5 from the Grinder: Joe Israel (Flat Rock Forge)

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It is 5 from the Grinder time knife fans, and today we bring to you Joe Israel of Flat Rock Forge. I don’t know Joe personally, but he sounds like an interesting fellow, and he is just across the mountain from us over in western North Carolina. Hopefully that can be rectified at some point in the not too distant future.

For those new to KNIFE Magazine, 5 from the Grinder is our quick-format interview series with knifemakers all across the spectrum. If you are a maker who would like to be featured yourself, you can find out more at this link.

Let’s hear what Joe has to say…

Please introduce yourself and let us know what led you to making/designing knives

I am from and live in the mountains of western North Carolina. I made my first knife from wood when I was about 6 years old, and have been fascinated by them ever since. I was a Civil Air Patrol Cadet as a young man and got to use knives in the field and began to appreciate a good knife. Later in my career in the USAF I carried and used a knife daily. After the Air Force I began a career in motorsports which lasted for the next 18 years. During this time I started making knives, which were very crude at first. As I began to learn more about metallurgy and knife design, my blades began to rapidly improve. I have been a full time knife maker since 2021.

What knifemaker(s) or designer(s) have had the biggest influence on you? Do you have any mentors?

Early on I had an appreciation for Gerber knives, Randall, and other fighting knives. Robert Parrish (RP Knives) was just down the road from me and I would go down and bother him after school. His Big Survival and combat blades were iconic for the time.
Later I began to really appreciate Bob Loveless and Moran as real pioneers in the custom knife field.

What is your favorite knife pattern or style from history?

I have always been drawn to daggers and fighting knives.The Randall Model 1 and the Gerber MK2 are a couple examples.
The original SOG Vietnam knives are so Iconic to me.

What is the next big thing in knifemaking? / What direction do you see the industry going?

I think that as knife steels continue to improve that we will see the best blades that have ever existed. I think that classic designs with fantastic modern steels is a really cool direction.

Is there a knife from your lineup that you feel best exhibits who you are as a knifemaker/designer in terms of design elements, aesthetic or techniques used?

My Combat Woodsman is my favorite knife in my current lineup. It is a balanced combat/survival knife with modern steels, old school pinned and soldered guard, and ergonomic handle shape. I would take this knife anywhere on the planet without question.

What is your EDC and why?

I EDC a Flat Rock Shrew in AEB-L stainless, it is small enough to be comfortable, and is perfect for opening boxes and all the little things that I use a knife for.