Frank Bridwell puts care and craftsmanship into each Woody Brand Knife
For Frank Bridwell, or Woody, as his friends like to call him, bladesmithing is in his blood. His grandfather Augustus ran a blacksmith shop from his farm in Greenville County. His dad, the original Woody, had a commercial tool-sharpening business, making his own knives on the side. Now Woody and his son, Gus, helm Woody Brand Knives, craft quality knives that are elegant in form and function.
Originally just a collector, Bridwell would travel around to knife shows on weekends while running another full-time business. He developed relationships with craftspeople, buying their knives and reselling them.
“I met a knife maker at a knife show up in Tennessee who was making a primitive-style colonial trade knife,” Bridwell says. “People really liked them. It was a very simple knife, but it was a good user and had a historical advantage, too.”
When the knife maker retired, Bridwell asked if he would teach him how to craft the colonial trade knife. From there, Bridwell began bladesmithing in earnest, first as a hobby, and eventually launching Woody Brand Knives in 2009.
Forging a Knife Brand
Whether for field or culinary use, or handcrafted with historical significance, dedication and care is welded into the entire knife-making process. Bridwell makes the blades from steels ranging from stainless to Damascus, a hammer forge blend that gives the knife a custom, handcrafted look. The blades are then heat-treated in a propane gas forge at 1,650 degrees.
“That’s the tempering process, which is crucial in order to get a very usable and resilient knife that will hold an edge,” he says. “That’s probably the most critical part of the whole knife-making process.”
The handles are made from several types of wood, often curly maple. Once the handles are attached to the blade with a bronze pin, the final effect is elegant and sleek, yet functional. It’s a product and a process Bridwell is proud of, and one he hopes his customers will treasure for a lifetime.
Find the Right Woody Brand Knife
Named after a knife carried by outdoor journalist and conservationist George Washington “Nessmuk” Sears, Woody’s version leans rugged with native hardwood scales. “It’s just a really handy, no-nonsense kind of all-purpose knife that has a lot of history behind it.”
Fit with a “Pawleys Island” hook at the tip of the blade to aid in shell opening, this oyster shucker has been thoughtfully designed by Bridwell for maximum efficiency. The handle comes in curly maple or micarta.
Crafted from what Bridwell calls “the Cadillac of steels,” the Epoch Nomad, made with S35V steel, is a versatile, high-performance knife, ideal for when you’re out on the stream or at the dining room table.
For more, visit woodybrandknives.com.
