We were lucky to catch up with Clayton Gibson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Clayton , appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

About fifteen years ago, I grabbed a crowbar, a blowtorch, and a cheap anvil from Harbor Freight just to see if I could make a knife. It wasn’t much, but it lit something in me. Then life happened — work, bills, and everything else — and the forge got pushed aside.

Fast forward about ten years, I lost my job and my dad’s health started to go downhill. I moved back home to help my mom take care of him, and in the middle of all that, I got back something I’d missed for a long time, time with my dad.

That’s when I fired the forge back up. Working steel helped me deal with everything life had thrown at me. About two and a half years ago, Burning Stables Forge was born out of all that loss, rebuilding, and finding myself again.

Through it all, my dog Shrimp’s been right there with me every long night, every early morning. I still have that first knife I made from the crowbar. It’s rough, but it reminds me where it all started.

Now I get to sit in the shop with my dad, and Shrimp, and just be thankful. It’s been a long road, and many knives later I can say I’m proud of where I’m at. Burning Stables isn’t just a forge — it’s home.

Clayton , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I hand make/forge knives high-carbon, stainless, and Damascus steel,everything from chef’s knives to hunting knives and custom builds. I also make Lowcountry oyster shucks, which have become a local favorite.

Everything’s made start to finish by me, one at a time, right here in my shop. I care about how a knife feels in the hand, how it cuts, and how it holds up. I just want to make solid blades built to be used.

What sets my work apart is that it’s personal. I’ve made custom knives with handles made from items that really matter to my clients — wood from a bed post that’s been in the family for generations, old skateboards for a client’s boys’ starter knives, and even a guitar a local musician built in luthier school years ago. Every knife tells a story and carries a piece of someone’s life with it, and that’s what makes this work special.

I’m proud of how far this forge has come and the support from folks who believe in handmade work. At the end of the day, I just want to keep making knives that’ll outlast me and get put to good use.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One thing people don’t always realize is that being a small knife maker comes with a lot of challenges beyond the forge. Social media, for example, can be tough — posts get shadow banned, accounts get restricted, and it’s easy to feel like you’re shouting into the void. That makes it hard for small makers to get their work seen, even when we’re just trying to share what we do and connect with people who appreciate handmade knives.

That’s why supporting other knife makers is so important. It’s a community, not a competition. Sharing each other’s work, learning from each other, and building each other up is how we survive and grow.

At the end of the day, knives aren’t weapons — they’re tools, and they’re art. Every piece I make is a combination of design, skill, and a lot of time at the anvil. I want people to see that, respect it, and understand that this craft is about creating something beautiful, functional, and meaningful

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

What I love most about what I do is the freedom and the creative process. I get to design and build something unique, functional. Every knife is different, and there’s always something new to learn and accomplish, which is what keeps me coming back every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bw07yj-yr.myshopify.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooEvS6zh0UxcbDbWKqGZA3rNi5tGDN6dU2yqInmImi6A42WIv-H
• Instagram: @burningstablesforge
• Youtube: @Burningstablesforge