Who We Are

My name is Alexander Magnussen, and I’m the blacksmith behind Magnussen Craftworks in Claremore, Oklahoma. My dad, Shannon Magnussen, handles the woodworking side of the shop. Between the two of us, we build handcrafted pieces the way they ought to be made — by hand, with care, and with attention to the details that matter.

Magnussen Craftworks is a family-run shop built on hard work, quality, and doing things the right way. This isn’t a side hobby or something thrown together just to sell products online. It’s something I built to provide for my family, create work I can be proud of, and build a legacy that lasts.

My Background

Before starting Magnussen Craftworks, I spent years building the kind of skills and discipline that shape the way I work today. I welded, went to welding school, and graduated, earned a science degree, and now work as a Quality Inspector. All of that taught me to pay attention to the details, hold a high standard, and take pride in work that is done right.

I also served in the Navy as a chef, where a big part of my job was taking care of people. I cooked for sailors, later ran a barracks, and spent time helping sailors on limited duty as they prepared to transition out of service. That experience taught me responsibility, consistency, and what it means to show up for people and do the job right. Those same values carry over into every piece that leaves this shop.

Why We Started

A big reason I started this business is because I got tired of seeing knives that didn't last and prices that made good quality hard to reach for everyday people. I wanted to make pieces that looked good, worked hard, held up over time, and still felt affordable to the people buying them.

I also wanted to build something real for my family. Magnussen Craftworks is about more than selling blades or wood products. It’s about building something honest, lasting, and worth putting our name on.

What We Make

I handle the forge work — custom knives, blades, edged tools, and one-of-a-kind pieces. Every piece starts as raw steel and is shaped, heat-treated, and finished by hand. I'm especially drawn to unique markings, layered steel patterns, and details that make a piece feel like it has its own identity instead of looking like something mass-produced.

My dad, Shannon, handles the woodworking side. He builds custom cutting boards, small furniture, decorative pieces, and practical woodwork, all made with the same care and pride that go into the forge work. Whether it’s steel or wood, the goal is the same: build something solid, useful, and worth keeping.

How We Work

Everything we make comes out of our home shop. We’re not running volume — we’re running quality. We start with a conversation, figure out what matters most in the build, and then make the piece to fit the job it’s meant to do.

One of the things that matters to me is making the process more personal. I always thought it would be cool for someone to order a knife and actually watch it come together. That's why we're building toward documenting custom work on video, so customers can see the process from raw material to finished piece. It’s a way to make the experience more personal while showing the craftsmanship that goes into every order.

What Matters To Us

At the end of the day, Magnussen Craftworks is about family, craftsmanship, and making things that last. We want people to be able to buy from us and get something real — something built with care, made to be used, and made to stand out. Every piece should feel unique, and every customer should feel like what they ordered was actually made for them.