Marco Gadavics is a part time bladesmith from Upper Austria who recently won the Kukri with a Twist challenge at Knife Show Solingen and Best Knife of Show at Knife Show Austria in 2025. Marco talks about building up his knifemaking skills while working full time as a prison officer, his journey from blacksmithing school to winning awards, selling out at Blade Show West in Utah, and his new investment in a rare 75kg Kuhn Reiter power hammer. The conversation goes deep on forging equipment, what it actually takes to move serious steel, and what the future might look like if his work situation changes.

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