Parakeeti

Blackwood, Neil

"I made my first all-wooden knives or letter openers around the age of 6 or 7 and moved on to actual tool steel knives in my dad's shop class in eighth grade. In the early 70's, carrying pocketknives to school was the norm for boys, and a stacked leather-handled knife was a favorite project in my dad's metal shop class. In 1995, I became very serious about what had always been just a hobby. At that time, I began to acquire my own knifemaking equipment so I could work on knives away from my job. The same year my family and I relocated to Lakeland, Florida. Shortly after our move to Florida, I began developing the first standard models including my Small and Medium Hunters. I called on my experience from deer hunting in New York and I also considered a lot of feedback from local hunters and customers here in Florida. However, at this time, my main focus is on folders. As a machinist, I'm enjoying the challenges involved in making them."