Forged by Faith and Fire: The Story of Bladesmith Judson Rateliff of Story, Wyoming
- Mark Caudle
- Nov 8
- 4 min read
In a small shop tucked beneath the pines of Story, Wyoming, the rhythmic ring of hammer and steel echoes like a heartbeat. Inside, bladesmith Judson Rateliff shapes more than just knives—he’s crafting legacy, one blade at a time. His company, J. Rateliff Knives, has become known across the West for its combination of rugged functionality, old-world artistry, and spiritual craftsmanship rooted in faith and hard work.
From Ranch Work to Razor Edges
Judson’s journey began far from the Bighorn Mountains, in Hope, Arkansas, where he grew up before finding himself working on the Bar17 Ranch in Lampasas, Texas. It was there, needing a good belt knife for daily chores but short on cash, that he decided to make one himself.
“I sort of went down a rabbit hole online,” Judson says. “I taught myself through research, trial, and error.” What began as necessity soon became obsession. With every imperfect attempt, his passion for craftsmanship deepened. “There’s an old saying, “To make a pretty knife, you must first fill a bucket with ugly ones.’ I definitely did that my first couple of years.”
Over time, the self-taught ranch hand realized what he was making wasn’t just a tool, it was art. “At first, I thought tools couldn’t be art,” he says. “But as I kept going, I understood that design and function are a kind of beauty. If it’s not just right, you fix it until it is.”
The Call of the Mountains
In 2021, Judson and his family packed up their life in Arkansas and headed west to Sheridan County, Wyoming. “We came out to visit friends and fell in love with the place,” he says. “I’m an avid hunter and outdoorsman, so that part appealed to me. But there’s also something about the mountains that just seems to call to a man.”
Quoting Henry Thoreau, he adds, “Eastward I go only by force, but westward I go free.” The spirit of the frontier and the history that shaped it became part of his inspiration. “I love western history. This area is full of it, and I’ve tried to incorporate aspects of historical designs into my work. I study what worked for the original frontiersmen.”
Inside the Forge
A day in Judson’s shop is a mix of fire and patience. “There’s a lot of waiting in knifemaking,” he explains. “You try to overlap those times tempering, gluing, polishing so the process keeps moving.” In the winter, he starts his mornings by forging new blades to warm up his shop.
Each knife begins as high-carbon steel, like 1075 or 80CRV2 and transforms into something both functional and beautiful. The handles are equally distinctive: antler, mammoth tooth, buffalo horn, turquoise materials that tell stories of their own. “A lot of my materials come from other small craftsmen,” he says. “Some, like antler, come from Wyoming shed hunters.”
Even the sheaths are handmade. “The sheath has to complement the knife,” Judson says. “If I’m making a large frontier-style knife, I want the sheath to look like it’s straight out of a history book. For a working knife worn by cowboys and ranch hands, it has to be practical and not get in the way.”
Tools of the Trade and Legacy in Leather
Judson’s knives aren’t just admired, they’re used. His blades are carried by NFR Champion Ryder Wright and sold in tack shops across the West. “It’s great seeing people put them through the paces,” he says. “I’m always asking for feedback so I can tweak my designs and make them more practical.”
His inspiration draws heavily from 19th-century masters like James Black, believed to have forged Jim Bowie’s iconic knife, and Price of San Francisco, known for his clean, flowing designs. “I grew up just 30 minutes from where James Black made Bowie’s knife,” Judson explains. “My county is known as The Home of the Bowie Knife. That’s where my love for that history began.”
Among all his creations, one stands out, a 10-inch Bowie-inspired knife with a “bird’s head” handle. “It’s a design I modeled after Price’s style,” he says. “It rides on my belt every day. I hope to make more of that style in the future.”
Forged in Faith
Balancing a one-man business and family life isn’t easy, but Judson wouldn’t trade it. “There are a lot of late nights sewing sheaths,” he admits, “but it’s rewarding. My kids get to see that if you work hard and follow God’s will, you can make a living doing what you love.”
Patience and humility, he says, are as vital as heat and steel. “If a knife doesn’t meet my standards, it never leaves my shop. Taking my time and paying attention to detail has made me a more disciplined person overall.”
For Judson, every knife carries both functionality and soul. “I think functionality and artistry go hand in hand,” he says. “If you use quality materials, proper heat treatment, and care about the details, a knife can last a lifetime. I back every one against maker defects for life.”
The Road Ahead
As his reputation grows, Judson keeps his priorities clear: faith, family, and craftsmanship. “Honestly, I’m happy with wherever God leads my business,” he says. “My faith comes first, then my family. If God sees fit to grow J. Rateliff Knives, I’ll be grateful.”
For those inspired to follow in his footsteps, his advice is simple but sincere: “Make a lot of knives. You’ll fill a bucket with ugly ones before you make a good one but don’t quit. Focus on the details, don’t take shortcuts, and trust the process.”
DON'T MISS THE STORY WEIHNACHTEN CHRISTMAS MARKET ON DEC 6TH
