Caffrey Knives "The Montana Bladesmith"

08/24/2024

Today is day 3 post surgery.... this recovery is gonna take some time. Although it was done robotically, there are still 5 incision sites, and one "drain-hole" site. All in the abdomen, which means it feels like somebody just pummeled me with a baseball bat in the gut. Dr. said that the surgery went well, except that my prostate was so large he had to make the exit hole bigger... but he got it out. The initial tissue exam did not show any cancer outside the "margins", nor in any of the removed lymph nodes.... which is encouraging news. Of course, I have a cath in me, which is the first post-surgery appt next week.... to see if my body can still "go". If so they will remove the cath, and then it's waiting for the pathology to come back. Likely around the 6-week time frame. That report will dictate if any further treatment is necessary. Looks like I won't be doing much for at least 6 weeks or so. Praise God for bringing me through this valley, and many thanks to everyone for their prayers and well wishes!

08/12/2024

Woot! Just got a call from the Doc... they had a cancellation, my surgery is now 21 August! Praise God! He's workin it for my good!

08/08/2024

Just wanted to let everyone know that due to my medical situation, my shop will likely be "closed" for the entire month of September. Surgery for Prostate Cancer is scheduled for 4 Sept., and that includes "not driving or working for at least a month". I hope to be back on my feet sooner....but I have no idea what the aftermath of surgery will be. Also, many thanks for the prayers and well wishes! With God, ALL things are possible!

08/01/2024

UPDATE: Had the PET scan in mid-July, and so far the cancer has not spread outside the prostate. Right now, unless there is a cancellation and I can get in sooner, surgery is scheduled for 4 September. They are doing a robotic assist "Radical Prostatectomy" Hopefully by then it will still be contained. The waiting is the most difficult part....knowing that stuff is in me....and not being able to do anything about it for another month.
Thanks for all the payers a well wishes! Keep em comin!

05/31/2024

Asking for your Prayers. Back story: for about 3 years now my PSA has been elevated. The Urologist I was seeing was completely negligent. It started at 10.1, then to 16.4, When I asked about the elevated PSA, and what we were going to do, I either got "It's no big deal", or "We're just going to monitor it. This year, after my third visit to this clown, my PSA was 24.1! And when I insisted that he do something, his response was "We'll put you on antibiotics for 2 weeks...it's likely an infection." End of that idiot! It's tough getting to see a new Doc in a small town... so my daughter (the nurse) pulled a couple of strings.... and once the new Urologist heard of my PSA....straight to a prostate MRI. Which of course showed a tumor, and led to biopsies. The biopsies came back as cancer. Again, small town, and limited everything, so right now I am having to wait until mid-July, and have to travel to Billings (3 1/2 hours away) to get a PET scan, just to discuss options! Love my small town Montana, but hate the "junior varsity" medical situation! I'm planning on reaching out to my Docs in Seattle/UofW and see if I can talk to the Fred Hutch Cancer Center there. MEN.... GET YOURSELVES CHECKED! I suspect with a competent Doctor, I could have had this spotted and likely taken care of 3 years ago! Now I'm behind the power curve, and likely looking at a hard road ahead. Thanks in advance for your prayers!

05/11/2024

Cindy and I definitely stayed up past our bedtime last night! We travel north of town to see the Northern Lights.... (with what appeared to be the rest of the entire Great Falls population...GEEZ) First time for Cindy seeing them.... which wasn't easy with all the other knuckleheads driving around with their high beams on! 🙄

02/24/2024

Once everything was repaired... time to heat treat/quench some blades!

02/24/2024

The repair of the "Salt Tank" continued......

02/22/2024

This is what a ruptured high-temperature salt tank looks like. These tanks always give out at the weld (where the base is welded to the tube). Good thing I was waiting around for it to come to temp. The first clue was all the green smoke coming out of the forge that the tube sits in, and then thankfully I was smart enough to build a catch basin under/around the forge that holds the tank.... that kept 1500F liquid from running out across the shop floor! The pics show two tanks....the one that ruptured, and the one that will be its replacement. Both tanks and bases are 316 Stainless. The ruptured tank has been in service for 21 years....so I'd say I got my money's worth out of it. I'll post some more pics later, once I have it all back together and working again.

02/02/2024

Just a reminder.... you can find all of our available videos (free and for sale), as well as Ed's knifemaker forums at Just a reminder.... you can find all of our available videos (free and for sale), as well as Our own Knife Forums at

Products Main Categories Damascus Billets & Barstock DEALS TOOLS VIDEO GUIDES All ProductsSearch Categories Sort Damascus Billets & Barstock Forge Theory and Design 101 $6.99 How to Re-bend Your Warped Blades $3.99 Seamless Knife Guards $11.99 Hammer Theory 101 $3.99 Grinders, Accessories and Belts....

01/04/2024

Welcome to 2024! Here's hoping that you have all the best, and all the blessings in the New Year. I've been working on updating my website, which has been FAR more time-consuming than I thought it'd be. Also trying to get a few knives completed, so I can launch the new website with at least a few pieces available for purchase. If anyone is interested in a Damascus Ink Pen.... I have 24 of them in stock! Just let me know and I can email you some pics for now, or they will be listed individually on the updated website when it's launched. All the best from me to you!!