Losacco, Chris (Elemental Forge)
Chris Losacco (b. 1985) of Elemental Forge is a full-time bladesmith who creates knives that merge artistry, precision, and performance. He is a man of endless curiosity, always researching how to make his knives perform better - from blade and handle geometry to perfectly tempered damascus forged in his shop. Losacco focuses on culinary knives, knowing that they will be used and appreciated by both culinary professionals and home chefs. He blends science, art, and traditional techniques to create some of the most beautiful, functional, and enduring kitchen knives. Losacco is always pushing for perfection. Whether forged or hand-ground stainless AEB-L, his knives are a joy to use. <click to read more...>
Chris Losacco (b. 1985) of Elemental Forge is a full-time bladesmith who creates knives that merge artistry, precision, and performance. He is a man of endless curiosity, always researching how to make his knives perform better - from blade and handle geometry to perfectly tempered damascus forged in his shop. Losacco focuses on culinary knives, knowing that they will be used and appreciated by both culinary professionals and home chefs. He blends science, art, and traditional techniques to create some of the most beautiful, functional, and enduring kitchen knives. Losacco is always pushing for perfection. Whether forged or hand-ground stainless AEB-L, his knives are a joy to use.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Chris was raised by parents who spent their careers in tech sales. While their work was far from hands-on, Chris believes that contrast shaped his path. “Neither of them were builders. Maybe that’s what caused me to seek out tangible things I could create!” he explains. He reflects that, while his father never worked with his hands, his grandfather was a master stonemason - and perhaps that creative gene simply skipped a generation. Today, he lives in Evergreen, Colorado, surrounded by woods and wildlife, where he enjoys the freedom and focus that seclusion provides.
Chris’s curiosity for making things was fueled less by his upbringing than by his career. He earned degrees in Finance and Marketing from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania after initially pursuing Biochemistry and Cellular Biology. He then spent 13 years in the tech industry, building software and systems. “Software is ephemeral; your work can literally be deleted at any time,” he says. “After doing that for so long, I craved things that couldn’t be deleted - and the ownership that comes from making functional art like kitchen knives.”
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Having worn out the knives he received for his wedding, Losacco wondered if he could do better and began to explore knifemaking in 2020. His earliest blade was a rough attempt, ground from a file with walnut slabs epoxied on for a handle. “It looked like a Bowie knife if you squinted really, really hard and had never seen a Bowie knife,” he laughs. That first project was less about perfection and more about experience. “Making things usually requires you to suck at it at first,” he explains. “I knew if I didn’t make at least one crappy knife, I’d never get to the point of making quality culinary blades.”
Self-taught and passionate about hands-on learning, Chris built his first forge in 2020. He also constructed a 2x72 grinder and has since added three more forges: two of them home-built. customizing each for specific capabilities. He learned techniques through online videos, observing other makers, and relentless practice. For Losacco, excellence lies in mastering every step of the process. “If you’re only pretty good at any one step,” he explains, “then your knife will never be a 99th-percentile knife. You have to excel at every stage to make something truly exceptional. If the heat treatment’s bad, you lose edge retention and toughness. If the grinds are lazy, the knife performs poorly. And if the handle fit-up is careless, you end up with gaps that look amateur.” He pauses, then adds, “That’s what I love about knifemaking: I’m the only one to blame if my knife isn’t exceptional. It requires mastery of so many different things to make a truly special blade, and it’s a path I’ll be on for a long time.”
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