Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Bones.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tony. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started Lockjaw Knives in the summer of 2013 in New Orleans following a foot injury that left me effectively immobile. I got a nasty cut on my heel from a piece of rusty metal while swimming in the Pearl River and it got infected (probably because I let my friend Moss stitch it up on my living room sofa). Anyway, the infection was so bad I ended up having to go to the hospital for a stout dose of antibiotics and a tetanus shot, this is why “Lockjaw” felt like a fitting name. While recovering from my misadventure, I needed something to keep me busy while hobbling around the house so I took a crack at making a knife. The first knife I made was quite crude but it lit the fire that would set me on the road to where I am now.
After irritating my roommates by trying to make knives at our house, I eventually convinced a friend to let me use his back shack. After a few months, I outgrew the shack, got serious and found a proper shop space. It was here that Lockjaw really found its footing. I was able to step away from other work to focus all of my attention on knife making. Over the following years, I refined my craft to the point where people began to take notice and I landed a write-up in GQ Magazine, which led to becoming a vendor with CB2. I moved to ATL back in 2018. My current shop is In Chosewood Park.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s definitely been tough at times working for myself and relying solely on knife sales to carry me through. I feel very lucky to continue being able to do what I love to make a living.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Lockjaw Knives story. Tell us more about the business.
I make custom knives of all kinds. These days I’m probably best known for the work I’ve been doing with resin casting. Most notably, casting butterflies and plant matter into the handles of knives.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I feel very lucky. At times, I’ve been on the verge of giving up, cashing in my chips, cutting my losses and getting a “real job,” but in the end, a potent mixture of stubbornness and luck has always carried me through.
Contact Info:
- Website: Lockjawknives.com
- Email: lockjawknives@gmail.com
- Instagram: @lockjawknives
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