Meet The Maker - Mark from Cordina Customs

Meet The Maker #20 - Mark Cordina from Cordina Customs

By Jamie SausageMan Bishop for Nordic Edge, October 2022

I first heard about Mark when he became a Prize Winner in the Facebook Aussie Maker Collective Group by winning the Beginner Knifemaking Competition. He then came to prominence when he won the 2nd Place in the Beginner Chef Knife category at the 2021 Australian Knifemaking Awards.

When I finally met Mark in person at the 2022 Australian Blade Symposium, I was blown away by the quality and the craftmanship of his knives. I couldn’t believe he was only coming up on 2 years of making knives. I was not at all surprised when Mark won Best New Maker at the 2022 Sydney Knife Show and he even told me he won Best Kitchen Knife at the Adelaide Knife Show... oh wait, that hasn't happened yet ;)

Anyway, that’s enough of the SausageMan’s ramblings, I will let Mark tell you his own story:

“Now, this is a tale of how I became,

A craftsperson that specialises in custom knives.

I’d like to take just a bit of your time,

To tell you how I ended up in this wonderful craft.

In a West-Sydney suburb I was born and raised,

Bullied in the playground is how I spent most of my days.

Chilling out with some headphones on most of the time,

Finding solace in creating things whenever I could.

Leaving school when I had the opportunity,

To take on an apprenticeship in the metalwork industry.”

Ok, so that’s probably enough of that – otherwise I’ll have to pay some royalties. (Fresh Prince if you missed it).

Big family

Born in ’86 to amazing parents, Ron and Donna, into a big family (I’m one of 5 kids). I’ve been surrounded by design and craft my whole life – my father is an Architect and a Builder and my mother loved nice things of high quality and was a bit of a perfectionist. All the good things about me have come from them and my siblings – to each of whom I look up to and admire.

Since I was old enough to hold tools, I can remember making things at Dad’s workbench in the garage – I’d often get in there by myself and just make anything, finding solace in the process. The same is still true and has been pivotal at various stages of my life, helping me manage the depression and anxiety I’ve lived with since being a young teenager. Making things calms me, gives me something to focus on and blocks out the ‘noise’.

I’ve gathered a plethora of varied skills and experience through my life thus far.

Drawing on a wide skillset

Professionally - from being a qualified Sheet Metalworker, to being a Builder with my father, qualified Outdoor Educator, qualified Trainer & Assessor, a Cook in a fine restaurant, a Bar Tender and now a professional Craftsperson – running my own business (Cordina Customs), predominantly specialising in Custom Knives though I also do some steel fabrication work too.

Personally, I’ve had many a hobby along the way, from gardening at a young age which led to becoming a Bonsai enthusiast for many years, a love of food and cooking, photography, playing various musical instruments (guitar, bass, drums, synthesizer, digital music production), rock climbing, mountaineering, kayaking, mountain biking, the list goes on. Each have all offered their own transferable skills, whether it be an increase in patience, a stronger understanding of myself, helping me to focus, learning to endure hardship in a positive way, respite – again, the list goes on.

Lockdown was a catalyst for getting back into making

So that’s a bit of a fast-tracked version of how I got to here – being a knifemaker. Well, not quite. This current chapter of my life began during 2020, in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic – one of the many lockdowns we got to experience (side note, respect to all those in the Melbourne lockdowns – I can only imagine what that was like as being in Regional Victoria it wasn’t quite as intense).

So, during the thick of the pandemic, the Outdoor Education industry all but collapsed. Which meant my work changed and became highly stressful, or it became non-existent – this coupled with a lot of other things going on in my world, meant I needed some reprieve and a significant change in my life.

I finally got back on the tools after many years not creating. I instantly felt like I was back where I was supposed to be. My first knife was a little paring knife made out of an old industrial hacksaw blade and some timber and stainless-steel offcuts. I fell in love with the craft and wanted more.

Photo Credit: Michael Masion Photography

Aussie Makers Collective

Like with most things, I became obsessed about knife making. Researching the craft, joining forums, watching videos, reading studies, essentially frothing over it as much as I could. One of those forums was the Aussie Makers Collective, hosted by Darren Ilias. There was a knifemaking competition hosted by the group which I got to participate in. This was my second knife and affirmed my desire to pursue the craft further – this experience gave me the boost and opportunity I needed to catapult me to where I wanted to go.

For me, Knifemaking brings together all the things that are me in a positive way: Obsession, Perfectionism, Technical Detail, Art, Craft, Design, Metal, Wood, Premium Materials, Focus. And it’s something I can do in my own company - which I thoroughly enjoy! And, as mentioned before, it helps me keep depression and anxiety at bay (most of the time). It also brings with it an awesome community of people – I’ve been amazed at the people within the knifemaking community. Such talent and skill, as well as such a sharing of knowledge.

Been a knife maker for 2 years

Since beginning 2 years ago, I’ve perhaps made 80 knives… I’m not too sure to be honest. I aim to make less blades of higher quality than visa-versa. My skills and experience from previous/other pursuits have definitely fast-tracked my progression – this coupled with my obsessive and time. Mum and Dad both taught me this and my life experience has also affirmed that this is the way I wish to be – to constantly strive for better in all pursuits. Do it as best as you can, or don’t do it at all (Yoda says this in a more poetic way). 

This is why I went ‘full-send’. I’m a full-time maker – this means I have to push myself as I rely on it as a source of income (I do work a second job to help make ends meet). Doing it this way was a conscious decision to force myself into taking it seriously and, predominantly, to not be left wondering “what if I had committed more”. I’m in a position where I’ll go as hard as I can, for as long as I can and evaluate the feasibility along the way. If I’m successful – great, if it doesn’t work out – great. At least I’ll know it wasn’t due to lack of commitment or effort.

So far, I’ve progressed from the 600x800 workbench and hand tools that I made my first knife with to a workshop filling a double garage with a forge, kiln, 72” grinder, etc. all the essentials for the quality of knives I wish to make (though there are still a lot more tools and space I aim to acquire).

Specialising in Japanese chef knives

I tend to focus on culinary knives, as this is what I know more about/have a stronger affinity for – being that I absolutely love food and cooking. This is narrowed even further into Japanese style/influenced profiles and aesthetics, most of my knives being hidden tang and Japanese style profiles. I endeavour to pursue this avenue further and further. I am slowly developing my own style and aesthetics along the way too – refining all aspects of my knives each and every time. Each new knife is the new best knife I’ve ever made (to a degree, as there are also budget considerations for my customers), as each knife teaches me more about the processes involved and the skills I need to refine.

Being inspired by other makers

I’m not really a knife enthusiast, well at least wasn’t one until I started the craft. In saying that, a few makers who inspire me are Mert Tansu, Jerarmie Heywood, Jackson Rumble, Ben Anderson, Benjamin Kamon and Neels Van Den Berg (to name a few). Their personal styles are clear and refined, and their quality is outstanding. Ultimately, I’d like to have my name alongside the above – not as a point of status, rather as a point of reference that I have achieved my aspirations and am ready to push further.

Photo Credit: Michael Masion Photography

My goal as a knifemaker

My goal in knifemaking is to make prestige high-quality heirloom pieces that are not only highly functional as they are also beautiful. I want my customers to experience an old-world feel and where they receive a product skilfully and artfully created to their personal specifications, with the flair of the creator and of a genuine quality that can be passed through generations. I aim to have this culminate in producing collection piece Daggers and Katana… One Day…

In making my way to this point, I push myself with the use of premium materials and embellishing my knives with details that are both elegant and detailed. I seek high grade timbers to used for my handles either from private sources or from Deane and Reclaim Creative.

Starting with premium materials

I adore the blackest of Ebony as well as anything that has a beautiful figure – particularly anything with micro curl. As far as steels go, I also seek premium quality – at the moment, I typically use steel from Jezz at Oblivion Blades with a 26c3 core though also love any of the super steels. I also use some simple mono-steels where required too – it’s all selected for a purpose and a budget for my customers.

My top tips for new makers

A few thoughts to pass on to other makers:

• Quality begets quality. I thoroughly believe this – hence why I use premium materials and am slowly building up my workshop with premium tooling. You can wrap anything in gold, it will still be what it is under the cover though.
• I also find that if I am using a premium material or tool;
•   A:it is so much easier & more of a joy to use
•   B:it makes me consider it’s use a lot more and therefore achieve better results.

Results are indicative of input. You have to work hard to achieve. There is no ‘natural talent’ or ‘born with a gift’ – there is only pursuit and persistence to achieve or not. You’ll get out of it what you put into it – so make this decision intentionally. If that decision is to have fun, that is totally fine. If that decision is to use recycled material, that is also fine. If that decision is to use premium materials, that is also fine. You do you, just be intentional.

Understand what you are doing. Underpinning knowledge is fundamental to carrying out any pursuit to a reasonable degree. Guesswork is for gambling, if you intend to sell a product – don’t gamble with your business or your customers.

There are no limits other than those which you set yourself. Set a limit, bar or goal by all means – though also understand you can move this. A quote I learned during my internship as an Outdoor Educator; “There is more in us than we know, if we could be made to see it; perhaps, for the rest of our lives we will be unwilling to settle for less.” Kurt Hahn.

Enjoy making! And thank-you for taking the time to read about me and thank you to the team at Nordic Edge for providing this opportunity.

Yours Sincerely,

Mark Ron Joseph Cordina

If you wish to see or follow any of Marks awesome work, you can find him on the various socials @cordina.customs or on the web at https://cordinacustoms.wixsite.com/home .