Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynden Lowery.
Hi Lynden, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started making knives in 2007, I think. The details are fuzzy. I’ve had chemo since then. But I’ve had a passion for knives and fire for as far back as I can remember. So when I was offered the chance to learn, I jumped on it.
Back then, I was working at Whole Foods in the Prepared Foods department. Which educated me at to what not to do in both knife making and sharpening in general.
The house knives were uncomfortable and gave you blisters after about 30 minutes working with them because of the sharp 90 degree angle at the top of the knife.
When those awful blades were sent off for sharpening, It was not uncommon for them to come back significantly more narrow and blue.
In other words, an 8 inch chef knife would come back looking like a filet knife and blue along the edge and tip.
Meaning the in-house sharpener got those knives way too hot and removed way too much material.
A couple of years into my path, I found a part-time job at a coffee house that had a pretty good ratio for gratuity and so that I could focus more of my time learning and less time being exhausted.
An apprenticeship is a full-time commitment unto itself, and I was tired of being exhausted all the time.
I worked at that coffee house for 6 or 7 years, then lost that job shortly after going through half a year of chemotherapy.
After chemo. Being jobless and weak as a kitten, I was in a pretty bad place, head-wise.
My partner, ever the brains behind whatever endeavor I attempt; suggested that I start a knife sharpening business.
My ego got in the way of that for almost a year. I was a bladesmith after all. I didn’t just sharpen knives.
But, almost a year of silence from me as far as bladesmithing went, and my customer list and referrals were in the wind.
So. Tired of being broke, I finally gave in and followed my partner’s advice.
I started a company. Started sharpening at a Farmer’s Market and haven’t looked back since.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Not at all. Between having a teacher who wouldn’t get off of his butt to teach me, chemo, balancing work, learning to make knives, trying to have some semblance of a social life, and the vagueries of being a new business owner, it’s been…interesting.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Southpaw Bladeworks?
As a bladesmith, I spend the first few years of my training/learning making swords and fixed blade knives.
About halfway into my knife-making journey, I switched focus to blades that didn’t carry the essential statement, ” It’s beautiful, but what would I use that for?”
Meaning I focused on kitchen knives, straight razors, and a passion project of mine, small, low profile self defense blades for women called, Get Off Me tools.
I took the notes I’d made from my years in the service industry regarding the ergonomics of kitchen knives and applied them to my creations.
When I started the sharpening business after chemo, around 2015. I made it a point to sharpen every single blade, no matter Its caliber and cost as sharp as possible while only removing the necessary amount of material.
I sharpen with a low speed, motorized whetstone that will not overheat the edge of a blade while getting the knife as almost as keen as a razor.
I sharpen everything from hair shears to straight razors on it.
This attitude has earned me the reputation for quality and conscientious work.
I don’t judge people for their blades. Either the price or the condition.
When people ask me if a knife is worth sharpening, I tell them that if they use it, it’s worth it.
My years as a bladesmith has afforded me the experience to be able to sharpen most types of blades and put a customer’s mind at ease, that yes, I do indeed know what I’m doing and can fix pretty much whatever has been done to that blade before it came to me.
A good quarter of my business comes from being able to fix other people’s work.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Really I don’t see much change in my part of this industry. With the advent of the show Forged In Fire, I have more budding bladesmiths coming to me for advice and repairs to the boo boos that being new at craft entails.
If anything. The fact that I am out there, letting people know that they don’t have to throw their knives away when they’re dull, and empowering with the knowledge on how to take care of their blades between sharpening, so far, has only grown my business.
Pricing:
- Knives between 5-10 inches $8
- Below 5 inches $5
- Bread knives $9
- Scissors start at $10
- Knick, chip, tip, dip, repair, and partial serrations add $3
Contact Info:
- Email: spbladeworks@gmail.com
- Instagram: @southpaw_bladeworks
- Facebook: Facebook.com/SouthpawSharpening
