Damascus and Mammoth Ivory Auto

Hanson III, Don (Sunfish Forge)

"I started making knives as a hobby back in the 1980s. One of the first knives I made was a fighter with desert ironwood handle. Among some of the first knives were filet knives, kitchen knives, paring, butcher, and slicing knives. In 1990, we moved from our native Florida to Southern Missouri. During this time, I began making knives full time. These knives were mainly hunting style knives along with a few custom bowies. In the beginning my tang stamp was my initials DH, but in 1996 I changed it to a sunfish stamp designed by my wife. In 1994, I began making slip joint folding knives in the old traditional patterns. This is where the classic traditional sunfish pattern comes in. The sunfish was one of the first knife patterns I made. At the knife shows, I became known as 'The Sunfish Man'. From that name came my forge name. With each order for a folder I began to evolve into more of my own designs, moving into making more art knives, automatics, and solid 18K Gold knives. Around 2003, I started making forged bowies and fixed blades with both traditional damascus blades and also carbon steel blades with vivid hamons. I began making my own damascus in 1994; starting out with trips to the National Ornamental Metals Museum in Memphis, TN. With help from my Memphis friends, I was able to make my first damascus. Earned my ABS Mastersmith stamp in 2007."