Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brian “Rocco” Nawrocki . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Brian “Rocco”, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Along with taking care of clients, taking care of our team is one of the most important things we can do as leaders. Looking back on your journey, did you have a boss that was really great? Maybe you can tell us about that boss and what made them a wonderful person to work for?
I have been lucky enough to have a good handful of mentors, and leaders, some are friends, some were bosses. Two in particular I would like to speak on. First my most previous boss, John P Watson. John was the owner of his own custom home/carpentry business. Soft spoken and quiet but wickedly smart and sharply opinionated. John had a sternness about him. John took a risk on hiring me on to work for him when I was still working in the building trades, with the recommendation from my friend Luke, who is John’s son and also a former “colleague” at another previous company we worked at together. John brought me on when work was slow, money was low and he really did not need another employee. I started at the bottom all over again, but it was at the bottom I learned the most. I often found myself getting to work one on one with John. We had some things in common, our love of playing music, shooting firearms, cowboy boots, and a good laugh. John had a lot of stories and in all of his years he met a lot of interesting people. I could listen to him all day. John taught me a lot both in the trade, and out. He was supportive and kind. I could talk all day about how impressive it was to work with JP. John showed us all how to be a leader, how to be one of the crew, he would lead by example, he would spend hours with you to teach you if you wanted to learn, the biggest thing I learned from him, that is rare, is if you make a mistake, do not leave it, but fix it. He didn’t seem to mind that he was loosing money on peoples mistakes, he cared more about the end product and that people understood on the job that the job has to be done right. This lesson is one that I learned from him, He made sure we knew this with kindness, compassion and not once did he show aggression or anger over a mistake, Even the really big ones that had been made. John was the best boss I ever had in the trades, John supported me when I left him to pursue a new career. It was hard to leave him, but when I did, he supported the decision and he did it with love in his heart. I loved John like a father and sadly we lost John to a battle with cancer some years ago. I like to think he did know how much he meant to me and that he had an enormous influence on my life since my time with him. When I left JP, I was leaving to pursue an offer to work with my current employer, Jim Behring, Owner of Treeman Knives Inc. An afternoon stop to visit turned into a job offer to help Jim in his knife shop. Jim took a big risk hiring me on as this world was completely foreign to me. I was originally brought on to handle simple tasks, cutting parts, cleaning, gluing, etc. However, it was shortly after I arrived in the shop that Jim found himself needing a new leather maker for his sheaths. We made the decision, and Jim made an enormous investment into me and his business to build a leather shop, with zero experience. Jim is known for being an extremely hard worker and expects hard work from me. Jim was very patient with me when I started, He set standards and expected them to be met. Honestly a bit frightening when you have no idea what you are doing. Jim paid me to essentially teach myself how to make the products we make today. In that time one crucial lesson I learned is you need to be critical of your own work. Early on I could create a sheath that would be passable in a large majority of makers eyes. I think it is a common thing when you start to make that after you create that first thing, you are so enamored and excited about it, you cannot often see how not great it really is. There are exceptions to this, but majority of the time, those first pieces of work are not all that great. Jim made sure I critiqued each piece, and learned with every single one. I made notes of mistakes and learned to pay attention to the most minor details. Eventually I created something of proper standards, but I still compared and critique them all. This is one of my most prized lessons from Jim. I also learned a whole lot about the knife trade and business, the smallest details matter both in the shop, at trade shows, and talking to customers. All of this is something that flows over into everything else I do. Including my own current business Rocco Handmade, LLC. I am thankful for Jim showing me the way, and giving me the blessings to create my own business, while still being employed by him for Treeman Leather Shop.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Rocco? Isn’t your name Brian? Yes! It is, Brian Nawrocki, to be exact. The name Rocco is one of many nicknames that have been given to me over the years. The earliest I recall Rocco, was from members of a band I hit the road with, selling merchandise. These guys thought Rocky and Rocco sounded better than my legal given names, and so began the Rocco moniker.
Beginnings
As far back as I can remember, I was infatuated with swinging a hammer. I remember watching my Papa swinging a sledge hammer, busting up concrete, or pounding in stakes. I remember my father, banging nails at home, and knocking steel about repairing things. I recall a trip to Michigan’s Greenfield Village, a living history of America and its growth, around the 3rd grade. It was this trip I first saw glowing hot steel being manipulated by a Blacksmith on an anvil with his forging hammer. It was in that moment, the itch began. I grew up swinging a hammer, but not in the forge. I got my education on a carpentry crew. Starting at 14 I worked with all walks and ages. This would be my fall back “career” as I aged and would find myself wanting to try new things, and adventure more. I’ve held many of jobs in between. Some great, some awful. I spent some time touring the country with bands and musicians, I worked at the Home Depot for a short stint, Some how always coming back to my hammer and tool bags. It was in that last run of time as a carpenter I had the pleasure to work for the man that would later become my current employer, a mentor, and a close friend,
New Beginnings – Treeman Leather Shop
In the summer of 2014 I was considering a career change, not because I disliked my job, I loved that job, I worked for a wonderful man, and with some of my best friends framing out beautiful homes. The times of $4.00 a gallon gasoline and 2 hour drives one way to work was taking its toll on me. I was considering a job in the aerospace field as a builder, closer to home, better pay and all the benefits. I stopped by the Behring compound one afternoon just to say hello, and visit. I have known the Behring family since riding the school bus with James ( owner of Behring Made Knives ) and his sister Lisa, We have grown up to be quite close friends and by extension more like family. I made mention to Jim that I was considering a career change in our conversation before headed home. Later that evening I received a text with an offer to come work for him for a few months to knock out a few construction projects we had discussed tackling over the past few years. I was over the moon about it, also torn with the unknown of what could or could not happen. I took the offer, and started 3 weeks later knocking out project after project. The last on the list was a small shop addition that unknown to me, was soon going to be offered to me for use in a full time position at Treeman Knives. October 1 2014 Treeman Leather Shop was born.
Treeman Leather Shop
Apprenticeship with Jim Behring -Treeman Knives
After a handful of years of making leather sheaths, belts, cases, and other goods on a day to day basis, along with helping with phone, email and office duties. Jim presented me with the offer to Apprentice, make my own knives for sale and learn the trade as so many ask to come learn and very few have gotten too. I have always been a watch and learn type, and very curious. So I took every chance I had being in the shop 5 days a week to observe Jim as he created his beautiful knives. Jim started me out stacking and gluing up spacers, and tested my eye for colors, and sizing the proper size pieces of stag and ivory he would use on his knives. Later I finally got to try my hand at swinging a hammer, this came natural for me, however learning to control the steel was a learning curve. Over the next year I got to try my hands at working on various knives at different stages of completion to learn steps, learn machines, and learn what NOT to do. Jim kept a watchful eye on each step, and with that gave criticism, both good and bad. I’m not good at taking in the bad, but I listened, thought about it and would reflect. I feel this progressed my work much quicker than any other way could have. I have been blessed with a opportunity I will never take for granted and everything I do in this business I owe a debt of gratitude to Jim.
Rocco Handmade ⚡
January 2018 I made my first knife with my first touch mark. I started making my own work, with permissions and direction of Jim to use his shop all I’d like on my own time. Jim donated some steel, spacer materials, some nice rolls of stag and sent me on my way to get started. I made my first knife, posted it on Instagram (linked below) and someone purchased that knife. I was hooked to the entire process, making, creating, earning, and hearing a customers feedback. I have reinvested every earned dollar from each piece I have made, back into Rocco Handmade, purchasing steel, spacer materials, stag, wood, leather, tools, machines, etc. etc. Rocco Handmade is my future. I’m investing into it. Click the Link below and see every piece in order from the beginning. Rocco Handmade is something I am very proud of, I am working hard to make this dream a reality, however. This is like I said, the future, not the now. I am first and foremost committed to Treeman Knives and Leather shop, I will not compromise or take away from the employers who have given me so much, I will not quit, nor will I leave for my own business. I will be with Jim until he decides he is ready to retire. Until then, Rocco with be a hobby, I run as a business, when I have time to inject into it.
Rocco Handmade ⚡
Process
Each knife I make is unique, as of now in 2022 I do not make anything to pattern, but rather by look and feel. I experiment with designs, steels, colors, materials, and ideas. I draw inspiration from everywhere, from other makers, nature, and experiences. I like to mix and match, styles and colors. I am heavily influenced by makers like William Scagel, Jim and James Behring, MSA/Marbles, Jelle Hazenberg, Mareko Maumasi, Geoff Feder, Jared Lees, Steve Schwarzer, Steve Pellegrino and so many more. There is inspiration everywhere, you just have to notice it. Each knife is carefully crafted to the best of my ability at the time I am making each piece, with time comes progression and I hope to progress in some fashion with each and every thing I make.
Established
I guess that is what you would call it? I made Rocco Handmade an official LLC in 2022. No turning back now. I have been blessed with opportunities beyond my wildest imagination in this business, I have been lucky to find a home at Treeman Knives with the Behring family, I have been blessed with customers who continue to support me and my ventures and hobby, I have gained many new friends, I look forward to the future, while still being in the present. Remember, for now, this is still my hobby and my job at Treeman Knives in the Leather shop is and will continue to be my priority until further notice. With that being said, Thank you for understanding and being patient. Thank you everyone who has reached out, inquired, purchased an item, supported my ideas, supported my business, came to see me at a show. Thank you for getting me to where I am today. Without each of you, I am nothing, my business is nothing. THANK YOU!
Giving back to the next generation
It is in my nature to be giving, I was raised to not take, but to give, not talk but to listen. When I was a younger child some hard times hit my family, Our community was there and helped pick us back up and gave support. It is something that I have never forgotten and has impacted me in many of ways. I have always enjoyed acts of service, I was a Cub/Boy Scout, we did a lot of community service in the many years there. I have more recently joined a local Lions club, again the mission is community service. I remember being a young kid, loving the outdoors, camping, hunting and fishing with my Dad, I remember going to local gun shows and flea markets always infatuated with the blades I would see on tables. Deep down inside I was always hoping the vendor would reach out over the table and gift me a knife. Not sure I would have taken anything for free, but the idea of it was exciting. When I started making, I decided day one, I was going to “sponsor” or gift a young, avid, outdoors loving child a blade. I have done this each year since Rocco has started. I carefully watch, and pay attention to the kids I see in my local community, at the trade shows, and on social media. I choose based on there actions, excitement and love for the outdoor activities, hunting, camping, fishing and the likes. I choose at least one kid a year, and I will make them a blade and gift it to them. In hopes of them remembering the acts of kindness I was shown as a child and that they to will pass on the pay it forward ideal.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to unlearn everything about how I worked with shop tools just to relearn how to use them again. In knifemaking and leather work, tools have crossover from the woodworking and carpentry world, however the way they are used and how the run are completely different beasts. Working with metal and common tools that cross over you need to run speeds much much slower than with wood. Also I find my using a measuring tape traded in for calipers where 1/16 of an inch isn’t going to cut it when you are working in decimals and thousands of an inch.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
I started my business with the sale of one knife. I sold that knife for $365. In turn I took that money and purchased more materials, made another knife, and repeated. Eventually, having a decent stock pile of materials, I started saving and investing into tooling. Every dollar made within my knife business currently stays in the business, I reinvest into more tooling, materials, a website, insurances, book keepers, and anything else essential to owning and operating Rocco Handmade. I have yet to draw personal funds and I believe this is a great foundation to the start of my business. I own everything I need, without debt and can fully function and experiment without the added stress of bills looming over my head.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.roccohandmade.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/roccohandmade
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/roccohandmade33
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@roccohandmade