ABOUT

Reid Schwartz is an artist working full-time in his modest hand-oriented workshop. He makes tools, carves wood, and researches historic approaches to material process. His working study of traditional wood-crafts and native watercraft have grown into a passionate working life producing professional quality edge tools.

As a toolmaker Reid has focused almost singularly on small ‘high pressure’ blades used mostly on wood. Traditionally these types of blades were the work of highly specialized blade-forgers who studied carefully to be able to produce high quality blades. This requires a large amount of practice not only in controlling hammer blows and reading temperature by eye, but also understanding and organizing the elemental parts of blacksmithing into an efficient and effective order.

Reid has worked for over 10 years to build a toolmaking practice that relies heavily on foundational skills while utilizing both hand and machine work to produce professional quality blades in a traditional way. Always hammer forged with an obsessive eye on timing and temperature, and price always tied to time, materials, and handwork.

As an artist Reid strives include his unique point of view into everything he makes, believing that little things that make us different keep things interesting.