There's something special about carrying a knife made by someone you know.
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Justin Byrd is a Georgia bladesmith who builds working knives the old-fashioned way—small batch heat treated, hand ground, and hand sharpened. Every handle, every grind, every design comes from someone who actually puts his knives to work outdoors.
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We've put together a new landing page featuring Justin's work, making it easier to browse the customs we currently have available.
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When we first met Justin of Byrd Custom Blades, it didn't take long to realize we shared the same philosophy about knives: they're meant to be used. Around here, we appreciate a beautiful blade as much as anyone, but at the end of the day, a knife earns its place by the work it does—and that's exactly how Justin builds them.
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Working out of Madison County, Georgia, Justin crafts fixed blades with an emphasis on comfort, performance, and durability. Every knife is tested before it leaves the shop, because if it doesn't perform the way he expects, it doesn't get sold. That commitment to building dependable tools—not safe queens—is what drew us to Byrd Custom Blades, and we're proud to share his work with the Bear & Otter family.