What began as a middle-school science project has evolved into a full-fledged custom and semi-production knife operation. 7Forge Knives, co-founded by Forged in Fire champion Jessie Wipperman, has charted an impressive trajectory since its early days. In a recent update with KnifeNews, co-founder Tim Ogg outlined how the brand has expanded across multiple fronts.
Scaling into production has proven to be one of the most demanding yet rewarding transitions for the company. According to Ogg, increasing manufacturing volume has forced the team to refine internal systems and identify operational strengths and weaknesses. The payoff has been twofold: greater customer availability and a measurable uptick in overall fit and finish. “We’ve dialed in what works,” Ogg noted, explaining that lessons learned on the production line have elevated quality across every category they offer.
Alongside manufacturing growth, 7Forge has developed an entirely new product family. The Artemis line, introduced throughout 2025 and early 2026, centers on a versatile handle platform that accommodates multiple blade configurations. Originally launched as the Artemis Hunter, the family now spans everything from hunting profiles to bushcraft designs. Ogg attributes the line’s popularity to its ergonomic balance between comfort and utility. Building on that momentum, the team has also shrunk the platform into a more compact variant dubbed the Artemis EDC.
Education has become another pillar of the business. Although 7Forge has offered classes since 2020, operations were seasonal and constrained by facility limitations. The move to a climate-controlled workshop in February 2024 enabled year-round instruction. Students now work directly alongside Wipperman and the team, learning knife-making fundamentals from a nationally recognized bladesmith. Ogg downplayed any competitive pressure from Wipperman’s televised victory, framing it instead as a historical milestone that reinforces the shop’s credibility. “Jessie definitely has forever bragging rights as Iowa’s only Forged in Fire champ,” he said. “It adds legitimacy to the operation.”
Looking ahead, 7Forge intends to continue pushing production through the remainder of 2026. The stated objective is straightforward: put working knives into more hands without sacrificing the quality that defines the brand.
Key Takeaways
Brand: 7Forge Knives
Co-Founders: Jessie Wipperman (Forged in Fire winner) and Tim Ogg
New Product Family: Artemis (Hunter, EDC variants)
Expansion Areas: Semi-production output and year-round educational classes
Milestone: Moved to climate-controlled shop in February 2024
Featured Knife: 7Forge Artemis Hunter
