We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jody Lyddane a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jody with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
Jennifer and I both share the belief that you get out of life what you put into it. We believe in working hard and we enjoy demonstrating that to our children. We teach our daughter and son that in order to grow, you must constantly remove yourself from your comfort zone and challenge yourself often. Furthermore, if you have a God given talent, you should pursue it and see where it takes you.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Jody, who is full time military & Jennifer, who is a master barber are the owners, operators, and artists of the forge. Located near the Kentucky River in Versailles, Kentucky, the bladesmith duo forge one of a kind knives that are not only functional but unique and versatile. From intricate hand forged Damascus/pattern welded designs to simple mono-steel blades, they use their skillset, experience, and attention to detail to make pieces that can be passed down from generation to generation. Our Forge is unique in the fact that we are husband and wife who create together. We often compete against one another in friendly competition, we offer one another critique and challenge one another to do better. We both competed on the History Channel’s Forged in Fire television show and Jennifer has the title of Forged in Fire Champion after competing on Season 8 Epsiode 14 & 16. Jody also does all of the leather work for the hand sewn leather sheaths that accompany their blades. The team produces blades of all styles to include culinary knives, every day carry blades, camping knives, etc.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My knowledge of metallurgy and background as a Farrier gave me a full understanding of the science behind forging. There is much more that goes into Blade making than merely heating steel and hammering it into shape. Understanding the molecular structure, critical temperature, how to heat treat and alter the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties are essential to making a useful tool. Jennifer has a keen eye and her background as a barber affords her patience; she enjoys taking her time for the perfect fit and finish. She studies the craft and has attended schools like a Handles & Guards course at the Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing in Texarcana. Our advice to aspiring bladesmiths would be to not expect greatness or perfection when first beginning. Be prepared to fail often but use each failed attempt as a learning experience. We have a ‘wall of shame’ on our shop wall and each failed Blade represents a lesson that was hopefully never repeated. Keep learning and ask questions to those who came before you.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
Our business requires a more well rounded approach. There are many aspects to knife making that have to be practiced over and over in order to become proficient. I would compare it to my 23 years of military service as well as Jennifer’s 20 years as a master barber. In the military you can’t rely on just one skill to get you through. A Soldier has to be fit, has to be proficient with a rifle, must be able to communicate effectively, and has to be a team player. Just the same, a barber can’t just be good at fading a males hair or cutting a females bangs. They must be able to provide each customer with tailored service according to their request. Each skillset must be practiced and honed regularly (pun intended). Knife making is similar, you can be great at forging a Blade but if you are unable to bevel the edge, finesse the handle or polish the metal you will not produce a superior product. If you realise, and I speak from experience, that you are not good at bevels, then you must do it over and over again until you master it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jlforge.com
- Instagram: JL Forge & Lipstick Blacksmith
- Facebook: JL Forge & Lipstick Blacksmtih
