Josh Prince (b. 1968) is a brilliant artist making beautiful and highly functional knives that reflect his lifelong drive to create. His approach to knifemaking pushes the boundaries between blades and art. Blending old-school bladesmithing with his own unique welding techniques, Josh creates knives that carry a natural, organic flow in their shapes. He skillfully uses negative space in his damascus patterns to create visual depth and dynamic movement, enhancing both aesthetic appeal and functionality. He is not afraid to take chances, often focusing on sculptural knives that stand out as both tools and works of art. Using everything from high-grade monosteels to complex damascus patterns of his own creation — paired with unique handle and fitting materials — Josh has become known as one of the most creative and talented damascus makers of his generation. <click to read more...>
Josh Prince (b. 1968) is a brilliant artist making beautiful and highly functional knives that reflect his lifelong drive to create. His approach to knifemaking pushes the boundaries between blades and art. Blending old-school bladesmithing with his own unique welding techniques, Josh creates knives that carry a natural, organic flow in their shapes. He skillfully uses negative space in his damascus patterns to create visual depth and dynamic movement, enhancing both aesthetic appeal and functionality. He is not afraid to take chances, often focusing on sculptural knives that stand out as both tools and works of art. Using everything from high-grade monosteels to complex damascus patterns of his own creation — paired with unique handle and fitting materials — Josh has become known as one of the most creative and talented damascus makers of his generation.
Josh was born in Vermont and has lived in Barrington, Rhode Island, since age seven. Creativity has been a constant in his life — both of his parents were accomplished artists. His mother, Norma J. Anderson, earned her MFA at RISD and taught art and sculpture at several private schools. His father, Arnold Prince, was a professor of Arts at RISD and a renowned sculptor of wood and stone, with works in both private and public collections. Surrounded by carving tools, clay, paints, wood, and stone, Josh grew up in a home where making was simply part of everyday life. “The only things we had to keep us busy as children,” he recalls, “were things like clay, paints, and carving tools for wood and stone, among many other mediums.” Growing up as the son of two teachers, Josh carries their legacy forward, shaping not only his own approach to creativity and craftsmanship but also his passion for passing knowledge on.
His very first knife wasn’t steel at all — in 1976, he carved a small wooden knife as a Mother’s Day gift. While that knife is long gone, it set the stage for a lifelong fascination with shaping objects that are both meaningful and functional.
Prince studied Economics and Spanish in college, though he says he used the degree minimally. It wasn’t until 2016, when he built his forge, that knifemaking really became his focus. Largely self-taught, Josh learned through peers on Instagram, YouTube, and with support from a few respected bladesmiths. Over the years, he has also traveled to learn from other accomplished bladesmiths, gaining insights into forging techniques, finishing methods, and innovative approaches to damascus design. He now spends 20–30 hours a week in the shop, producing about 20–30 knives a year. While he does both stock removal and forging, it is forging that excites him most because of its sculptural possibilities. His favorite tool is the press, which allows him to bring his more experimental patterns and shapes to life.
Known for knives that are both cutting-edge and sculptural, Josh lets loose with creations of pure whimsy, like a steel knuckle pizza cutter or a titanium oyster shucker/wine opener. These playful projects reflect his belief that functional objects can — and should — spark joy as much as they perform.
Josh is a member of the American Bladesmith Society and teaches knifemaking, sharing his knowledge and experience with both aspiring and experienced smiths. His teaching combines hands-on instruction with lessons learned from his travels and collaborations, helping students explore new techniques, push creative boundaries, and develop their own artistic voice.
At home, Prince is a husband and father of two grown children, now 24 and 29. When he is not in the shop, you will likely find him enjoying other art forms or diving into science content — two endless sources of inspiration.
Ultimately, Josh Prince’s work is about more than knives. It is about merging art and craft into objects that carry a story, a function, and a piece of his lifelong creative spirit. Prince is fascinated by how knifemaking can combine so many artistic and creative disciplines into one object, either simultaneously or selectively. He is pushing the boundaries of bladesmithing, always willing to take chances and learn from failures so that each success brings him closer to perfecting the vision he started with. Each knife is a durable and functional sculpture, born from fire and imagination, and a testament to a maker who has never stopped creating.
PREVIOUSLY SOLD ITEMS
(NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE)
