Rusty Dragon Forge
The Story of
Rusty Dragon Forge exists for one simple reason:
to make kitchen knives that are meant to be used, not admired from a distance.
I’m Dale Brannigan, a bladesmith based in North Carolina and a Forged in Fire Champion. I didn’t start making knives to create collectibles or wall art — I started because I wanted tools that felt right in the hand, held an edge, and made time in the kitchen better.
Every knife that leaves Rusty Dragon Forge is forged with that same intention.
From Fire to Function
Bladesmithing is often romanticized, but at its core it’s about discipline, control, and decision-making. Steel doesn’t forgive shortcuts. Heat treatment matters. Geometry matters. Balance matters.
Winning Forged in Fire wasn’t about spectacle — it was about proving that under pressure, with limited time and unforgiving materials, I could make a blade that performed.
That mindset carries into every knife I make today.
I focus on:
- Clean, purposeful blade geometry
- Comfortable, durable handles that feel natural over long prep sessions
- Thoughtful balance that makes the knife feel like an extension of your hand
I don’t chase trends or decorative excess. Beauty comes from proportion, finish, and function — not from overcomplication.
Small Batch. No Shortcuts.
Each knife is made in small batches, start to finish, by my hands alone. That allows me to control every step of the process — forging, heat treatment, grinding, finishing, and final sharpening.
Because of that, availability is limited. When a batch is gone, it’s gone.
I believe the best knives are the result of focus, not scale.
Rusty Dragon Forge exists to make kitchen knives that are meant to be used, not admired from a distance.
Founded by Dale Brannigan — a Forged in Fire Champion — Rusty Dragon Forge focuses on small-batch kitchen knives forged and finished by hand for real cooks who use their tools every day.
No mass production. No shortcuts. Just knives built to perform.
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© Rusty Dragon Forge | All rights reserved | Website Design by Avenlee Collective
© Rusty Dragon Forge | All rights reserved
Website Design by Avenlee Collective