John Rigoni

    Firefighter and Artist Blacksmith.  I’m a mixed bag. After leaving the Marines, I started college coursework, with the intent on becoming a professor. One weekend I wanted to try my hand at making a knife. Over the next few years, the projects increased and the hobby became an obsession.   I finished my degree with a BA in Ancient History/Classical Studies and immediately traveled to Europe on a student work visa. I worked in the shops of Andrew Rowe in Wales, Terry Clark in England and Uri Hofi in Israel. 

After having done the starving artist bit, it was time to find a career that could work here in the States. I started the fire academy, later getting hired on with the Woodlands Fire Dept. It has been a great choice for me. Career Firefighter and on my off days, I run a small shop here in Texas with the intent on creating beautiful work.