My dad says I have always been good with my hands. From the time I was about four years old I could be found by his side “fixing” what needed to be fixed, be it the house or the car. By age six I was disassembling lawn mowers, radios and cars—I didn’t start learning to reassemble until I was about ten.
I have never been one for traditional means of learning, I have always been better at the hands-on approach and the same holds true for knife making.
Sometime back in 2013 a good friend of mine asked me for some help heat treating a Wakazashi blade. That day, I went home and started collecting and researching the tools of the trade. Shortly after, I built my own forge, procured an anvil, and bought a set of hammers that I still prefer using today.
In early 2015 I was contacted by the History Channel to be on the premier episode of Forged in Fire. I returned for the third season of the show as a contestant on the “fan favorites” episode. My television appearances caught the eye of the local community college. They asked me to teach the Art 175 blacksmithing/ Bladesmithing course which I did for 4 semesters until May 2018. Teaching at Pima Community College inspired me to start up my own metal arts school. It is still in the planning stages but I hope to be open by first quarter of 2019.
With the help of my good friend and mentor Goya Kenny I have made my way to learning the ins and outs of this trade I have come to love. As far as personal mottos go mine seems to be, “I never make a mistake, I either succeed or learn!” Please enjoy my knives and if you see something you can’t live without…. Let me know, I’d love to make one for you!
Rich Greenwood
Pokabu Forge
Tucson AZ
520-272-4328
pokabuforge@gmail.com
Pokabu Forge 