Local Bladesmith Wins History Channel Competition Show

By edhat staff

Local bladesmith, Jordan Kepler, recently won the History Channel’s competition show “Forged in Fire.”

The series pits bladesmiths from around the nation to compete in creating history’s most iconic-edged weapons. In each episode, four competitors are challenged with a series of tasks to turn raw material into authentic and functional weapons. The weapon is then put through a series of tests from the judges who determine which contestant has earned the $10,000 prize. 

By day Kepler is a graphic designer and he moonlights as a knife maker, adventure photographer, videographer, and land conservationist. He grew up in Aptos and moved to San Luis Obispo to attend CalPoly where he received a degree in industrial technology that included metal-working.

Creative interests have always piqued his interest, from building custom skateboards to cardboard furniture. His passion for bladesmithing came about several years ago when he decided to make a knife to go camping.

“I continued to learn new things about knife making and really enjoyed it, then friends started asking me to make knives for them and it snowballed,” said Kepler.

When Wil Willis, the host of “Forged in Fire,” posted an application for the show Kepler decided to apply. 

Kepler appeared in Season 8, Episode 9 titled “Headhunter’s Revenge” which aired on February 19. After making it through a series of challenges he arrived at his final task, recreating the Headhunter Axe, a traditional Filipino weapon of the Igorot Tribe. 

To encapsulate his hobbies, Kepler started a business titled “Lost Sasquatch Provisions” based out of his Santa Ynez home where he makes custom hand-forged knives. He said the whole meaning behind sasquatch is the importance of keeping our public lands clean, and Sasquatch is the best at leaving no trace.

Visit lostsasquatch.com to order a custom-made knife from the Santa Ynez Valley.