A Modern Guide to Knifemaking

We all use a knife almost everyday, but for well-known survivalist Laura Zerra her very life often depends on the blade she takes with her into the wild. She’s learned about what works and what doesnt, what steel will hold an edge, and what nuances in blade design will make or break a knife. In A Modern Guide to Knifemaking, Zerrra shares all the tips and tricks shes learned to make her own knife, including step-by-step instructions for both forging and stock removal.

Author Biography

Laura Zerra is a primitive survival expert who has been practicing her craft in different ecosystems around the world for the past fifteen years. She is perhaps best known for her appearance on Discovery Channel’s Naked and Afraid and Naked and Afraid XL, completing survival challenges in Panama, the Peruvian Amazon, and Colombia. She spent a combined total of eighty-two days in the wilderness, relying on her knife as her sole survival tool. Through her extensive time spent in these and countless other survival situations, Laura gained a deep appreciation for a good knife and an understanding of what elements truly work out in the field. She chose to master the art of knifemaking to not only create her own perfect knife, but also to experience surviving in the wild with a blade made by her own hand. In addition to her survival experience, Laura has worked as a butcher, a taxidermist, and a farrier. Learning these crafts has further added to her knowledge, understanding, and love of knives. Her belief that life is a continuous learning process drives her to constantly seek new experiences and push the edges of her comfort zone. A self-proclaimed nomad, Laura shares her experiences through speaking appearances and teaching. When not practicing the art of primitive survival or working in the shop, her hobbies include hunting, spearfishing, freediving, bow building, shed antler hunting, and learning new skills.