We recently connected with Adam Rose and have shared our conversation below.

Adam, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the decision of whether to donate a percentage of sales to an organization or cause – we’d love to hear the backstory of how you thought through this.

I aim to maintain 2 axe raffles a year with proceeds going to charities. One is for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the other is sort of a floater for any cause I believe needs the help that year.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Born and raised in the Cincinnati, Ohio area, I have always been proud of my family’s history. The Rose name didn’t come from much but we are all hard workers, and always kept our word no matter what. Even my 3rd cousin, “Pete Rose” was known for his hard work and dedication to his skill. With those values in mind, I joined the Air Force. After I was honorably discharged, I returned back to Cincinnati to try and figure out what I wanted to do in life.

I struggled to find my way at first, attending Miami University of Ohio and unsure what to Major in. It was there that I became involved with the Student Veterans Association and became the Vice President. There, the President and I took the organization from nothing and made it a very important group at the university. During that time, I also introduced a program called the “Green Zone Workshop”. This Workshop mirrored the “Safe Space” workshop that aimed in educating university faculty and staff on LGBTQ needs and ways to be supportive. The Green Zone Workshop did just that but for military associated people. This workshop later became an essential part of the Miami University requirements for faculty and staff later after I graduated. That commitment to helping military veterans became a passion of mine.

After graduation, I moved to Florida where I eventually became a communications specialist for the State’s Department of Transportation. During that time, I suffered through Hurricane Michael, where my now wife and I lost our homes, possessions, and peace of mind. After partially recovering, my wife and I chose to move to the Tampa area to star over. At this point, I had a new outlook on life.

Wanting to live life to the fullest, I wanted to find a way to bring all of those experiences, values, and skills together to create my dream. My family always taught me to be proud of my heritage, which is mostly Germanic, Scandinavian, and English; my military experience taught me to be more proud of who I was and to always hold those who have served and sacrificed close to my heart; my communications career has taught me to always think outside of the box and to never stay in a “comfort” zone; and my Hurricane Michael experience taught me to never leave any stone unturned because it could always end at any moment.

With all of these, and a rusty axe, I started to re-purpose old axes and make a piece of art to replicate an old Scandinavian “Viking” Axe. The first was made for my father as a gift but a random person on the internet saw and and offered $600 for it immediately. Though I refused that one, I later made a new one for the person and from there my enterprise took off. Since then, I have made hundreds of axes, hatchets, and weapon plaques to show my art. Along the journey I had the opportunity to make axes for Black Rifle Coffee Company, Ranger Up’s Founder and CEO Nick Palmisciano, as well as 2 time Forged in Fire star Robby Bowman. My dream is to one day open my own axe throwing business where I can add a bar and an axe-making workshop that is fully ran by military veterans.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Never have a comfort zone. I had to learn that by realizing that my (at that time) comfort zone had led me to only finding joy in items or actions that never led to anything besides a good 30 minutes. After getting into this hobby, I realized I would have never found it if I always stayed in my comfort zone. Trying new things or learning something new has always kept me out of ruts and has always pushed me to become better every time.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Always keeping an open mind. Doing that has allowed me to try things I would have never thought of on my own. I thought that Renaissance festivals would have been my biggest sellers. Turns out, that gun shows have doubled my business. That is only my current way. Things may change down the road.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://uncleadamsaxes.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncle_adams_axes/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncleaaxes
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3pJFNT_K2E69us_uD44YAg
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncleadamsaxes