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The List: Who makes blacksmith skillets?

A List of Blacksmith Skillets.

Introduction

This website provides a list of Carbon Steel Blacksmith Skillet companies. I created this website to help others considering purchasing a blacksmith skillet to explore what skillet they should buy.

Who makes Blacksmith Skillets?

There's a huge diversity in Blacksmiths that manufacture Carbon Steel Skillets. While some of these manufacturers are one person forges making an occasional skillet on the side, others are large enterprises with teams to match. There are a variety of methods used to make these skillets -- some skillets are hand-pressed, others are hand-spun.

Why should I buy a Carbon Steel Skillet?

Carbon steel skillets are a great choice for someone looking to move away from teflon-based non-stick pans. Unlike ceramic pans, they're much harder to scratch, so ultimately you're less likely to replace them. Carbon steel skillets are frequently described as behaving somewhere between a cast-iron skillet and a stainless steel skillet because they're seasoned like a cast-iron but they often weigh much less. Depending on the rivet and handle design, they usually can be used for baking and finishing in the oven. Blacksmith carbon steel skillets are hand-forged, not mass-produced, carbon-steel skillets. Many mass-produced skillets are thinner gauge (14 gauge), however, some are thicker. Matfer Bourgeat pans have measured to around 3.2mm thickness, which is approximately 11 gauge.

What factors should I consider when buying a skillet?

My goal is to help you discover the skillet that matches your needs. Instead of asking which skillet is best, you should decide which factors are most important to you.

  • Pre-seasoning: Carbon steel pans, like cast-iron skillets, are naturally non-stick because of the seasoning that forms on the pan when cooking on it with fats. Most Carbon steel skillets come pre-seasoned with coconut oil, flaxseed oil, or soy bean oil. In general, it shouldn't affect your purchasing decision, but you'll want to know when you initially get your pan whether or not you should season it yourself.
  • Rivet design: Many skillet manufacturers connect the handle to the base of the skillet using two or three rivets. These rivets can be small or large and they can be hammered into the the pan. The reason why you should care about the rivet design is that you're going to be cleaning around the rivets.
  • Wall height: There are many uses for Carbon Steel skillets, including frying eggs, stir frying vegetables, and even baking a pizza. Some skillets have shorter, more angled walls which make it easier flip contents in the pan (e.g., when braising or making pancakes or eggs), whereas other skillets are more ideal for a paella or gratin. Blacksmith pan manufacturers often give these products different names, such as french skillets, deep skillets, fry pans, and saute pans, though there isn't a consistent definition, so the best way to understand what the pan is used for is to look at the height and slope of the walls. (Walls typically range from 1 to 2 inches.)
  • Thickness, gauge, and weight: There's a tradeoff between how heavy a pan is and how it performs during cooking. Thicker pans heat up more slowly, retain heat longer, and distribute heat more evenly. Thinner pans heat up quickly but can have hot-spots and can actually warp when heated. Most blacksmith pans are at least thick enough to avoid warping, but commercial Carbon steel pans are often thinner (higher gauge), and subject to warping. One strategy to decide if a pan is the right weight for you is to compare its weight to pans you already own. Check out my guide to skillet weights for more information.

The List of Blacksmiths

McMurry Hand Forged
Made in Modesto, CAby Justin McMurry
mcmurryhandforged.com
Heart And Spade Forge
Made in Roanoke, VAby Jed Curtis
When I was initially looking for a pan, I emailed the Heart and Spade blacksmith to ask about the thickness of their pan and if they'd consider a custom pan without a handle. He quickly responded and reported that they are similar to the thickness of cast iron. He was super willing to make a custom order to match my interests.
www.heartandspadeforge.com
Blu Skillet Ironware
Made in Seattle, WA by Patrick Maher and Caryn Badgett
Blu Skillet Ironware is one of the more widely known forges, possibly due to their proximity to population-dense seattle and their unique lottery system. Every month patrons can enter for a chance to win the opportunity to purchase a skillet. At the time of this update, Blu Skillet Ironware has several months of backlog.
bluskilletironware.com
Kehoe Carbon Cookware
Made in Los Osos, CA by Dennis Kehoe
Kehoe Carbon Cookware's most unique aspect is the option of multiple different thickness of pans. Looking for a pan that behaves more like a cast iron? Consider a 10 gauge (thicker) steel. Looking for something thick compared to commercial pans, but much lighter? Consider a 12 gauge. Etsy reviews of Kehoe's pans rave about the hammered look, and on instagram, Dennis often posts experiments of new models, (e.g., he recently started manufacturing woks.)
www.kehoecarboncookware.com
M2B Art Metals
Made in Philadelphia, PAby Matt Gilbert
M2B Art Metals skillets have a unique "swoop" edge to their skillets that looks a bit like wave. Matt describes this asthetic as the effect of pressing a sheet of octagonal sheet metal without cutting away the excess. These skillets are as much an art piece as a cooking tool. Humorously, Matt's social media activity is the inspiration for this website -- Matt is an active poster on reddit.com and posted a detailed list of blacksmith skillets he had personal experiences with.
matt-gilbert-cg6m.squarespace.comm2bartmetals.com
Blanc Creatives
Made in Charlottesville, VAby Corry Blanc (founder), Vu Nguyen, Sarah Grace Cheek, Charles Lucien Fenaux, Sarah Schleer, Chad Coffman, Trey Corrin, Chadwick Doyle, Jessica Mayer, Dave Heins
Blanc Creatives has grown substantially from their earlier days. Originally, they were much more of a one-person forge and their skillets had a much rougher, more bespoke appearance. These days, their team and process has scaled to match their demand and they now manufacture a cleaner, more ready-made skillet.
blanccreatives.com
Solid Teknics
Made in Australia & Chigaco, ILby Mark James Henry
Solid Teknics is originally an Australian skillet manufacturer that partnered with American manufacturers to bring their skillets to American steel. These skillets are notable for their balance thickness (11 gauge steel), with design choices that minimize weight (thin handles). Their skillets are one of the few that feature a rivetless design without any welding. They're a bit of an unusual company because of their use of kickstarter to bootstrap new products and their garrulous product descriptions.
solidteknics.comsolidteknicsusa.com
    © Jake Ouellette, 2020