Edward Manders

I’m Edward, an amateur blacksmith, and I’m raising funds to grow my bladesmithing business so I can create meaningful memorial keepsakes for families. This idea became deeply personal when I made a knife for my mother-in-law and incorporated her late husband’s ashes into the blade. She loved it, and seeing her reaction showed me that this kind of piece can become far more than a collectible. It can be a lasting connection to someone deeply missed. My goal is to create hand-forged knives and small swords that incorporate the ashes of recently deceased loved ones. In bladesmithing, carbon helps harden steel, and cremation ashes are essentially carbon. That means a relative would not only be symbolically part of the blade, but would also contribute to the strength and quality of the steel itself. To do this well and on a larger scale, I need better tools and equipment, including major upgrades like a power hammer, which costs several thousand dollars. With your support, I can improve my workshop, create these memorial pieces for more families, and possibly turn this into full-time work. If this idea speaks to you, I would be truly grateful for any help you can give. Your support will help me build keepsakes that honor loved ones in a personal, lasting, and handcrafted way.