Journeymansmith Luke Dellmyer (b.1980) of Hellertown, Pennsylvania creates exceptional hand-forged knives that balance beauty and performance. From precision chef’s knives and rugged outdoor fixed blades to intricate damascus, each piece is individually forged, shaped, and finished by hand. Luke’s knives reflect his focus on flow, balance, and purposeful design. Each piece is crafted to perform with precision in the kitchen, the field, or the workshop — admired by chefs, collectors, and outdoorsmen for their durability and refined craftsmanship.<click to read more...>
Journeymansmith Luke Dellmyer (b.1980) of Hellertown, Pennsylvania creates exceptional hand-forged knives that balance beauty and performance. From precision chef’s knives and rugged outdoor fixed blades to intricate damascus, each piece is individually forged, shaped, and finished by hand. Luke’s knives reflect his focus on flow, balance, and purposeful design. Each piece is crafted to perform with precision in the kitchen, the field, or the workshop — admired by chefs, collectors, and outdoorsmen for their durability and refined craftsmanship.
Every knifemaker discovers their own path into the craft, and Luke’s began in the hard demands of farm life. Born in Doylestown, PA (outside Philadelphia), he grew up on his family’s small horse farm, where daily chores and working with horses instilled a strong work ethic and respect for practical craftsmanship. Luke states that there were two early experiences that would define his later life. As a young teenager, he watched his friend’s father practice ornamental blacksmithing on a coal-fired forge and at 15, he apprenticed with the horse farm’s farrier, learning the discipline and art of working hot steel. His weekends, nights, and summers were spent working at the farrier’s forge, creating the foundation of his lifelong metalworking journey.
He pursued academic studies in Business Management and Finance during college but found his calling outside of corporate life. It was only two short years before he returned to full-time horseshoeing.
It wasn’t until after college, as an established farrier, that Luke would apprentice under the blacksmith that he had watched as a youth. This apprenticeship, which lasted several years, broadened Luke’s skills in shaping metals for functional and aesthetic purposes. At first, he took on small projects like bottle openers, hoof picks, and decorative roses, which eventually led to large-scale commissions such as gates, railings, tables, and candelabras. Luke honed both his technical skills and artistic vision through practical applications, deepening his love of creating with fire and hammer.
Over the next two decades, Dellmyer developed an excellent reputation as a farrier across the Tri-State area - working alongside veterinarians to correct complex hoof issues. What began with horseshoeing soon grew into an expression of artistry.
Around 2018, Luke decided to combine his skills as a blacksmith and farrier and try his hand at forging his first knife - a full tang hunting knife. This first project is still kept at Luke's shop as a teaching tool for his students, demonstrating just how far he has progressed since then. It wasn’t long before Luke was searching for a mentor. He was lucky enough to learn from Mastersmith David Lisch. Luke makes the effort to continue honing his skills at David's forge at least once a year. He also works with Mastersmith Josh Fisher out of Texas. He considers himself extremely lucky to have these great mentors and a crew of talented friends like Josh Prince and Matt Behnke.
Today, Luke, his wife, and their son Ty operate Lucky Shoe Farm together. They built this 26-stall horse training facility from the ground up. The farm also houses his 40×60 blacksmith shop which is centered around his power hammers, one of which is his prized 250lb Little Giant built in 1942. Luke is able to devote and divide time in his shop between horseshoeing, knifemaking, and teaching students. He regularly leads classes at his home forge and also teaches at schools outside his shop as well. He finds that teaching strengthens both his craft and the next generation of bladesmiths: “Witnessing students create their own knives is truly rewarding. The process of teaching reinforces my own skills and knowledge.” He is fascinated by the endless possibilities knifemaking allows in their creation. Dedicated to passing on his accumulated knowledge, he often tells his students, “Once you get good at making one type of knife there are a million more to get good at! Then there's damascus – a whole other rabbit hole!!”
In 2022, Luke earned his Journeyman Smith rating with the American Bladesmith Society and was even awarded the James Lucie Award for Best Knife Submitted by a Journeyman candidate. His goals now include testing for Master Smith in the coming years and gaining Knifemakers’ Guild membership.
Luke Dellmyer’s work embodies the balance between precision and artistry that defines true bladesmithing. Each knife he forges carries the influence of his years as a farrier and blacksmith: strong, organic, and built with intention. Whether crafting a chef’s knife for the kitchen, a hunter for the field, or a damascus showpiece for a collector, Luke approaches every project with the same dedication to performance, beauty, and craftsmanship. Guided by tradition, yet driven to never stop learning, he continues to evolve as both a bladesmith and teacher, forging a legacy with those he teaches and those he learns from.
PREVIOUSLY SOLD ITEMS
(NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE)
Integral Mosaic Damascus Chef's Knife (9 in.) with African Blackwood - Best Kitchen Knife - Blade Show Texas |
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