An example of Tomberlin's damascus is his hunter with a 4.5-inch blade in 176 layers of 1080 and 15N20 carbon steels configured in a "lazy twist" pattern. The handle is amber stag and the sheath is by Larry Parsons.


Brion Tomberlin started making knives 25 years ago.

His initial offerings were, as he calls them, “kit knives.” Brion (pronounced BRI-yun) bought the blades and ground and shaped them or just attached handles to them. After experimenting for many years, he started taking his knifemaking seriously 10 years ago, employing the stock-removal method.

In 2003, Brion’s knifemaking interest took another direction when he was introduced to the forged blade. In that year he took the “Introduction to Bladesmithing” course taught by Jim Crowell and Bert Gaston at the Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing. Brion followed that up with the “Handles and Guards” course instructed by Ron Newton, and a course on forging damascus taught by Jim Walker. In addition to the tutelage he received from this group of exceptional ABS master smiths, he has continued to learn and improve his skills by attending assorted hammer-ins over the past five years. Moreover, he credits Mike Williams, Jerry Fisk and Don Horne, the latter whom helped him considerably when he first started forging blades, and his father, who taught jewelry making and silversmithing at the University of Oklahoma, for influencing his work.

Today, Brion is an ABS journeyman smith and was working on obtaining his ABS master smith stamp as BLADE® was going to press. He forges all his blades and offers several carbon steels, ranging from the standard 1050, 1065, 1075, 1084, 1095, 5160 and 52100, and W2 tool steel, to the more exotic, such as 9260. For damascus he prefers 15N20 carbon steel in combination with any one of the previously listed steels, depending on how the knife will be used.

For handles, Brion said he likes natural materials such as desert ironwood, maple, stag, sheep horn, ivory and especially exotic hardwoods, though he will use whatever materials his clients prefer. Stainless steel hardware comes standard, with nickel silver and silicon bronze serving as other options. A custom-made leather sheath accompanies all of his knives.

Brion tests each blade by using it to cut rope, chop 2x4s and limbs, shave hair, flex the edge on a brass rod, and whatever else strikes his fancy. If a knife does not pass his testing, it does not leave his shop until he is satisfied. He routinely carries one of his knives and seeks out opportunities to test them on a daily basis.

As with most makers, Brion is part time. Actually, he refers to himself as a “three-quarter custom knifemaker.” Though part time, he averages 30 hours a week making knives. He accepts custom orders and his delivery time is one year.

Brion is active on the show circuit, attending five shows and two hammer-ins a year: the Arkansas Custom Knife Show, ABS spring hammer-in, BLADE Show, Central Texas Knife Show, Spirit of Steel Show, ABS fall hammer-in, and Oklahoma Custom Knife Show. Because he makes knives for sale at the hammer-ins, he considers them shows and prepares for them all basically the same way.

While hunters and bowies are his specialty, he makes an occasional Japanese-style blade. He also focuses on creating a superlative hamon or temper line on several of his blades. His list prices for his carbon steel knives are in the $300-$1,000 range, and those for his swords are higher. In the near term he is considering entering the folder market and possibly trying his hand at engraving.

As with most artists he has been developing and perfecting his style. Regardless of size or style, his knives feature a long and gentle “flow,” and are exceptionally well balanced and comfortable. And don’t forget Brion’s damascus; it includes beautiful patterns that add to the distinctive look of his knives. He embellishes in several ways, including grooving the guard and ferrule and fileworking the spacers. He also does handle inlays.

While a part-time maker, he has a full-time attitude. He is not merely content to build a good knife. His businesslike attitude pushes him to deliver knives on time. He communicates with his clients on a reliable, consistent basis. Should a problem arise, he will contact the client, explain what the problem is and how he is going to resolve the issue—including discarding the blade if it is not up to his high standards. I have every confidence that he will obtain his ABS master smith stamp and achieve another goal of becoming a full-time maker.

Talking knives with Brion is always a pleasure. His main goal is to make his clients happy. He listens attentively to client questions, comments, wants and desires. He offers solid suggestions with regard to the construction of his knives and/or materials to be used. He understands that a custom knife is just that—custom made to his clients’ requests. His attention to detail, combined with his excellent communication skills, makes every order from him a pleasure. His understanding of the custom knife market and his position in it allows him to price his knives accordingly. His “value pricing” provides his clients with an excellent custom knife, built to their specifications at a reasonable price.

This story originally appeared in the August BLADE.