Maë Knives

the art of hand-forged steel

By Lauren di Matteo

April 13^th, 2022

Perhaps one of the best things about my line of work is that it's rarely boring. I get to meet people from all walks of life and connect deeply with them over whatever it is they truly love.

Always in search of new folks to photograph, I found DJ's work on Instagram and was instantly inspired by his craft. At my request, a mutual friend connected us and within days, I was on DJ's doorstep, camera in hand.

DJ began working for his uncle, a lobster fisherman in Point Loma, repairing lobster traps when he was just nine years old. For as long as he can remember, he's always been good at working with his hands. Over the years, DJ developed an interest in welding and metalwork and has become an expert bladesmith, spending his weekends creating one-of-a-kind knives out of his workshop in El Cajon.

I'm still marveling at how my gear made it out unscathed after hours of dodging fiery sparks and sharp metal shards while DJ forged blades by hand. It's an art that requires patience, a meticulous eye for detail, and an incredible amount of strength.