Why John Phillips Forges Heirloom Knives

Most art students don't expect to become professional bladesmiths whose knives end up in a famous chef's cookbook, but that's exactly where John Phillips' success in the forge has taken him. In this second installment of our two-part series about Phillips Forged, Phillips shares how he discovered his passion for cutlery and how he hopes to expand his business.

Finding an Edge

Phillips originally came to Knoxville to attend the University of Tennessee, where his pursuit of a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree began with a steel sculpture class. From there, he followed a path that led directly into professional work in forges, honing his metalworking skills.

"I always had a mind for 3D [and] I just jumped straight into art school, into doing metalwork," says Phillips. "Eventually I ended up working at a metal studio, where I was making railings, fireplace screens, sculptures, chandeliers, and all kinds of really big, heavy forging work."

Those impressive, large-scale pieces require teams of people to make, transport, and assemble – a process that eventually didn't line up with Phillips' desire to pursue more solitary, independent projects.

"I was interested in scaling back my work and making things that are smaller, that could fit in your hands," says Phillips. "To start off with, I was just hammering out old files, forging them into really weird, funky knives, and selling them to my friends and family for $20 each or something really minimal."

After realizing he could combine his metalworking skills with his love for food and cooking, Phillips decided to focus solely on producing culinary knives, a venture that, while unexpectedly successful, required years and years of hard work.

"My first knife was five years ago, but also I had 15 years of other work building up to that point," says Phillips. "So as much as it was a surprise, also, it's been a slow build, I guess."

Handcrafted Success

You might recognize Phillips from his victory on Season 6, Episode 20 of History's Forged in Fire, during which he created a foot artillery sword. For someone who reveres the history of the objects around him and isn't afraid to tackle new projects, competing on a show based around the recreation of historical weapons seems appropriate, though he cycled through the show's interview process a couple of times before landing a spot.

"After the third year, I think they decided I was ready for it [and] I felt like I was more ready for it," says Phillips. "I think the big hog splitter I made [for a chef in Charleston] got their attention and made them decide I was ready to take on some bigger projects and make some larger blades."

Even before appearing on Forged in Fire, Phillips found himself with a growing waiting list. That's due in large part to Chef Sean Brock – formerly of McCrady's in Charleston and Husk restaurants located throughout the Southeast – whom Phillips connected with in 2018.

"I was a member of several different craft guilds and doing these high-end craft shows," says Phillips. "Every time I went to Nashville, people would always ask me if I knew him [and the answer was] no, of course not. He's a famous chef, why would I know him?"

That changed when Phillips saw an opportunity to get Brock's attention by yelling his name across the room at a craft show in Nashville, a bold introduction that quickly paid off.

"He just fell in love with my work [and] bought most everything off of my table," says Phillips. A few weeks after buying his knives, Brock posted about them on Instagram, sending tons of potential clients his way; the chef's appreciation for his Phillips Forged knives also earned them a cameo in his 2019 cookbook, South.

"As soon as he started talking about me on the internet, I immediately had a waiting list," says Phillips. "Meeting Sean really was the catalyst that has made it sustainable for me."

Making It Happen in Maker City

Since 2016, creators living in the Knoxville area have pushed for it to be known as Maker City, an acknowledgement of the hundreds of "makers" located there. Supported by local government and businesses, the community has generated the Mayor's Maker Council, a directory for artists, and an annual summit, which Phillips attended and spoke at in 2019.

"I think Knoxville trying to take on this Maker City thing is really powerful," says Phillips. "I've been part of it for 20 years – before there was really any sort of Maker City thing going on, I've been making stuff – so it feels great to be part of it."

More recently, Phillips participated in What's the Big Idea 2020, a 48-hour pitch competition with a $10,000 prize. Although he didn't win that prize, Phillips plans to seek other sources of funding to expand his small business.

"I'll be able to proceed with the cookware line, which will involve building special machinery to produce a new line of skillets," says Phillips. "I'll be able to hire help and train people to start helping me make my products. I want to build a brand that will be much larger than just me."

In a culture that seems to fixate on convenience and availability over long-term value, the Phillips Forged brand already stands out because of how intently Phillips emphasizes his commitment to giving forgotten items new life, creating tools that are unique, meaningfully created, and can be cherished for centuries to come.

For professional chefs, investing in a handcrafted knife can help them connect more deliberately with the ingredients they're preparing.

"Whether it's a placebo effect or not, I feel like when you have a better knife, you put more intention into the way that you cook, into the way you move, into the food that you create," says Phillips. "A lot of professional chefs are just super particular about their knives, about how they feel and where they come from. It's like their lightsaber – their thing that really gives them their special mojo – and I think a lot of people resonate with that. They know that I'm putting so much care and attention and energy and focus into this object, and they, in turn, feed off that energy."

At home, a Phillips Forged knife can transcend its humble purpose as a kitchen tool and become an heirloom that symbolizes several family generations and the memories of meals shared together.

"People want to have these legacy objects in their family, these things they think of as being very precious that they're going to pass down to their kids and their kids are going to pass down," says Phillips. "I feel like having these legacy objects are so important in a society where things are so often disposable."

Phillips encourages those interested in purchasing their own heirloom knives to sign up for updates about the availability of his products at the Phillips Forged website, where he hopes to soon reopen online sales.

This is the second installment in a two-part series covering John Phillips and Phillips Forged knives. You can follow his work on Instagram @phillipsforged or visit his website for more information.