Red Ember Ironworks: Handcrafted Axes and Knives

Handcrafted Tools with Soul

At Red Ember Ironworks, each axe, knife, and tool is carefully shaped by hand, blending tradition and skill whilist ensuring quality locally made handcraftsmanship.

Crafting Process

Meet the Maker

Hello! My name is Brendan Cook. I'm an amateur blacksmith trying to constantly learn and improve my skills in every capacity. Who pours passion into every project, honoring both hard work and the people who came before me. Although my experience is currently limited I strive for perfection in every piece.

My Craft

At RedEmberIronworks, I personally shape every axe, knife, and hand tool with care, blending tradition and skill into each piece.

Roots

From nowhere to somewhere

My journey into blacksmithing began in Galena, Illinois, at a “Behind the Anvil” event where I struck hot iron for the first time. That single moment sparked something deeper than curiosity—it set me on a path of craft, patience, and continual learning.

Not long after, I reached out to a seasoned smith named Dean Rose, who generously took me under his wing. Under his guidance, I was given the freedom to experiment, to fail, and to learn—often by making what felt like a complete mess of everything in sight. Dean would call these moments “cracked eggs,” a reminder that mistakes are not setbacks, but necessary steps in the process of mastery.

Over time, those cracked eggs began to teach me more than any success could. With each attempt, I gained a deeper understanding of the material, the tools, and the discipline required to shape both steel and skill. Today, I can confidently call myself a blacksmith—though, as Dean would say, I still crack about the same number of eggs. The difference now is knowing that each one brings me closer to refining my craft.

A blacksmith in a workshop uses a hammer to shape glowing hot metal on an iron anvil.