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Welcome to Primeaux Deep Dive: A Substack written by the magical bladesmith wizard behind Primeaux handcrafted kitchen cutlery and Phillips Forged Custom Knives in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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Primeaux Deep Dive is written by "The Knife Man," John Phillips, and he is your guide to exploring the intricate world of knifemaking, cooking and the ancient art of blacksmithing.

The Primeaux shop is conveniently located in downtown Knoxville, just down the street from Remedy Coffee and across the street from Old Gray Cemetary.

John moved to Knoxville in 1999 and earned his BFA at UT Knoxville. He has always been an artist for as long as he can remember. He has had various jobs, including luthier, cabinet maker, welder, fabricator, faux finisher, and sculptor. He has taken several cross-country motorcycle trips and has been to every state except Alaska.

He desired a new challenge, so he experimented with crafting knives despite never having received formal training.

He aimed to create a knife that would evoke the same feel as a hand-thrown ceramic mug.

He started his custom kitchen knife business, Phillips Forged, from the ground up and began crafting knives about 11 years ago because of a deep passion for cooking and metallurgy.

Each knife that John makes has a distinct feel that sets it apart from others on the market. Some of his custom creations have received awards and are owned by notable individuals, collectors and home chefs alike. His knives have been featured in Chef Sean Brock’s cookbook, South, Garden & Gun and are also sold at the prestigious Blackberry Farm.

John has received the Best in Show, Best Cleaver, and Best Bread Knife awards multiple times at the prestigious Damasteel Chef Invitational. This event features the best international knife makers using luxury powdered Swedish steel, Damasteel, to craft heirloom pieces. Damasteel is often referred to as the "Rolex" of steels.

In 2019, John received the title of Forged in Fire Champion. He has also appeared on PBS and various other television programs. Read more about John here.

A heartfelt message from the Knife Man himself:

”I started this Substack because I wanted a space to share more intimately with you on a more regular basis that isn’t focused on sales but instead is informative, thought-provoking, enjoyable, and fun.”

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Primeaux combines old-world craftsmanship with modern design to create beautiful, comfortable, functional pieces of art that inspire beautiful meals while making you more efficient and safer in the kitchen. Our knives have unique features, such as the Perfect Pinch Grip Bolster and signature blade profiles, which ensure precision and control with every cut, making you feel like a seasoned pro in the kitchen.

Each piece is individually crafted with safety and comfort in mind, perfectly smooth and ergonomic, so the only sharp part of the knife is along the cutting edge. We meticulously refine every aspect of each knife that we produce in our downtown Knoxville studio because we are dedicated to providing our customers with the best kitchen knives in the world. We’re confident that once you experience a Primeaux kitchen knife, you'll join the ranks of chefs worldwide who rely on them daily. These knives will quickly become your most trusted kitchen companion, backed by our unwavering craftsmanship guarantee and lifetime sharpening.

Learn more about Primeaux here.

Follow Primeaux everywhere online here.

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