Tucked away in the forested hills above Cosby is a little piece of heaven where a local couple makes their living forging and shaping raw steel into beautiful and useful things. Len and Varena Landrum bought their property in June of 1996. They then spent the next 4 years getting it ready so they could move from Mississippi and live and work here full time.
Len started working metal early. Right after graduating from high school he went into a trade school to learn metalworking. After that he served a 4 year apprenticeship at Ingals Shipyard as a machinist. Before long he was also instructing the Machine Shop class and a high school level Metal Trades class at a local community college.
"I got started doing some blacksmithing while I was working at the community college." States Landrum, "And after a year or so of making hooks and other metal pieces, I was trying to come up with something
more challenging to forge. I remembered making some knives early in my career and thought it would be fun to forge out a knife or two instead of just shaping them from bar stock. Not only did it turn out to be fun, but I found that a forged blade cuts much better.
That was 13 years ago, and he's still at it. He's earned his Journeyman's stamp with the American Bladesmith
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Len Landrum shows one of many hand-crafted knives he has made as a metalsmith and knife maker in Cosby, Tennessee.
Society, and is working on attaining his Masters.
"We enjoy the independence of working for ourselves." Says Len, "Knives are tools that everyone uses just about every day in some way or another. I work hard to make knives that look good, feel good in the hand, and cut really well. Most people that buy a knife from me will just add it to their collection, but some will actually use them. So I start with the best steel I know, forge the blade to shape, grind and hand finish, then use a heat treatment that will produce the best cutting edge."
Landrum also likes using natural materials for the knife handles. "Bone and antler are good, and some types of wood. The combination makes a good looking knife
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and a good cutting knife. I also forge Damascus for some of the fancier blades. So, any knife I make will work as a collection knife or as a knife to be used… or both!"
The Landrum's knifes can be seen at their web site: www.LandrumKnives.com. Their knives and sheaths can be seen and purchased at Treasures of Appalachia. They are happy to do custom work upon request, and can be reached at (423) 487-5448.
Len Landrum will be one of 10 to 15 A.B.S. bladesmiths participating in the Treasures Of Appalachia Bladesmiths Open House on October 8th. This event includes demonstrations of forging, heat treating and finishing. Wes Byrd of the American Bladesmith Society will be conducting a special hands-on workshop for young people. There is no cost for this workshop, but a parent must be on-hand.
At 2:00 a Cutting Competition will be held to show off the awesome cutting capabilities of the knife makers' finest blades. This is something you have to see to believe. There is no admission fee and parking is free.
Treasures of Appalachia is a quality Art & Craft Gallery that offers the works of 39 local artisans. It is located at 3892 Hwy 321 in Cosby, near the intersection of Jones Cove Rd and Hwy 321. Everything in the store is locally made, and hand crafted. You may reach the gallery at (423) 487-3111 10:00 - 4:30, any day except Sunday. Or you may log onto www.TreasuresOfAppalachia.com
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