Payton Pelland, A.B.S. Apprentice Bladesmith

Payton Pelland was born May 20th, 1990 in Salt Lake City, UT, moved to Minnesota at 5 years old and then to Phoenix, AZ at 10 years old. 

At age 17, months before graduating high school and while contemplating what career to pursue, he watched the movie "The Hunted" (2003). After seeing one of the characters forge a blade from scratch, a facination and passion for the art of the forged blade was born.

Payton did some research on how to become a bladesmith/blacksmith and decided welding was an essential skill for any metal worker. After taking a welding course at a local community college he contacted multiple Phoenix based companies looking for work. He landed a job at an ornamental iron shop and got his first real taste at creating metal art.

This job led to many others over the course of 10 years, and slowly but surely his knowledge grew along with his love for working steel. His experience includes welding, fabricating and installing ornamental iron gates and fences, welding and fabricating trailers, forging various art pieces, and in large part building industrial steel furniture. It was during his time making furniture that he forged his first blade(s) in mid 2015. His calling couldn't be ignored any longer.

In March 2017 Payton had an opportunity to finally leave Phoenix and head for the hills to pursue his current career in bladesmithing and knifemaking. He opened a shop, started collecting equipment and is now a full time maker of handmade kitchen cutlery, hunting knives, daily carry knives, specialty forged knife steel and much more.

He joined the American Bladesmith Society as an Apprentice in May 2017 and plans to continue his learning in any way possible to someday attain the revered title of Master Bladesmith. 

Personal Philosophy

“This is the real secret of life -- to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.” Alan Watts, Philosopher