Josh Brown Is a Bladesmith of the First Degree

(Image credit: Josh Brown)

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Josh Brown is the bladesmith and artist behind First Degree Forge in LaGrange, Georgia. After a terrible accident left his leg shattered, he found solace in bladesmithing, and he never looked back. After spending three seasons as a competitor in Last Blade Standing, he recently took part in the Forged in Ducksauce competition as a judge.

Josh was gracious enough to take the time to talk with us this week about his future plans, where he draws his inspiration from when creating blades, and whether he prefers to be a competitor or a judge.

How Josh got his start in bladesmithing

BRUTE de FORGE: How did you get into bladesmithing?

Josh Brown: I started about nine years ago, like a lot of people; I watched a lot of YouTube videos and started dabbling in stock removal. At the time, I was beginning in ornamental blacksmithing, making little trinkets, roses, and things like that.

I didn't start forging knives until after I had a very traumatic accident. I'm a truck driver, and one day, I fell off the top of the trailer. I broke my right leg very severely, and it was about two years before I was able to walk again. So, as therapy, I would take my wheelchair to my forge, and I started hammering out knives. After over two years, I became pretty good at making knives while sitting down. So, using bladesmithing as therapy developed into what I do now.

BDF: Are you still a truck driver?

JB: I am still a driver. I currently have some things going on in my life that require me to maintain that steady income, but all of that is coming to an end very soon. I am planning to move into bladesmithing and blacksmithing full-time within the next year. I don't have an exact timeframe but within the next year.

BDF: Are you looking forward to going full-time as a bladesmith?

JB: Yes, it's my passion. I'm an artist across the board. I'm a tattoo artist also, and I draw a lot. So, art is my passion, and it really is an escape from everyday life for me. I am what I like to call “neuro spicy,” and art really helps with hyper-focus and stress relief. It‘s about stepping out of the monotony of everyday life and focusing on something that I can create.

Josh’s bladesmithing inspirations

BDF: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

JB: I know a lot of people in the knife realm. It's an absolutely amazing community, and we all help inspire each other. We communicate, share photos of the work that we do, and ask how we can make our products better. We all like to help teach. I’m a teacher myself; I teach the craft whenever I have the opportunity to have classes.

“That’s where I draw my main inspiration: from the heart. ”

(Image credit: Josh Brown)

But mostly, I draw my inspiration inwardly. I find inspiration in myself. Whenever I have a client, I basically tell them to give me an idea of what they want and give me the freedom to run with it. That is how they will get the best product I can possibly make. Give me the idea. There are so many artistic aspects involved in bladesmithing. There’s woodworking, metalworking, fabricating, welding, and leatherwork. There are so many different aspects that are involved. That's where I draw my main inspiration: from the heart.

I love challenges. I love it when a client gives me a challenge.

BDF: You mentioned that you started with ornamental blacksmithing. Do you still dabble in that?

JB: I still do, but not as often. Usually, if I feel like making something for a craft show, I will. Or I will make trinkets or gifts for loved ones. I do some woodworking where I do what's called Lichtenberg burning, where you use electric currents to burn the wood. Then, I'll fill it with resin, forge a steel rose, and attach it to the piece of wood so customers can hang it in their houses. I make a lot of Damascus wedding rings. I also make my own tools when I need them. Hammers, punches, jigs, and tongs. That’s the blacksmithing side of what I do. I’m glad I learned that skill first. I'm never stuck halfway through making a knife without a pair of tongs!

The origin of First Degree Forge

BDF: What is the name of your shop?

JB: It is First Degree Forge—a little backstory on the name. I like to turn all the bad situations in my life into good ones and create a better outcome.

About twenty years ago, my mother-in-law from my first marriage received a check in the mail and asked me to cash it. The check came back as counterfeit, and I was charged with forgery in the first degree. So, I took that name and used it for my forge: First Degree Forge. It played out perfectly.

BDF: Amazing! I love that you could take that negative thing and turn it into a positive in your life.

JB: That's the goal! To turn all of the negatives into positives. For instance, I still have the frame that was around my leg for the entire time that I was in the wheelchair. I had to have one of those halo frames because the break was so bad. I'm saving it specifically to make myself an everyday carry (EDC) blade with the parts from that frame.

BDF: I can’t wait to see that! Do you have a signature style?

(Image credit: Josh Brown)

JB: I believe I do. From the consensus I get from everyone who knows me, when they see a First Degree Forge knife, they know it’s mine. I will say that my style is inspired by Master Smith Jason Knight. The majority of what I make is custom Damascus fighter-style Bowies with the cool little point and long, sweeping tip. It's a sexy knife! I have one tattooed on my arm as a good reminder. But they are good for everything from everyday carry to chopping down a tree or processing your meat. Whatever you need it for! It's the ideal knife, in my opinion.

BDF: Do you have a favorite project you’ve completed?

JB: That's tough. Again, with a neurodivergent brain, I always want to work on about eight different knives at once. My favorite project is whatever is providing me with dopamine. If I had to pick one, I think my favorite blade I have ever made was a Scottish Claymore. It took me two months and is the biggest blade I've ever made. It was fifty-seven inches and under six pounds. So, if I had to choose one, that would be it.

BDF: Have you made other swords?

JB: I have made quite a few swords. I make knives from the size of a scalpel blade up to the Claymore. I do have my preference, which is the chopper size, but I basically make anything. I do have certain things that I won’t do, but I can refer customers to someone who would be great at it. For instance, I've made a few butterfly knives, but I never want to make another one. I just don't.

“When they ask if I can make something, the answer is yes, I can. Then I figure it out, and I get it done.”

I’ll make anything that provides me the dopamine to appease my customers. When they ask if I can make something, the answer is yes, I can. Then I figure it out, and I get it done. It's just the way the brain works. I focus on researching what I need to do to make it happen, I build it, and then I'll probably never make another one like that again. Or I'll have an order for ten of them next month.

Josh’s experience as a self-taught bladesmith

BDF: Are you self-taught?

JB: For the most part, yes, I am self-taught. I have had the opportunity to hang out with other smiths and watch what they do. Doing that has added to my technique, but I am basically one hundred percent self-taught. Everything that I do is hands-on. I learn through hands-on experience. You can show me something, and I might remember how you did it, but the second I go and try to do it like you did it, I'm lost. So, I have to teach myself my own way.

BDF: Was there a particular aspect of bladesmithing that you found to be difficult or that you struggled with?

(Image credit: Josh Brown)

JB: Yes. I would say I still struggle with it to this day because of the way my brain works. I struggle with fit and finish. The fit and finish aspect is the hardest part because it is my goal to make it as beautiful as I possibly can, but I am always limited on time. When it’s done, it will never be good enough for me.  It may be good enough for the customer, and they may be happy with it, but I'm going to look at it and see all the flaws. So, the fit and finish aspect is the most challenging issue for me when it comes to making anything.

BDF: You’ve been at this a long time. What is it about forging that you love so much?

JB: I think it would have to be the therapy. I mean, there are limitless things that I could tell you that I enjoy about it. It is an amazing craft! When I'm making a knife, and it's complete, it feels like a new child. Making something that is going to last multiple lifetimes that someone can purchase and then hand down to their children and grandchildren is amazing to me. I love that aspect of it. The hype that I give myself when I'm finished with a blade, and I'm proud of what I have created. That is what brings me back. That joy of the creation made from scratch. Every piece I make is one of a kind, so the pure pleasure that I receive from making this beautiful thing from nothing keeps me doing it. It never gets old.

“Making something that is going to last multiple lifetimes that someone can purchase and then hand down to their children and grandchildren is amazing to me.”

Josh gets “judgey” with Forged in Ducksauce

BDF: You were just recently part of the Forged in Ducksauce competition as a judge. How did you get involved in that?

JB: Priest (Parrish) and I have been friends for quite some time. We first started following each other on TikTok, and he was kind of fangirling over the fact that I followed him for some reason. I told him, “No, we're not going to do that. I'm a dude, making art just like you. So, let's talk and mingle.” From there, we became really good friends. I was originally a competitor on all three seasons of Last Blade Standing, and I had encouraged Priest to reach out and join that competition, and it all led to Ducksauce. He requested me to be one of his co-judges, and I thought it was incredible. I was thrilled and honored that he asked me to be a part of that. For us to do it together was awesome. I am sincerely appreciative of all the work that he put forth to make it happen. It was an incredible experience.

BDF: What was the most difficult part of being a judge?

JB: The hardest part was judging my friends while maintaining professionalism. We were very adamant that there would be no bias in this competition. It was very serious, and we all took it to heart.

“Looking back at it, I will refrain from slicing any more apples in the future. My shoulder hurt for days. So, next season, I will not be slicing!”

(Image credit: Josh Brown)

It was a great experience. I got to play with some beautiful artwork. I got to look at things that inspire me daily. Being up there between Priest and Jeremy—both really good friends of mine that I've known for a while and both very heavy in the TikTok bladesmithing community—was awesome. I can't express enough how absolutely awesome it was to be a part of that. Looking back at it, I will refrain from slicing any more apples in the future. My shoulder hurt for days. So, next season, I will not be slicing!

The fact that everybody came together and understood what it was about and why we did it was absolutely incredible. And being able to touch all of those knives and look at them up close, I'm in awe of the artistry. It was incredible.

BDF: So, you have been a competitor, and now you can add judge to your resume, but which do you prefer?

JB: It’s hard to choose because they are two different ends of the spectrum. As a competitor, you're concerned about how you’re going to perform. As a judge, you're worried about being as professional as you possibly can, and that is not an easy feat. I’m not really a people person, if that makes sense, so maintaining professionalism can be difficult. It does present some challenges. Then, when you're there holding a knife, and you're like, “My good friend made this knife, and I do not want to call them out, but I cannot move this knife forward.” It's painful! I think because of that aspect, I'd rather be a competitor. If I was judging people and I had no idea who they were, I was just judging their work, it would be different. I hate to hurt my friend's feelings, so I'd rather be the competitor.

BDF: Before we get to our last question, is there anything you want to mention or talk about?

JB: There are a couple of things I’d like to say. First, I want to say that the bladesmithing community as a whole is absolutely incredible. I am very honored to personally know so many people in this community—people that I communicate with on a daily basis. I am so proud to be a part of this community and to be a part of this family. It's a very wonderful part of my life.

Also, I’d like to thank you on behalf of all of us for taking the time and energy to shed light on our craft and the artists. Thank you for being awesome! I, and I’m sure the rest of us, sincerely appreciate you for what you do.

Josh’s advice for aspiring bladesmiths

BDF: Wow, I really appreciate that. I love talking with all of you, and I have learned so much just from listening to each of you. Do you have any advice for aspiring bladesmiths?

JB: I do. One thing that I've noticed is that so many people want to ask the questions, but they are afraid to approach someone who's been doing it for a while or even someone who’s just starting. Don't be afraid to ask the questions! Just ask and ask as many people as you can. I know it sounds like a cliche, but the only stupid question is the one that wasn't asked. Don't be afraid to ask questions and put yourself out there. Sometimes, it takes a little bit of humility to say, “I don’t know how to do this; can you help me?” There are so many of us willing to help. That's my best advice. You can ask five different bladesmiths one question, and you will get five different correct answers to your question. But I think that if anyone were to judge you for asking those questions, then they don't need to be the ones answering anything.

To see more from Josh and First Degree Forge follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @firstdegreeforge.

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