Matt Parkinson

From an early age, Matthew was fascinated by blacksmithing, knives and swords. As a young teen he made his first knife from an old file under the direction of his grandfather. Using his early exposure to knifemaking and his training in machining, Matthew began teaching himself the basics of blacksmithing and bladesmithing. In 1998, he formed MP Metalworks and began selling his work at Renaissance Fairs throughout the northeast. In 2005, Matthew formed Falling Hammer Productions along with Jamie Lundell and Peter Swarz-Burt. Falling Hammer Productions designs, manufacturers and installs interior and exterior ironwork for homes in CT, NY, NJ and MA. In 2007 they formed Dragons Breath Forge, a subsidiary of FHP to produce and market swords, knives and armor. Since 2007, Matthew has been teaching blacksmithing and bladesmithing at the Brookfield Craft Center, the Guilford Arts Center, Peters Valley School of Craft, and New England School of Metalwork, along with private lessons in his own shop. In 2015, Matt won the first ever episode of History Channel’s Forged in Fire. Watch Matt’s Home Forge Tour from season three.