Dreadnought Folder - Teak from USS NC Battleship inlay

Nichols, Nicholas

My name is Nicholas Nichols but you can call me Nic. I live in southeastern North Carolina with my beautiful wife Amanda and our three children - Keller, Tucker, and Iris. I am a member of the NC Custom Knifemaker's Guild and was a contestant on Forged in Fire - Japanese Ono (Season 7, Episode 33) Most recently, my Battleship Teak Large Chef's Knife won the Our State Magazine 2020 Made in NC Award for the Home & Garden category. My interest in metal arts first began when I discovered my great-great-grandfather was a blacksmith in Columbus County near my hometown of Leland, NC. After spending some time learning about ornamental metalwork, I happened upon a gentleman who introduced me to knifemaking. I quickly realized I had found my passion and began learning from other knifemakers including a master bladesmith. ​ In my former life as a chef, trained at Johnson & Wales, I learned that high-quality ingredients are the foundation for great meals. The same applies to high-quality materials and great knives. One of the greatest materials I have the privilege to work with is reclaimed teak decking and steel from the hull of the USS NC Battleship (BB-55). The most decorated battleship of World War II is permanently docked on the Cape Fear River just over a mile from my home and it is my honor to work with these and many other specialty materials.