Stephanie Lemelin – Canadian Custom Knife Maker and Art Knife Designer
Those who follow the world of fine custom knives have seen a surge of remarkable craftsmanship emerging internationally in recent years—particularly from Italy. Now, a promising new talent from Canada has joined their ranks: Stephanie Lemelin.
Born in Quebec, Canada, in 1977, Stephanie Lemelin graduated from art school in 1998, specializing in jewelry design. Since then, she has devoted herself full time to carving and jewelry making, though her dream of becoming a knife maker began years earlier. One of her jewelry instructors, Chantal Gilbert—a respected name in the knife-making world—inspired Stephanie to pursue that dream, and she never lost sight of her goal.
After visiting Thiers, France, a historic center of knife making, Stephanie began creating custom knife handles, though she initially avoided working directly on blades. Recently, she has dedicated herself more fully to knife making, completing her first two knives under the mentorship of Master Bladesmith Christoph Deringer.
Following their discussions, Stephanie decided to work exclusively with hand tools rather than grinders, finding that the filing technique better suited her preference for graceful curves and intricate design. This approach also allows her to incorporate her background in hand carving and fine jewelry craftsmanship into each piece.
Among the makers she admires most are Arpad Bojtos, Harumi Hirayama, and Wolfgang Loerchner—all known for their artistic mastery and design innovation.
A proud member of the Canadian Knife Maker’s Guild, Stephanie has exhibited her art knives at both the Toronto and Atlanta Blade Shows. Her current body of work includes fixed blades with sheaths and the occasional folder, each one designed and executed as a one-of-a-kind creation.
Fascinated by nature and ancient civilizations, Stephanie draws inspiration from both the organic and the historical. Her work often reinterprets traditional forms, transforming them into something entirely new—art that bridges past and future, function and imagination.
Her goal is to dedicate herself fully to knife making, continuing to evolve her artistic vision with every design she creates.
In Stephanie’s Own Words
“Using basic hand tools, I apply many of my jewelry creation techniques to my knives. I start by carving the handle and trim out of wax, and then I cast the required trim pieces in bronze, silver, or gold.
As for the knife making, I hand-carve the steel directly instead of using a grinder. Hand carving allows for more subtle designs that counter-balance the handle, in the quest to create the most beautiful knife. Of course before all of this, there is a lot of research and draft work done before the physical creation.
In the end, I aim to create timeless pieces that provoke strong emotions while pushing the imagination to its limits.”
“I like to work on one project at a time. I focus all of my attention until it is completed. I love creating knives and I love applying my abilities as a jeweler to the creation of knives. The size and curves of the blade fit well with my creative nature, allowing me to express myself more fully than I ever could through jewelry alone. My future designs will vary as I continue to grow and explore new themes.”
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