Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Gaskill.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Matthew. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have always been a man of many hobbies, many of which were building things. Toward the end of 2014, I had been doing a lot of woodworking, and I was in the middle of building a large farmhouse table for my wife.
While working on the table, I saw an old grinder I had laying around that I inherited from my grandfather, Dale Wood. I knew he and his brother Bill made knives back in the day but had not realized that the grinder I had is what he had used to build the knives. I did a little research and found out what the grinder was used for.
I then decide that when I finished the table, I would try my hand in knife making. So as I finished the table over the next few months, I did a lot of research gathered all the materials and knowledge to get me started building a couple of knives. In early February of 2015, I built 3 knives over a weekend and fell in love with the craft.
Soon after, I sold all my woodworking tools and invested that into knife making. With the support of my wife, family, and friends, I have built over 150 knives over the past 3 years. While this is still a side hustle, I have expanded my tools and equipment, and have moved out of my garage into a shop that is dedicated to knife making.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It really has been a pretty smooth road so far. It has taken many, many hours of work but I have enjoyed them. Of Course, there have been and will be mistakes made that can be costly. I am still learning every day, but overall it has been a very positive experience.
I think this has a lot to do with the fact that this is a side business/hobby, I have another job that pays the bills and supports my family. It really has been a great experience, and it’s my goal to keep it that way.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Gaskill Knives – what should we know?
I build a wide variety of fixed blade knives/cutlery. Ranging from small everyday carry knives, to kitchen knives and I have even built a couple of kukuris. I mainly build knives using a process called stock removal. This means I take a piece of steel and remove everything that is not the knife. I have forged a few knives and plan to use the forging process more, over the next year.
I feel my designs and execution of those designs set me apart. I have created a distinct style that can be seen and recognized in my work. My goal is when someone sees a knife I built, they can recognize it almost immediately.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
There are really too many to list, but my wife Summer and children have really supported me through the journey. Organizations like the Texas Knifemakers Guild have provided me with the opportunity to meet many other talented individuals who I have learned a lot from over the past three years.
I have a lot of friends and family that have supported me by purchasing knives, and this has allowed me to grow as a maker. It’s really surprising to me, the amount of supporters and other makers I have met via social media.
Shawn Hatcher of Hatcher Knives out of Austin has inspired and helped me a lot throughout this journey. Other friends like Ryan Wheat of Union Leather and Matt Henry of Saltbox Films Co. have provided positive support over the last couple of years as well.
I have built a solid following and met some great friends this way, and they have contributed greatly to my success so far.
Contact Info:
- Website: gaskillknives.com
- Email: knives@gaskillknives.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/GaskillKnives/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gaskillknives/
Image Credit:
Matt Henry, with Saltbox Films Co.
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