Community

Commitment and relationship are central to who we are and how we have come to this place. We are humbled and honored to be surrounded by our community of family, artists, and customers. Thank you all!

Meet Us

Luke Snyder

Luke began making knives and wooden objects with his father at a very young age. His father worked at a historical farm, where he was the blacksmith and woodworker in residence. Luke has always had kindred spirits in his parents and for most of his life had access to a coal forge and blacksmith shop that he made good use of - particularly in high school. At first, he made swords, daggers and the like just because they were cool. As he discovered hunting, camping, and manual work, he began crafting more utilitarian pieces like hunting knives.  Yet it was only when then-acquaintance, David Van Wyk, requested a chef's knife that Luke discovered his passion for custom kitchen tools.  

Luke is an avid hunter and gatherer, especially of edible mushrooms, edible plants, overpopulated deer, and feral hogs. He and his wife Helen garden, manage their small forest, fish, and love on their three young children, Wren, Nell, and Muir. A former Ph.D. candidate at the University of Georgia studying forest ecology, Luke now works full-time as part of Bloodroot Blades.  Luke holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies and an M.E.S in Environmental Science.

David Van Wyk

David comes from a family of woodworkers and farmers.  Always interested in working with his hands, he pursued his hobbies on the side while teaching high school English to occasionally interested adolescents for fifteen or so years.  After he became engaged, and around the same time, met Luke Snyder, David requested a set of hunting knives for his groomsmen's gifts. Because he comes from a family of craftspeople, David wanted to learn how these knives were made, and Luke agreed to teach him - the beginning of a very interesting journey for everyone.  

David holds his B.A. in Cello Performance, a Masters in English Literature and now works full-time as part of Bloodroot Blades.  An avid hunter and cook, he and his wife Katy spend time taking care of their new little baby, Ada, tending their garden, and walking around the woods with their beagle Nicholas. David is also a skilled cellist and cello bow maker and restorer.