I was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, and am a 1981 graduate of the University of Arizona School of Architecture in Tucson. I have been practicing architecture in Tucson since 1981, until retiring in 2023.

Scrimshaw became a hobby after I received a small scrimshawed tooth in 1979. The first piece was a Gerber knife that I rehandled with Micarta.

First Knife

Over the years, I produced many pieces of jewelry and knives, usually tearing commercial knives down and rehandling with Micarta or ivory. A book of knife making taught me the rudiments of acid etching and leather sheath-making. During the eighties, I were purchased, constructed, and sheathed many blades from Bob Engnath's House of Muzzleloading.

I took a hiatus for several years while working full-time as an architect and raising my son. Ten years later, the rusty blade blanks hanging in the workshop — including two more than 10-year-old Engnath blades - finally shamed me into reengaging. One tanto-style blade inspired me to try my own daisho (pair of swords and a tanto).  That and the fact I couldn't afford to buy anyone else's.

My other hobbies include oil painting, acrylics, color pencil drawings, and model-making. I earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and Tang Soo Do, and practice the long and short staff, escrima sticks, and sword.

I took some forging classes at a local community college and challenged myself in late 2009 to begin forging my own blades. These blades are mostly historical in design, as I like to show the hammer marks.

• Please click the Commissions link here to find out how to commission a custom piece.