Shop Talk: 7Forge Knives Goes from Science Project to Semi-Production

In the last five years, the knife making scene has absolutely exploded, with dozens upon dozens of new names, new talents, and new knives. One shop that gained a foothold in these wild times is 7Forge Knives, a two-man operation in the middle of a big transition, with big plans.

The 7Forge story begins with an 8th grade science project. “One of our founders, Tim Ogg, inherited a simple foundry that his nephew had made,” they tell us. “It was a basic setup: a steel bucket lined with concrete, powered by a hairdryer ‘borrowed’ from Tim’s younger sister.” That’s definitely a setup that many hobbyist makers can relate to. Even with the basic shop necessities in place, it can be hard to know where to start, but eventually the right hunk of metal found its way onto the concrete-lined bucket: “Tim had the bright idea to stick a piece of rebar in the foundry. Once it turned red hot, he hit it with a hammer—and just like that, we were off to the races.”

You may know the other founder of 7Forge, Jessie Wipperman, from his winning appearance on a 2022 episode of Forged in Fire. But back in 2017 Wipperman was just catching the knifemaking bug when Ogg brought him around to see the foundry. “Initially, we didn’t have many specific knife-making goals. We just knew we loved forging,” say Ogg and Wipperman. “For hours, rain or shine, we pounded mild steel on a tiny 11-lb anvil, crafting knife-shaped objects. By 2020, we realized this wasn’t just a passing hobby.” However, making the transition from hobby to profession meant taking another big step. “After a few months of forging high-carbon steel and refining our rudimentary heat treatment, we decided to sell our knives at cost.” If you follow 7Forge, you might be surprised to learn these first generation pieces hit the market for $35 each – and didn’t even come with a sheath.

In 2020, 7Forge hit on its first, well, hit: the Beartooth. Says the duo: “For a long time, we considered it our signature piece, and we fully believe it’s the model that first brought us significant attention in the knife-making community. The Beartooth’s distinctive profile and rugged functionality quickly set it apart, making it a favorite among both collectors and hard-working users alike.” This initial flagship of sorts opened the gate for an obvious sequel, the Beartooth EDC. The EDC variant is smaller, with a 3.5-inch blade that has had its width reduced and profile tweaked to maximize carryability, without sacrificing the toughness that is the center of the 7Forge ethos. “This no-nonsense, pocketable knife retains the core functionality of its larger predecessor,” says 7Forge. “It has enough straight edge for woodworking and just the right amount of belly for skinning—although, let’s be honest, most of its daily tasks are more likely to involve opening boxes.”

Ogg and Wipperman are frank about the challenges they – and any young shop – face in today’s knife market. “One of the biggest challenges for emerging shops is the influx of knife makers saturating the market. The rise in popularity of shows like Forged in Fire and the extra time and resources people had during the COVID-19 pandemic created the perfect storm for this surge.” However, it’s something they both relish. “This keeps the work exciting and the stakes high.”

Thus 7Forge, in 2024, is in the midst of a transformation. “We’ve transitioned from a fully custom forging shop into a semi-production knife company,” Ogg and Wipperman tell us. “Keep an eye out for more hardworking, practical designs—each with its own touch of artistic flair.” That means more knives than in the early days, but while the concrete-lined bucket has long been retired, the shop’s core values remain the same. “As we move forward into 2025, our focus will be on refining our operations to enhance both quality and efficiency.”

Knife in Featured Image: 7Forge Knives Beartooth EDC

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