Mark of the Maker
Mark of the Maker
Discussion of knives, knifemaking, and knife collecting with makers Michael
Mark of the Maker is a panel discussion with renowned custom knife makers Tom Krein, Sean Kendrick and Michael Burch, and hosted by Mark Stheiner. The format is much like a group of friends sitting around in The Pit at Blade Show, talking knives - a look at life from the perspective of the maker as well as the collector. Covering broader topics such as tactical knife history, trends, industry commentary and influences of social media, as well as conversations with other knifemakers, collectors and notable figures in and around the custom knife world. Music: "noir guitar" by Stevie's Amp Shack, from the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0
Episode 164: David Kramp
Traditional knife / slipjoint maker David Kramp joins us to talk about his award-winning knifemaking journey.  David shares insights on his personal background, his influences, and how he came to make knives.  Like most, his path is unique and his work speaks for itself.  We are fans and after listening, we think you will be as well.  Find us at our Patreon and follow us on Instagram @markofthemaker or join our discussion group on Facebook for more conversation.
Sep 21
2 hr 2 min
Episode 163: BYOT
Let's give one of our favorite episode types a little twist! This time, we're doing BYOT—Bring Your Own Topic. We'll each share a few pieces that fit a theme or topic we're interested in. We'll explore a wide range of subjects, from spectacular art pieces to the most cringe-worthy. Will do our best to try to share pictures of each piece in our Facebook group so you can follow along. Find us at our Patreon and follow us on Instagram @markofthemaker or join our discussion group on Facebook for more conversation.
Aug 31
1 hr 39 min
Episode 162: Ryan Johnson Pt.2
Ryan Johnson of RMJ Tactical and Gold Point Forge joins us again to continue with the story of the evolution of his brands and his craft.  We talk business, strategy, design, mentality and more.  Ryan is a joy to chat with, another great conversation and one we're quite sure you'll enjoy.  Find us at our Patreon and follow us on Instagram @markofthemaker or join our discussion group on Facebook for more conversation.
Aug 17
2 hr 7 min
Episode 161: Ryan Johnson Pt.1
Ryan Johnson of RMJ Tactical and Gold Point Forge joins us for a chat.  In Part 1, we talk about Ryan's interest in blacksmithing as a kid and how that developed thanks to some great mentorship.  We also talk about the early days of RMJ Forge and how his career developed over time into the beginnings of RMJ Tactical.  Ryan is a great storyteller, you're going to enjoy this one!  Find us at our Patreon and follow us on Instagram @markofthemaker or join our discussion group on Facebook for more conversation.
Aug 3
1 hr 52 min
Episode 160: Blade Show 2026 Wrap-Up
Mark, Tom and Michael get together to talk about Blade 2026 and the Arts in Metal show.  Show prep, how the two shows went, and some crazy cool stuff Michael and Tom saw on their Saturday walkabout together.  You'll definitely want to check out the companion pics in our Facebook group!  Find us at our Patreon and follow us on Instagram @markofthemaker or join our discussion group on Facebook for more conversation.
Jul 20
2 hr 18 min
Episode 159: Summer Picks
This time around, we pulled together an episode with picks we thought were perfect for this glorious time of year - Summer!  There's quite a variety here and we had fun with it as we always do with the picks shows.  Give it a listen when you have some time.  Find us at our Patreon and follow us on Instagram @markofthemaker or join our discussion group on Facebook for more conversation.
Jul 6
1 hr 24 min
Episode 158: STARKO
The whole crew gets back together to chat with Donnie from STARKO Gear.  Donnie shares his unique path into the world of EDC and gear and how the brand came to be.  Like many, he wasn't a "natural" maker and found is way through his own path.  Great chat, one we think you'll enjoy.  Find us at our Patreon and follow us on Instagram @markofthemaker or join our discussion group on Facebook for more conversation.
Jun 22
1 hr 18 min
Episode 157: Influences - Punisher Comic
Sean and Mark dive into another Influences episode, this time about the Punisher Comics and specifically the short Punisher Armory series. These were a big influence on Sean and we spend some time talking about the knife-related content in these comics and the artist Eliot R. Brown. Fascinating stuff and what reads like a love letter from Eliot about the state of the art of knives and gear of the era. Hope you enjoy it! Find us at our Patreon and follow us on Instagram @markofthemaker or join our discussion group on Facebook for more conversation.
Jun 8
46 min
Episode 156: Visit to Randall Made Knives
Mark continues his knife road trip adventure with a visit to Randall Made Knives in Orlando, Florida.  This was a special treat as he was able to walk through the Randall Museum with Jason Randall, who shared some fantastic detail and insight behind some of the knives in this truly vast collection.  Historical pieces, Randall oddities, ethnic knives, and of course the iconic knives that supported the early US Space program.  It was a pleasure, Jason and Caroline Randall were fantastic hosts.  Find us at our Patreon and follow us on Instagram @markofthemaker or join our discussion group on Facebook for more conversation.
May 25
1 hr 16 min
Episode 155: Visit to Arizona Custom Knives
Mark heads out on the road and makes a visit ot our friends and sponsors, Arizona Custom Knives.  In the first segment, he chats with Andrew McMichael, Director of Consignment Sales about a crazy selection of knives from their inventory.  Some fantastic pieces, from historic to art, to tactical and more.  In the second half Mark and Henry Hyman talk about the history of AZCK and how it became the juggernaut knife business that it is today.  Find us at our Patreon and follow us on Instagram @markofthemaker or join our discussion group on Facebook for more conversation.
May 11
1 hr 41 min
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