Meet the Bylers
We are a close-knit family and long time Idaho residents. Through our friendship with Master Bladesmith, Murray Carter, we continue on the Muteki line that he had started nearly 15 years ago. We greatly value this unique training we received from Murray and plan to carry these bladesmithing traditions on into the future. We feel blessed as a family to work together in beautiful Kooskia, Idaho which is teaming with big fish and abundant wildlife and majestic scenery! We all have had interest in the ancient crafts of forging and wood working, with the youngest, Paxton, forging his fist knife at age 11. Edd, the father, who dabbled in forging steel as well, is also a luthier of award winning violins. Zach and Zane have been accomplished carpenters and avid outdoorsmen with a broad knowledge of steel-working and fine craftsmanship. We are a family committed to the highest standard in this ancient craft of bladesmithing.
Edd Byler
I was born in the Missouri Ozarks and worked on our farm and in construction with my father. I’ve always had a big interest in making things with my hands, having made my first knife as a teenager in my dads shop as well as making several banjos that I learned to play. Years later our family moved to Idaho where I married my pretty wife, Corina, and raised my family. I continued in construction but went back to my passion of being a luthier (craftsman of stringed instruments), making violins and violas, which I still do.
The vocation of making hand forged knives and being trained under Murray Carter has been a great experience and I find there are many things that came naturally from working in the violin shop. Both knife making and violin making come from ancient traditions and that keeps it fascinating. Working with my sons in the knife shop is a real joy!
My role in Muteki is not currently as much in actual knife making as in helping manage the company and in critique and advice to my sons, the blade smiths. Even then they are very capable in every aspect of the business on their own and I’m very proud of what they’re doing!
Zach Byler
I’ve been born and raised in Idaho and live here with my wonderful wife Janell. I love Idaho’s big outdoors and enjoy exploring the nearby mountains on foot and by flying our family airplane. I’ve been a knife enthusiast from a young age and always have had a decent collection.
I met Murray several years ago, through some mutual friends and immediately admired his ability to make top quality knives. Fast forward a few years, my wife and I had the privilege of Murray gifting us with one of his beautiful kitchen knives as a wedding present and got to experience first hand how sharp his knives are. When the opportunity arose to continue Murray’s Muteki Knives line, it seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime.
I enjoy figuring out the endless possibilities of new knife designs as well as perfecting current ones. I also love how making knives requires my full concentration and how my mind and hands have to work together to shape a knife.
Zane Byler
Growing up in northern Idaho, I have always enjoyed spending time out in the mountains hunting, hiking and fishing. I also acquired my pilots license a few years ago and that has become a favorite hobby of mine. My wife Kendra and I feel very fortunate to be able to raise our three children in such an amazing place. Knives have always been an important part of my life and I love the sentimental value a hand forged blade has. I always valued having a knife that was sharp but didn’t really understand what made one knife outperform another.
That changed a few years ago when we developed a relationship with Murray Carter. Under his mentorship I have learned a lot about making knives with Japanese bladesmithing techniques. The attention to detail a bladesmith has from forging the blade all the way through the grinding process is very critical in making a knife perform well. I really enjoy how bladesmithing constantly challenges me to improve and fine tune my skills.
Whether I am making a kitchen knife or outdoor knife my goal is to make something that can last a lifetime.
Paxton Byler
I have always been inquisitive and from a very young age had a fascination with tinkering on anything mechanical. I especially liked knives and wore one on my belt from a very young age, very reluctantly having to take it off when I went to school. I took a great interest in hand forging things with my dad’s coal forge and anvil, making my first knife before my teens. There were many get-togethers with friends and cousins where we made knives and swords out of scrap iron. It was always my dream to become a knife maker like Murray Carter.
After being extensively trained under Murray in our shop, I am able to continue perfecting my knife making skills. Even after supper, I often head back to the knife shop to hammer some more steel and make another knife. I enjoy coming up with my own knife designs and discovering what might make a new knife design or handle combination special and useful.
