Meet the Bylers
All of us bladesmiths in the Muteki knife shop are excited to take on this family business venture! We are a close-knit family and long time Idaho residents. Through our friendship with Master Bladesmith, Murray Carter, we purchased the Muteki line that he had started nearly 15 years ago. Although all the specialty tools which we purchased, including his Japanese power hammer, are important, the greatest value is that we have all been extensively trained by Murray to continue the Muteki line. Having Murray living nearby in Idaho to continue mentoring us and answer questions almost guarantees our success! We feel blessed to work together in beautiful Idaho County, 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 are accomplished carpenters and avid outdoorsmen with a broad knowledge of steel-working and fine craftsmanship. We all found we had a ready ability for making knives and it has been very rewarding.
Edd Byler
I was born in the Missouri Ozarks and worked 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, selling my violins in several different stores throughout the US.
The new 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!
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 loved knives from a young age, like most boys do and always have had a decent collection. One knife that I remember was extra special, was a Bowie knife that dad bought for me when I was 10 years old. I met Murray sometime in 2019 through some mutual friends and immediately admired his ability to make top quality knives. At the time, I was teaching school and involved in our family business and could’t have guessed that one day, I would be trained by Murray in the art of bladesmithing. Fast forward a few years, my wife and I had the privilege of Murray gifting us with one of his beautiful Japanese kitchen knives as a wedding present and got to experience first hand how sharp and tough his knives are.
When the opportunity arose to continue Murray’s Muteki Knives legacy, it seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime. I love how making knives requires my full concentration and how my mind and hands have to work together to shape a knife. I feel very privileged to have been taught by Murray, the tips and nuances of what makes Japanese blades so renowned.
Zane Byler
I was born in northern Idaho and have lived there my whole life. I have always enjoyed spending my free time in the nearby mountains hiking, hunting, and fishing. I also acquired my pilot’s license a few years ago and it has quickly become a favorite hobby of mine. As I was growing up, I always had a fascination with knives of all shapes and sizes. I still have many of them today and each one still brings back memories of the many things I used them for. I never dreamed at that time that I would learn the skill of making knives and become a Muteki bladesmith.
A couple years ago, we moved to Central Idaho and soon after, Murray became a good family friend. Since then I was able to take a tour through Murray’s shop and watch him make a knife from start to finish. It was amazing to see the process of making a knife with traditional Japanese bladesmithing techniques. I had never realized all the steps and attention to detail that goes into every single knife. I am very happy to continue using the same processes Murray uses in making his knives as well as having his oversight and training going forward. One of the things that has always stood out to me making knives with Murray is the sharpness and performance each blade has. That is something I intend to continue passing on to each Muteki customer.
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.
