have other historical in uences such as Native American or European Viking.

“I make a lot of Bowie knives. e Bowie knife is the iconic American knife,” he says. “Jim Bowie was in the 1827 Sandbar Fight in Louisiana. As a result, he made the knife famous. Bowie was a South/Southwest regional, biggerthan-life character. And he was at the Alamo. But the origin of the knife is a gray area.” e other half of Shropshire’s creations include some chefs’ knives, but primarily they’re working knives for cattlemen, used for the outdoors in shing and hunting.

“ ese are smaller blades and are utilitarian. Less decorative,” he says. “A working man can a ord to buy and use them.

For years, I’ve sold at the annual Cow ieves and Outlaws Reunion Fundraiser at Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve in Bartlesville. It’s a juried show with only 10 to 12 vendors who are di erent kinds of artists. I am inspired by the work of other people.” In 2021, Shropshire won the “Best Forged Blade Knife” competition at the 32nd Salon International du Couteau d’Art et de Collection (SICAC) in Paris, France. He’ll compete in Paris again in late 2022. He also won the “Best Bowie” competition at the 2022 Texas Select Custom Cutlery Event in Bellville, Texas. is year, Shropshire plans to show his work in Atlanta, Ga., for the second year. “ is is the largest knife show in the world,” he says. “It draws the FORGED IN most makers from all

FIRE around the world.” With 3.7K FaceShropshire attended book followers, East Central University Shropshire spends a in Ada, earning de- lot of outdoor time grees in sociology and testing his knives. He criminal justice. As an is also a member of Oklahoma City police numerous organizaoff icer, he was on tions, including the patrol for seven years, American Bladesmith and a motorcycle off i- Society, which sets cer for 13. He can also quality standards. see him on the History An active member Channel show Forged of the Knife Group Asin Fire Champion – sociation of Oklahoseason five, episode ma (KGA), Shropshire 39 to be exact. calls it the “state’s knife maker group. “It’s a game show; We have gatherings there are four makers,” as part of the KGA. he says. “We’re given People can nd us on materials and have so Facebook. So many many hours to create. makers have poured When I won that, that into me, and I’m blew things up for me. trying to do that for So this went from a the next generation of part-time hobby to a makers coming up.” full-time career.” CAROL MOWDY BOND

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

e Oklahoma Main Street Program helps to nd and enhance the beauty of cities across the state.

Oklahoma’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 tra c 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 re ect ample history and culture.

In the not-too-distant past, Main Street in America was near the brink of extinction. e 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 e 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 A airs – which later became the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. e inau-