SHAPING NEW OPPORTUNITIES WITH CUSTOM KNIVES AND SHEATHS By Talena Winters Photography by Virginia Moskalyk k dan_bruce78@hotmail.com m 780-835-3962
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CUSTOM KNIVES Dan Bruce
an Bruce, 64, takes pride in making knives people actually use. Eight years ago, he took a continuing education course about making knives. That was the beginning of a hobby that has grown into a passion.
Originally from Carmen, MB, he currently lives in Fairview with his wife, where he teaches at Grande Prairie Regional College Fairview Campus.
Not only does Bruce make custom knives, he’s also made many of his own knife-making tools, often with plans he found on the internet. By early next year, he plans to complete a forge he’s started making—also by hand—so he can shape his own blades too.
I took a course by George Roberts of Bandit Blades and built a knife from a blank blade that weekend. I fell in love with the craft. Of course, a hunting knife needs a sheath, so I started fooling around with leatherwork too.
M OVE U P N O V E M B E R - F E B RU A RY 2020/ 2021 | www.moveupmag.com
How did you get into making custom knives?
