We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Stephen Granger a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Stephen, thanks for joining us today. Have you ever had an amazing boss, mentor or leader leading you? Can you tell us a story or anecdote that helps illustrate why this person was such a great leader and the impact they had on you or their team?

My customers are my boss, and each one of them is the best boss I ever had! Here at Sedona Custom Knives, I put the customer first. Their wants become my wants, and their needs become my needs. I’m not happy until they’re happy!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I grew up in central Louisiana on the Calcasieu River. I grew up hunting, fishing, looking for arrowheads, and just enjoying nature. This love of the great outdoors led me to both Archaeology and custom knife-making. There were few if any, books that a young man could get from the library to help identify artifacts. The information that was known about artifacts and the cultures that made them was closely guarded by dogmatic archaeologists that were afraid of creating public interest in collecting. Today collectors are a vital part of what is known about cultures and the artifacts that they left behind. I would gather any information that could be found, and save it so that one day I could write a book to help collectors and archaeologists alike, identify artifacts with all the pertinent information as to dating, and culture, included. Today I’m proud to say that I’ve written 48 books that cover all cultures in North America, and all States in the United States.

It was on one of these hunts, that I saw my first custom-made knife! It was wonderful! The scales were made of ivory, and it was engraved. I was truly impressed by it. It was a functional piece of art. I remember thinking, I have to find out where I can get one, but of course, it was custom-made for its owner, and was very expensive. I didn’t grow up poor, but there was no extra to buy such fancy, expensive items. A knife from the five-and-dime store cut when you needed it to and didn’t cost a week’s wages! Each time I saw the owner of it, he let me admire it. I studied every detail about it, and it kindled a desire in me to learn to make my own!

After 40 years of making custom knives, I can honestly say that I make a much better knife than the one I couldn’t afford as a young man. Today at Sedona Custom Knives, I try to make 1 knife each week. Some years I fall short and turn out less than that, but the quality is always at the top. I feel comfortable in saying I build one of the best knives that money can buy.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of creating functional art is the freedom of artistic expression. I like building knives that tell a story. One example that comes to mind is a pocket knife I built entirely from a slice of meteorite I found. I used T-Rex dinosaur bone for the scales. This knife told the story of what led to the dinosaur’s extinction as well as served as a functional knife with a very sharp blade!

Being a creative artist led me to put the 2 materials together. The new owner was speechless as he enjoyed the unspoken story the knife presented. This made it most satisfying for me as the maker.

What do you find most rewarding about being creative?

The most rewarding aspect of creating functional art is the smile on the customer’s faces when they get their first look at their Sedona Custom Knife. That initial reaction for me is what makes it worthwhile.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sedonacustomknives/
• Facebook: Sedona Custom Knives
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephenGGrange1

Image Credits
All photographs were taken by Dr. Stephen Granger of Sedona Custom Knives.