It seems an anachronism to choose bladesmithing as a trade, but you can't build a better knife any other way. In the early years, the trend in knifemaking was toward exotic steels and space age materials. I had an opportunity to test many blades and compare them to my own hand forged, carbon steel knives. I have yet to find a knife that will out perform a well forged, properly heat treated, carbon steel blade. They are tougher, sharper, and hold an edge longer than any knife made any other way.
Forging enhances the quality of the steel by refining the grain structure of the metal.
It encourages the steel to conform to the shape of the edge inside and out. It is a time consuming process, but it is the essential first step to creating a truly hand crafted knife. I take pleasure in forging and in creating Damascus steels. It is a process that is still mysterious to me and often leads me in new directions. I prefer to be able to control the hardness of my blades through differential heat treatment.