WHEATLAND – Platte County Art Guild announces the Artist of the Month for the month of May is the MBC Knife-Making Ministry.
The group gathers together twice a month to create art from the forge, and to forge bonds of fellowship over plasma torches and sparks from grinding steel.
Pastor Chris Furl of Memorial Baptist Church became interested in knife-making after watching the tv series “Forged in Fire.” He built a forge he says worked wonderfully, using a hair dryer in a piece of tail pipe with hardwood lump charcoal on top.
“Most of my knives are cut out of old saw blades with a plasma torch. I am not that artistic and like to save time. You simply cut out the basic shape, sand out the rough edges, heat treat it in canola oil, and then attach the handle and put the finished edge on it. If everything goes right, you can make a knife in less than four hours. I have a ton of knowledge through a multitude of mistakes,” Furl said.

His success caught the attention of some people in his church, and a group of three or four started working twice a month. They invited others in the church and now boast more than half a dozen who gather for the knife-making ministry.
Being in Wyoming, all the guys had a basic knowledge of the tools we were using and were quick learners. Since it was a church function, they began with dinner and a devotional from the Bible or a testimony from one of the knife makers. The testimonies were unbelievable.
By the most recent class, Furl said he sat back and watched two or three men teach the high school students everything they needed to know both spiritually and physically. “I now have three guys who could put this class on themselves. One of them was told he was never allowed back in as he turned out a knife that looked like it came out of a factory!” he said.
“I have heard people state that Christianity is boring or that churches are boring. They don’t have to be. I would like to think that Christ was a “hands-on” man himself …. Most of all, practically, Christ came down here to relate to us. How much more practical could He have been?”
“Men need something to do together. This class provided an opportunity for fellowship, learn a trade and hear the stories of men who are sold-out for Christ,” Furl added.
Handiwork from the MBC Knife-Making Ministry will be displayed throughout June at the Dance Wyoming Studio.