Two unique methods of mosaic damascus combined into one meticulously ground, mirror polished blade. A hand-sculpted antiqued bronze guard with precisely executed facets designed to accentuate the flow of the blade. A flowing, carved ironwood handle with natural grain that bends with the shape of the grip. Finally, a luxurious flush butt cap inlay to both cover the tang nut and add a touch of artistic flare to the most overlooked part of most knives.
Designed not only for aesthetic beauty but also for superb comfort and functionality, should the owner decide to put it to work. There are few designs that have stuck with me as much as this one, and it will certainly remain one of my favorite Bowie’s to date!
Blade length: 6”
Overall length: 11.25”
Blade steels: 1084/15N20 in-house accordion cut and twisted mosaic damascus @61.5 HRC
Blade grind: Hollow to Convex Compound Grind
Handle material: Desert Ironwood
Bolster material: Textured Nickel Bronze
Butt cap inlay: Fabricated Mother of Pearl
Sheath: unfinished at this time, but will be a right-handed, hand-tooled leather belt carry sheath. Pictures will be added to the listing upon completion.
If you would like to save a few hundred dollars on this blade, email me at bridgerarms9@gmail.com and we can process payment using Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, or check to avoid a 3% transaction fee.
The Concept
This takedown bowie, though it was made in 2024, still holds up as one of my best ever. The balance of the blade when in use is exquisite, the handle is effortlessly comfortable, and the knife is packed, tip to pommel nut, with dozens of subtle, expertly executed details.
The goal that I set for myself when making an ‘art’ knife is to make the silhouette alone stand out as ambitious, proportionate, and correct for the task of that blade. Once one looks past the outline of the blade, they should be shocked and delighted by the amount of tasteful, skillful, dramatic detail packed into such a sleek and unassuming silhouette. The owner should be able to inspect the knife and find something new to appreciate each time. Finally, when holding the knife, the user should feel capable and confident in its ability. An expensive knife should not only look the part…it should feel like a top-end, priceless extension of one’s arm.
This knife accomplished these tasks more perfectly than any knife any other knife I had made at the time of its creation. It remains one of my favorite pieces I’ve ever made.
The Name
The story behind the name stems from my own name and explorations. My middle name, Bridger, came from the famous mountain man and explorer, Jim Bridger. Bridger was famous for his exploration and discovery, especially in the state of Wyoming. Within the Bridger-Teton National Forest is a stretch of mountains known as the wind river mountain range. Within this massive valley Are many lakes, rivers, and dramatic peaks that can be extremely difficult to access from the outside without expert guidance and gear. However, despite the dangerous and arduous hike, it is well worth the journey. At the age of 13, I made my first journey into the wind River range for a two week stay. Once I entered the valley I instantly fell in love with the illusive beauty, breathtakingly dramatic landscape, and natural grandeur of the Winds. As the trip was primarily for trout fishing in the hundreds of lakes and rivers within the Wind River range, I spent much of my time on the water. The mountain range got its name from its incessant and powerful gusts of wind that echo within the peaks and ripple the surface of the waters.
The experience left such an impact on me, I decided to commemorate it and my following trips to the Winds with an epic art knife. The massive size of the blade was meant to reflect how everything seemed to be extra large within the Winds; the lakes, the mountains, the trees, etc. I conceptualized and created the original Damascus pattern to resemble a flowing river with small ripples and rapids along the way. The handle contains natural earthy colors with beautiful Turkish walnut burl and a Leather wrapped section.
The sheath and stand are both handmade here in NE to perfectly fit the knife and provide a beautiful way to carry and display it.
Steel: 1084/15N20 high-carbon multibar Damascus
Handle Materials: 309SS, brass, leather, cotton stitching, stabilized Turkish walnut burl
Length: 14” blade, 20” overall
Stand: Walnut with leather lining for handle slot
Sheath: Rich brown leather with western, mountain themed tooling
If you would like to save a few hundred dollars on this blade, email me at bridgerarms9@gmail.com and we can process payment using Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, or check to avoid a 3% transaction fee.
These four Japanese gyuto-style chef knives were designed to be used and enjoyed as versatile and beautiful kitchen tools. The traditional Wa handles made from various stabilized wood handles provide a universally comfortable and intuitive handle shape that is easy to index and will fit anyones hand.
The blades sport compound, flat to convex grinds to improve stability and strength while also having a thin edge for clean and effortless cuts. The edge profile has a small flat near the heel which sweeps into the belly and tip, making the blades ideal for draw cuts, push cuts, chopping, and rocking cuts on all targets. The stainless blade steel used has extremely high toughness and excellent edge retention while also being easy to re-sharpen, a property that is vital to a high-performance, user-friendly kitchen knife.
Blade Length: 8”
Overall length: 13.25”
Steel: AEB-L Stainless Steel
Handle Materials: Stabilized Woods, G10 Spacers
(Note: some photos were taken before my touchmark was engraved, which is why it doesnt appear in all)
Specifically designed to perform the widest array of outdoor tasks possible, the Tundra is well suited for survival, bushcraft, big-game hunting, and general utility. The ultimate companion for all outdoorsman who demand toughness and reliability in a tool when you need it most.
The blade has a fine but stable edge with a thicker spine for maximum precision and toughness in tasks like processing wood or game. When combined with my in-house heat treatment, this results in a knife that is extremely durable with a razor sharp edge.
The full-tang handle is designed to fit anyone’s hand and fill the palm for a secure grip. The removable handle-scales also provide the user the ability to better clean and maintain the blade and scales after long stretches of intense use. The handle scales are uniquely textured to enhance the grip without being abrasive to the hand.
Blade Steel: Stonewashed 52100 High-Carbon steel @ 60.5 HRC
Blade Length: 5.375”
Overall Length: 10.375”
Handle Material: Linen Micarta w/ Stainless Steel Bolts
Sheath: Leather or Kydex
My name is Colton Bridger Arias, founder and owner of Bridger Forge
Here at Bridger Forge, I am dedicated to providing you with top-quality blades that you can depend on. I strive to prove that a knife can be both a peak-performance tool and a stunning work of art simultaneously. I make custom hand-forged knives, swords, and kitchen cutlery. I use the highest quality blade and handle materials, including industry-leading high-carbon and stainless steels to make completely functional works of art. I forge my own signature pattern-welded steel and San Mai right here in Nebraska, USA. I take pride in heat-treating all of my blades in-house to exacting standards and testing each blade myself to ensure they deliver top performance and reliability in the field.
Youngest 2x Forged in fire champion
(Rock-throwing crossbow, young guns championship)
In 2019, I competed and won the popular History Channel competition, ‘Forged in Fire’, becoming the youngest person to ever do it having only barely turned 18. In my episode, the ‘Rock Throwing Crossbow’ episode, we were first challenged to make competition choppers from a piston shaft of the show’s fabled power hammer, “Big Blu”. After my blade prevailed past the first two rounds, I was sent home to create a crossbow…that shoots rocks! I had previous experience making crossbows and other projectile weapons when I was younger, so the challenge was right up my alley. After securing victory in the first episode, two years later, I was invited back to compete in the young guns championship. This was a competition between four of the youngest smiths to ever win the show. In this episode, I made a chopper from a trampoline and a Damascus steel german longsword, which allowed me to win for a second time! After winning these two competitions, I have continued to make and sell blades to customers all over the world, making the world a bit sharper one blade at a time!
roots and beginnings
I STARTED BLADESMITHING AT THE AGE OF 11 IN MY SMALL SHOP IN CERESCO, NE. With a background in woodworking and construction, MY PASSION FOR BLADESMITHING GREW EXPONENTIALLY IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS AS MY SKILLS INCREASED. In 2014, after selling a few blades and getting great reviews, I decided to take my passion for bladesmithing a step further and start selling on a larger scale. DESPITE HAVING KNIFEMAKING AS MY PRIMARY JOB, I was A FULL-TIME BUSINESS STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, LINCOLN unitl my graduation in 2023. The name of my business, bridger forge, is not only a REFERENCE to my middle name, but to the legendary OUTDOORSMAN, pioneer, FRONTIERSMAN, and explorer, Jim bridger (after whom I was named). I aim to embody adventurous spirit, toughness, patriotism, and ambition in my brand and in every one of my knives.
