Where did it all begin!
Where did 307 Forge begin? It all began with a dream, an idea and a hope. But let’s go back a few years, to a time when it was just an interest. Really, I never thought my wife and I would actually own and run our own business.
So where did it all begin? 20 years ago, I had a great interest in blacksmithing mostly because of history and the role blacksmiths played with the modernization of the world. Even as far back as the Vikings and Romans or even further back than that to the medieval era. The role blacksmiths played in the movement west and colonization of the United States. From the swords and weapons the Vikings made to the tools, utensils and nails the blacksmiths of the 1800’s created. It all festinated me and drew me in even more, spiked my want and desire to become a blacksmith.
13 years ago, I ground out my first knife with an angle grinder, heat-treated it in a woodstove and had nothing more than water to quinch. This would be the first knife I gifted to my dad. Soon I build my first forge and fabricated an anvil out of a few large chunks of steel I welded together. I started out playing with simple decoctive items and simple knives. Little did I know it would lead to more.
Fast forward a year and a few dozen knives later, I was completely hooked. I began using better steels like 1095, 1080 and old leaf springs to build the blades and had given a handful as gifts and even sold a few. This would carry on for a few years until I got the opportunity to join the traders row Mountain man event at the Green River rendezvous in Pinedale Wyoming.
8 years ago was our first year at the Rendezvous. It was an awesome experience and something that we had learned a lot from. It came with many blessings and new friendships that would carry on for many years to come. The biggest blessing that came to us was having my mom and dad support my crazy dream and come with us to help during the rendezvous. Little did we know it would lead to more down the roads and we would soon pick up the Fort Bridger Rendezvous. With the passing years we got better and better at blacksmithing and knife making. We added in some leather work, woodwork and jewelry to our set up.
We attended a handful of small events and shows along with the rendezvous over the next 5 years getting better and better at it.
Something that was another dream of mine was getting into a larger knife show but we never had any close. 3 years ago, Blade show West made a move that would bring that dream to a reality. Blade Show west made the move to Salt Lake City Utah and of cores I jumped on the chance to get in the show as fast as I could. As luck would have it we got the invite and have never looked back.
Back to the main subject of the story. Where did 307 Forge come from?
Well, 2020 was the year we fully decided to start a business and make our dream a reality. We went over tons of names and ideas but ended up settling on the name 307 Forge. You may ask why 307? Well, my wife and I have both lived in the great state of Wyoming most of our lives and it just felt right to make 307 part of the name. It seemed fit because it has a few things we both hold dear to our hearts.
Interesting how dreams actually do turn into reality! Never give up and keep working toward your dreams!
Jesse Colson
307 Forge
This is a kit that comes with multiple ways to start a fire. It can be used in a survival setting, for camping, or for bushcraft fires. It has a steel fire striker, flint, some jute twine, a fire glass that is inside a small tin that is filled with char cloth. All of these items are tucked inside a large rectangle tin that can be sealed with wax for a waterproof kit. Disclaimer: the striker you receive will be very similar but there may be slight differences from the one in the picture.