Listen "FORGED IN KANSAS: THE SORY OF DEKE PARKER part 1"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode of Behind The Anvil, host Michael Peterson sits down with Deke Parker of Parker Knives. Deke shares his journey into bladesmithing—starting out with nothing more than an angle grinder, an old file, and a backyard forge, quenching blades in his kitchen. Living in the far southwest corner of Kansas, Deke didn’t know any other bladesmiths until he began traveling to shows, where he met other makers and eventually competed—and won—on Forged in Fire. From there, Deke forged lasting friendships in the blacksmithing community and pursued his American Bladesmith Society journeyman smith stamp. But chasing production deadlines led him to step back from knife-making as a business, returning to it as a hobby so he could focus on pushing his skills and creating true art. After a trip to Blade Show in Atlanta with Shawn Shropshire, the idea of The Wandering Bladesmith was born. Deke also leaves us with some words of wisdom… BUT Deke's phone dies. As Paul Harvey would say—“stay tuned for the rest of the story” in Part 2!
More episodes of the podcast Behind The Anvil
Forging Freedom with Purpose
17/11/2025
Faith, Forging, and Purpose with John Wigger
03/11/2025
“Keeping the Forge Lit with Nate Summer
22/09/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.