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Nick LeFort

Nick LeFort is a Freelance Writer and Design Engineer from Berlin, CT. Referred to as “Viking” by his cohorts in the outdoor industry. He is also a knife and tool maker and one part founder of Ragged Mountain Knife Works. LeFort spends most of his time with his wife and daughter, getting lost in the woods and testing gear. He would love to get back to the simpler times where he outfitted people for their adventures as a gear geek at a local camping store, but saying “Design Engineer” flows through his massive beard much better. Follow him at Google+.

About Nick LeFort

Nick LeFort is a Freelance Writer and Design Engineer from Berlin, CT. Referred to as “Viking” by his cohorts in the outdoor industry, he comes from a long line of tinkerers; hands-on people who seek to maintain or improve on the commodities they using in day-to-day life. A natural outdoorsman, he spent his teenage years outfitting fellow hikers and campers for their adventures at a local camping store and getting lost in the woods, mountains, and rivers of New England.

LeFort has always been a fan of knives, multitools, hatchets and axes – and hasn’t been seen without a blade since the age of 10. In 2002, he began knife-making as an apprentice with his father-in-law; John Zembko, founder of “Zemknives.” But it wasn’t until 2005, after three years of home-schooling in metallurgy, knife-design, and intended function, that he made his first complete knife. The goal was to make “edged tools for the blue collar class,” all while having fun doing it. In 2013, LeFort carried that mission statement over to his own outfit and started making knives under “Ragged Mountain Knife Works”, in honor of the local mountain that he grew up on.

LeFort lives in Berlin, CT with his wife, daughter and dog and splits his time between the workshop and the woods.

And just in case you were wondering, LeFort is a blood descendant of Pocahontas. No, seriously. She’s his 11th great-grandmother, on his dad’s side.