From 1999-2006 I worked as a cutler, blade-grinder, heat-treater, bladesmith, and general shop production for Albion Armorers.  My duties have also extended into blade design for the Albion Mark First Gen. lines as well as a majority of the Filmsword blade designs.

Prior to beginning my work at Albion I had dabbled with making a few stock-removal knives and daggers during my childhood and teenage years.  During my sophomore year (1998) at college, I introduced myself to the blacksmith at the local colonial fort (located on the grounds of my college), and began a 2 year stint in his shop.  While in his shop I learned general forging techniques, and did mostly ornamental work (decorative horseshoes for kids, fireplace grates, doorknockers, etc.).  This progressed into forging blades (primarily Japanese style), as a precursor to my work now.

From 1999 to 2001 I worked in all areas of the shop, but most often as a cutler, and general shop hand.  I was in charge of cutlering all of the early "Albion Del Tins" as well as the swords which were hilted with Jody Samson designed hilt components, this extended to regrinding/reshaping blades made by other makers/smiths to accomodate the desired hilt. 

Starting in fall of 2001, once we began producing our own blades with the Albion Mark line and others, my duties expanded into the roles of heat-treater, and blade-grinder for Albion Mark and FilmSwords production lines, as well as heat-treating custom blades for various custom makers, including Jody Samson. I have continued this work in my own custom forged blades.

From 2001-2006 I was the head of all blade production in Albion's shop, and oversaw the proper milling, heat-treating, and grinding of blades for the Albion Mark, and Filmswords production lines.  This involved checking that that blades were properly milled to the correct dimensions, were heat-treated to Albion's specific recipe (which I helped develop) and were ground to a proper shape and finished character. 

My duties as a blade designer and researcher were mostly focused on the aforementioned Filmswords projects, but also extends to all machined blades not specifically designed by Peter Johnsson.  This involved doing wholesale blade schematics for programming or partial revisions (of  blades designed by other craftsmen) in order to have them machine ready for production. 

I also still spent a portion of my time in the cutlery shop, most often doing the assembly work on the Filmswords, or helping out with either finishing Next Gen hilt components or fitting the guard and pommel assemblies in place.

My JMA/JSA background started the first time when I was eight, but only lasted a few months.  I picked it back up again (same teacher) when I was twelve.  From that time, until I left for college at eighteen, I trained Karate, Iai, Aikijutsu and Judo under Patrick Hickey in NE Ohio (Kwanmuzendokai).  Before I left for college, I did receive my black belts in Kwan Mu Kan style Karate, and Chang Moo Kwan Taekwondo, as well as a brown belt in Aikijutsu.  The other styles I trained in, I was not ever ranked.

When I arrived at college, I joined the Kendo, and Judo clubs, and started an Aikido club with one of the other students (who was in both other clubs as well) who was a Tomiki style black belt.

While I no longer currently study in any school, I do still continue personal studies of all sword-related arts that interest me whenever possible.  I also test cut on a regular basis with a wide range of sword types, these include Fantasy, European and Asian blades, both from the custom and production markets.