We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Phillip Corker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Phillip below.

Phillip, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

Like a lot of other knife makers that have sprung up over the last decade….’Forged in Fire’ played a big role. After watching a few episodes I ended up ordering a cheap forge off Ebay, got a chunk of railroad track, and started banging hot steel. It didn’t take. long to realized that I both enjoyed the process, but had never had (and needed) an artistic outlet in my life. From there the realization of how much skill and knowledge were required, that I did not possess. Thus the journey of practice and education began. My learning curve was not as steep as I would have liked. Compounded by inadequate tools to do things the right way, or patience to do them the hard way….. I began to spend money and lots of it. From building a forge large enough that would run hot enough to building a press from a log splitter. I gave away a lot of knives in the beginning, they were perfectly functional, just not very pretty.

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

So….. I had an ex, and one of our things was watching TV, drinking, and yelling at the people on our shows. One day while watching ‘Forged in Fire’ we were doing our thing, naturally as a sofa expert (we were experts after a few episodes of course) and I was yelling at a guy that was messing up. The ex looks over at me and says “you fu%$#&^ think you can do better?” Despite being drunk, I knew enough to know I didn’t know why she was suddenly mad at me, and there was no way I was going to win this pending argument….. So I simply pulled out my phone, ordered a forge and a few basic supplies. Years later and over 20K in tools and machines, she’s gone (thankfully) and I’m still trying to do better than that guy that was messing up on TV.

Primarily I try to do 1 off custom knives to order. Unlike many makers I don’t get water-jetted blanks or buy my Damascus. Every blade is unique do to my inability to make 2 identical blades. As is the nature of making things by hand start to finish. While I have a couple blade profiles that I really like and sell well….. To quote ‘Full Metal Jacket’ “There are many like it, but this one is mine.” Aside from the unique finger print that any Damascus steel will have despite having the same pattern I encourage my customers to not buy my inventory knives and instead order one with the handle materials and colors of their choice. Since I also stabilize and dye my own wood we can make almost anything happen. Although occasionally people will find something they love off Etsy or eBay, and I use that for them. I also acquired a fiber laser so I can engrave people’s logo, family crest, cattle brand, etc. Really making their knife theirs, and involving them in the process as much as possible.

The knife, the handle, the holster/sheath… Everything is done by me in house. Which was necessary for my warranty. That way if you ever need to send it back for whatever reason…. I know it was my mistake. I can’t blame it on someone else’s poor Heat Treat, blade geometries, manufacturing, etc.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Word of mouth. While my fiancee’ manages the social media accounts, has built a great website, takes all the photos (other than the ones that were obviously taken by me) and pushes me to do shows and events…. Nothing sells my knives better than my previous customers. The market is saturated. But when one guy has to lend his knife to his buddy while dressing an animal and tells him that he hasn’t had to sharpen it in years, and this is where to get one……. That’s what gets me a new customer. I like to think that my warranty and price point helps, but in reality nobody knows what a warranty is worth until they need to cash in on it, and there are lots of other options in my price point.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

I don’t like doing shows/events. I’m not a people person. I’m casually antisocial. A few years ago I did the local renaissance festival with few of my friends that blacksmith. I spent a weekend talking to people to sell 1 knife. Obviously not a great investment of my time. This past year my fiancee’ decided she wanted to do it. Despite my lamentations from my previous experience, she of course got her way. The weekend wasn’t the issue. It was the cost of materials and weeks of time to make all the inventory knives she put on my order board. WEEKS of long days sweating, burning myself, and money invested into consumables and wear and tear on my tools. For what I was betting on being a senseless ‘I told you so’ moment, and there was one just not from me.

Turns out that having a beautiful and intelligent sales person who enjoys talking to people in cosplay made a huge difference. We had great sales and I have had several follow up orders and repeat customers following that event.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://elsasedge.com
• Instagram: elsas_edge
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Elsas-Edge-Knives-and-blades-100091861062252/
• Other: TikTok- @elsas_edge

Image Credits

Dannielle Owen