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We are excited to announce that Michael was honored as a Mastersmith by the American Bladesmith Society on June 4th, 2010. A very small number of masters are honored each year and it shows a tremendous accomplishment and many years of work! Each year, the B.R. Hughes Award is presented in recognition of the knife judged to be the best submitted for review by a new mastersmith. Michael Rader won the B.R. Hughes Award for his mastersmith presentation dagger. Michael was honored as a Journeyman Smith in June of 2006.
Michael Rader lives and works out of a small shop in the Washington State Cascade Foothills and has been a full time maker since 2002.
He trained in eight different martial arts styles throughout his life and continues to practice Tai Chi and Pentjak Silat daily. His blades are hand forged to shape using a 42 inch long barrel forge. The handles, scabbards, and display stands are hand sanded and oil finished in a process that takes nearly two weeks and provides a custom gunstock-quality finish.
Michael is a maker that is constantly experimenting. He continuously evaluates his knives for cutting dynamics and edge geometry -- evolving his designs and developing new techniques. His work incorporates influences from many styles, cultures, and histories, though he does not follow any traditional or historical styling. His sole interest is in making an original modern knife or sword and not a replica-of-a-copy-of-an-original.
Michael has spent years experimenting with heat treatment -- one of the secrets to any high performance knife. He continuously improves his heat treatment and regularly tests his blades, taking them to the limit. Each blade is tested to make sure that it will bend 45 degrees and return true. The edge is tempered so that it is hard enough to stay sharp but won't chip and can be easily sharpened. Intuitive, organic design has its place throught Michael's planning, but in the later phases of construction, he makes every attempt to create an intelligent sword or knife. He is a firm believer in the old adage, "Form follows function" and tries to adhere to that as much as possible even in his art knives.
Michael's woodworking skills are exceptional and a hallmark of his style. Swooping archs are perfectly combines into elegant and dramatic handles and sheath. Though many collectors first mention Michael's wood inlay designs when talking about his knives, Michael intends the sculpting and carving to be ergonomic first and beautiful second. The result is both a captivating knife and one that is so comfortable that you won't want to put it down.
Affiliations
Amboyna Burl Magnetic Knife Strip (12") |
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Amboyna Burl Magnetic Knife Strip (12") |
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Amboyna Burl Magnetic Knife Strip (16") |
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Amboyna Burl Magnetic Knife Strip (16") |
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Amboyna Burl Magnetic Knife Strip (18") |
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Chef's Knife (10 3/4") with Curly Koa and Maple |
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Chef's Knife (7 1/2 in.) with Curly Koa and Box Elder Burl |
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Chef's Knife (8 3/4 in.) with Curly Maple and Koa |
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Chef's Knife (9 1/4") with Curly Maple |
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Chef's Knife (9") with Maple Burl and Box Elder Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (210mm / 8-1/4 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Nakiri - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Nakiri - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Nakiri - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Nakiri - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Santoku - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Santoku - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Santoku - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Santoku - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Santoku - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Santoku - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Santoku with Maple (7 in) |
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Chef's Knife with Bubinga and Box Elder Burl (8 1/2 in.) |
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Chef's Knife with Curly Koa and Box Elder Burl (9-3/4 in.) |
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Chef's Knife with Curly Koa and Walrus Ivory (9 3/4 in.) |
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Chef's Knife with Curly Mango, Box Elder Burl and Curly Koa (10 1/2 in.) |
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Chef's Knife with Curly Mango, Maple Burl and Box Elder (9.4 in.) |
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Chef's Knife with Curly Maple and Maple Burl (9 3/4 in.) |
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Chef's Knife with Mango Wood, Box Elder Burl and Curly Koa (11-1/4 in.) |
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Chef's Knife with Maple (5 2/3) |
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Chef's Knife with Maple (8-1/4 in.) |
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Chef's Knife with Maple (9-1/2 in.) |
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Chef's Knife with Maple and Amboyna Burl (6 1/2 in.) |
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Chef's Knife with Spalted Maple and Box Elder Burl (10 in.) |
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Chef's Knife with Sun Ray Maple (9-1/4 in) |
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Cherry and Peruvian Walnut Bowl |
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Curly Maple Magnetic Knife Strip (16") |
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Damascus Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (9-1/4 in) with Damascus and Pearwood |
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Damascus Chef's Knife with Maple Burl and Curly Koa (7 3/4 in.) |
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Damascus Chef's Knife with Maple Burl and Curly Maple (10 3/4 in.) |
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Damascus Chef's Knife with Maple Burl and Curly Maple (6 1/2 in.) |
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Damascus Paring Knife (3") with Curly Maple and Lacewood |
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Damascus Paring Knife (4-1/2") with Curly Koa and Box Elder |
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Damascus Santoku (Chef's Knife) with Curly Koa and Box Elder (7 1/4 in.) |
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Damascus Slicer |
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Edge Arch with Maple and Walnut Magnetic Knife Strip (12") |
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Fruit Knife with Koa and Blackwood |
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Handmade Paring Knife (3 1/2") with Koa and Box Elder Burl |
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Handmade Paring Knife (3 3/4") with Koa and Box Elder Burl |
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Handmade Paring Knife (3 7/8") with Maple Burl |
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Integral Santoku (6-3/4 in.) with Lacewood and Box Elder Burl |
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Integral Slicer (7-1/2") with Oak Burl and Blackwood |
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Paring Knife (3 1/3") with Koa and Box Elder Burl |
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Paring Knife (3 1/4") with Curly Maple and Koa |
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Paring Knife (3 2/3") with Bubinga and Lacewood |
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Paring Knife (3 2/3") with Koa and Blackwood |
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Paring Knife (3 2/3") with Koa and Box Elder Burl |
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Paring Knife Curly Koa and Box Elder |
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Petit Santoku - Mustard finish with Bubinga and Koa (6 1/8") |
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Puzzle Piece Magnetic Knife Strip (12") |
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Puzzle Piece Magnetic Knife Strip (12") |
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Puzzle Piece Magnetic Knife Strip (16") |
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Red Malle Wood Magnetic Knife Strip (12") |
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San Mai Damascus Paring Knife (3 in.) with Curly Koa and Ancient Walrus Ivory |
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Santoku (8 1/2 in.) with Curly Koa and Box Elder |
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Santoku with Bubinga and Box Elder Burl (7 1/4 in.) |
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Santoku with Curly Koa and Blackwood |
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Santoku with Curly Koa and Blackwood (7 in) |
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Santoku with Curly Koa and Blackwood (7.9 in) |
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Santoku with Curly Maple and Maple Burl |
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Santoku with Curly Maple and Maple Burl (6 3/4 in.) |
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Santoku with Koa and Box Elder Burl (7 1/4 in.) |
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Santoku with Koa and Elder Burl |
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Santoku with Koa and Maple |
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Santoku with Maple and Koa (6 1/4 in) |
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Santoku with Maple Burl and Curly Maple (7 2/3 in) |
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Santoku with Maple Burl and Curly Maple (8 1/2 in.) |
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Santoku with Sheoak Burl |
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Santoku with Spalted Maple Burl and Curly Koa |
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Slicing Knife with Curly Mango, Koa and Box Elder (13-1/2 in) |
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Slicing Knife with Koa and Box Elder Burl (5 3/4 in.) |
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Slicing Knife with Koa and Maple (5 1/3 in.) |
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Stretch Santoku with Curly Maple and Amboyna Burl |
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Utility - Slicer - (160mm / 6-1/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Utility - Slicer - (160mm / 6-1/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Utility - Slicer - (160mm / 6-1/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Vegetable Knife - Nakiri (7 3/4 in) with Curly Koa |
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Vegetable Knife - Nakiri (7 3/4 in) with Curly Koa and Box Elder |
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Walnut Magnetic Knife Strip (12") |
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Walnut Magnetic Knife Strip (16") |
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Walnut Magnetic Knife Strip (18") |
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Walnut Magnetic Knife Strip (20") |
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Paring Knife (3-1/3 in.) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Paring Knife (3-1/2 in.) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Paring Knife (3-1/2 in.) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Paring Knife (3-1/2 in.) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Paring Knife (3-1/3 in.) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Utility Knife - Fruit - (135mm / 5-1/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Utility Knife - Fruit - (135mm / 5-1/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Utility Knife - Fruit - (135mm / 5-1/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Utility Knife - Fruit - (5-1/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (210mm / 8-1/4 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (210mm / 8-1/4 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (210mm / 8-1/4 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (210mm / 8-1/4 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (210mm / 8-1/4 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (210mm / 8-1/4 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (10-1/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (10.4 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (240mm / 9-1/2 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (240mm / 9-1/2 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (240mm / 9-1/2 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (240mm / 9-1/2 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl |
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