I first attended the Bay Area Knife Collectors Association (BAKCA) knife show in San Jose in 1993, where I got my first taste of custom knives. I couldn't afford any of them (I was in grad school), so I decided to start making them for myself. I first put together knives based on Bob Engnath's Blades n' Stuff blades. In 1994, I joined BAKCA and met Phil Odell, a knifemaker local to the SF Bay Area. He invited me into his shop, and taught me how to grind my own blades. After that I had to buy my own Burr King grinder, and started working on my own knives. I've been a part-time knifemaker ever since. I joined the American Bladesmith Society (ABS) in 1998, but didn't actually forge any blades until 2000. In the summer of 2001 I attended the ABS school in Old Washington, Arkansas. I was lucky to have the ABS president, Dr. Jim Batson as the teacher. I now have my own forge and anvil, and am working towards my Journeyman ABS rating.

I have a PhD in astrophysics from UC Berkeley. I use a shooting star to mark my knives to reference my background.

I am currently very interested in forging, and forge most of my blades. However, I still make stock removal stainless steel knives when appropriate - like chef's knives. Because I am part time, all of my knives are unique. Each knife is it's own project. I do some work to customer specifications, but most of my work is from my own head. I use natural materials for my handles - fossil mammoth ivory, walrus ivory, and fancy wood. Each knife must be a practical using knife first and foremost. I take great care in the heat treatment, shaping and sharpening of the blade; and handles must fit the hand and be durable as well as beautiful. I like to let the natural materials speak for themselves. Most of my blade finishes are satin hand finished. On some knives I leave some of the hammer/forging finish to show that the knife was hand forges. For forging, I mostly use 5160, 1084 and L6. For stainless knives, I mostly use ATS-34.

I draw inspiration from early American bowie and using knives. I also draw inspiration from Scottish culture. My wife is Scottish, and we visit her family there every year. The museums there are full of beautiful swords and dirks.