In a commercialized society, tradition can fall behind—but one Marion County man is keen on keeping bladesmithing alive.
Cooking. Sewing. Mowing your lawn. What could these tasks possibly have in common? For one thing, they can be meditative and rewarding. For another, they all require blades: cooking knives, sewing scissors, mower blades. But if those tools are in need of serious TLC, an act that once brought relaxation suddenly brings frustration. That doesn’t mean you have to break the bank for a new set of knives—Bo Gibson’s got the skills needed to keep things sharp.
Bladesmithing began for Gibson as a hobby, handcrafting knives using tools that belonged to his late father—a carpenter—and gifting them to friends and family. Then he learned that north central West Virginia lacked a professional blade sharpener. He already had most of the tools and skills needed, so he founded 304 Sharp Mountain Blades.
Gibson tables at events like farmers markets and gun shows, where he sharpens things like hunting, kitchen, and pocket knives, pruners and other yard tools, and blades for chainsaws and mowers. It improves safety—a dull blade can cause more harm than a sharp one—and adds decades of life to a tool that, to an untrained eye, looks to be on its last leg.
And Gibson has gained a few standout customers, including a regional quilting club.
“I’ll set up during their meeting and sharpen all their sewing scissors. There used to be a blade sharpener who would set up at craft stores, but nobody does that anymore,” he explains. “It’s neat to see their reaction after I sharpen their scissors—they slice through many layers of fabric easily instead of struggling.”
Whether you’ve got a collectable antique, a precious heirloom, or just a reliable blade that’s seen better days, don’t let it collect dust or replace it—let Gibson give it new life. 304sharp.com, “304 Sharp Mountain Blades” on FB
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