We recently connected with Logan Brackin and have shared our conversation below.

Logan, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

We don’t have to wonder what it would be like to have a day job because we both still do. The realization we both came to, and the reason we partnered with each other, is that we needed more control over our lives. It’s not the easiest thing running a business and working a regular job at the same time, but it’s worth it for the future of our families. Soon we’ll be able to phase out our jobs. At that point, we’ll start a few more companies because we enjoy it so much. Ha! If you’re wrestling with whether or not to start a side-hustle, just do it. The only thing you’re going to lose is some of your TV watching time. But it’s so much more rewarding. A business can be a self-funding hobby or it can turn into something bigger than you ever imagined. Change your mindset from “I can’t” into “how can I…” and you will be able to accomplish anything.

Logan, 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?

The two owners are Logan Brackin and Bryan Smith. Logan began making knives as Christmas gifts for friends and family more than a decade ago. A couple years ago, Bryan saw the incredible quality of the knives and the unlimited potential of the business and jumped right in.

The bulk of our business is our Mid-Tech line of knives. These are completely hand-made by the two of us in our shop in Texas. They are a range of pocket knives, hunting knives, and outdoor knives from 6-9 inches in length. We make them easy to carry, ergonomic, and extremely durable. We also take custom orders throughout the year. Those always turn out to be wicked looking blades that we don’t want to let go!

Nothing is more frustrating than a knife that won’t stay sharp. There are some great knives and great knife companies out there. There are also quite a few bad ones. What we’ve worked hard to do is to make affordable knives that stand up to daily use for decades. There’s no reason a $159 knife can’t be a family heirloom. This is why Bryan got involved in the first place. He saw how Logan’s knives were extremely strong and held an edge for a long time. The steel we use, the construction method, the heat treat method, and our attention to detail set our knives apart from the rest. Too many companies, large and small, mass produce knives overseas and even here in America. They take shortcuts from design to construction to customer service. We decided to be different. We decided to make knives we could carry proudly.

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

We touched on this in the first question. Both of us had to shift our mindset. We grew up believing we were limited. This is the most affluent time in the history of the world. We’re only limited by our own mind. This has been a struggle for both of us and it has held us back, but one of the great things about a partnership is when one of you is not thinking correctly, the other one can offer perspective and encouragement.

A proper mindset really is the key to living the life you want to live. You’ll never get anything you want by believing you’re a victim, thinking negatively about everything and everyone, or limiting yourself by saying you’re unable to do something. If you come up against a problem and start thinking, “How can I solve this?” you can find a way. If you think, “I can’t do that.” you instantly shut your mind down and stop thinking of solutions.

Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t — you’re right.”

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

No, we didn’t know how to make knives. This took lots of trial and error, especially for Logan starting out. What steel should you use, how do you heat treat it, there are so many variables. When Bryan started, we began producing large batches. We have the knife and handle blanks cut for us, then we do everything else in house — bevels, heat treat, attaching handles, making sheaths, sharpening, and final cleanup. Our methods have changed quite a bit over the years to make a better more uniform product in a more efficient way. This way we can offer a better knife at a better price.

We’ve learned so much and we’re still dialing in our manufacturing process to be as efficient as possible. We can now make about twenty five knives in the time it used to take to make one. And the fit and finish is better on those twenty five.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.brackinbladesforge.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brackinbladesforge/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brackinbladesforge/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB1ws0-8JDxV_5U4gy0fRqA
• Other: https://www.patreon.com/join/Brackinbladesforge

Image Credits
Brackin Blades Forge