March is coming to a close, and before you know it, spring will turn into summer and, along with it, Mother’s and Father’s days. While you can write a book on what to buy Mom—and people most likely have—finding a unique gift for dear old Dad isn’t always the easiest.
One man in Belmont County is offering skilled hands and services to craft your husband, father, brother, or son, a truly unique item for that special day; one that can be passed down through the generations.
Shawn Marchlenski is a water truck driver in the oil and gas industry as his main source of employment. But his main source of enjoyment and entertainment? That is, aside from his wife and kids, of course, handcrafting custom knives.
The owner of Peetza Cutters Forge outside St. Clairsville, Marchlenski has been working with his hands, designing, forging, and customizing knives of all shapes and sizes since 2013.
Before starting to work in oil and gas back in 2006, Marchlenski served as a firefighter and paramedic for 20 years combined at the Penn Hills Station 226 and Unity Station 233 in Plum Boro.
Marchlenski and his family have lived in the Valley since 2015. Just two years prior, his life, and responsibilities, got turned upside down when he unexpectedly lost his sister. He immediately went from full-time uncle to full-time dad of his late sister’s three children.
He immediately quit all negative vices as he now had a family to provide and set a good example for.
“I quit drinking, smoking, anything that would look back to the kids,” Marchlenski admitted. “Working crafting knives became my new way of coping. When I started the forge and was making knives, I started out with railroad spikes, springs—I never really planned on selling my wares. It just kind of happened one day.”
That day came when Marchlenski made a set of kitchen knives for a friend, with that friend commenting on the quality of the craftsmanship and suggesting the possibility of selling more of the product.
Because they were handcrafted, Marchlenski knew the pieces had minor flaws and weren’t perfect. He could see them. But anyone else?
“He told me ‘You can see the flaws. Nobody else does,’” he recalled.
Why not try to sell a few; see what happens?
Gone in a Flash
Marchlenski went where most people go nowadays who are testing the waters to see if their wares can find a niche of interest in the public—Facebook marketplace.
He posted a couple of pieces to see what would happen, not sure what to expect.
“I figured I’d give it a go and threw a couple on Facebook,” Marchlenski said. “Before I could log off, they had sold. It was that kind of fast. People asked if I had more in stock or something to look at, and I tried to explain that 99 percent of my orders are all custom made.”
The hard part for Marchlenski is keeping things uniform. Because the knives are handcrafted, each piece is a little bit different — its own work of art. No two are the same.
While the variations between products shown and products received are minuscule, there are small differences because of how the knives are produced. After arriving in the Ohio Valley, Marchlenski noted none of his local customers have ever complained. They admire the craftsmanship and uniqueness of the pieces they receive.
Right now, it’s a labor of love and a way to combat anxiety. Marchlenski is one of many who suffer from anxiety and, unlike many of his fellow afflicted, he’s unable to take any medication to combat it. Because of his position and his commercial driver’s license, he can’t afford to take either prescription medication or over-the-counter remedies like CBD.
“It’s a trade, it’s fun, and it’s anxiety relief for me,” he admitted. “If I never sold another, I’d still be forging. Honestly, I haven’t even become close to making a profit yet. There’s a kitchen set that I’m working on right now where I already have 85 hours in the set. I think I’m making like $3.29 an hour before materials.”
It’s also a way for Marchlenski to bond with his boys and his stepson. Ron, 15, helps Shawn with the sheaths for the knives. Fourteen-year-old Blake works on the handles for the knives. Even 11-year-old Grant recently made his first knife. It teaches them a craft and to work with their hands. Plus, it’s a chance to work with “Uncle Jay”
Who is Jay Peetza?
Marchlenski said his nephews have referred to him as Uncle Peetza for as long as he can remember. And when he first met his stepson many years ago, he had trouble saying his first name. So, since Shawn called Grant ‘G’ as a shortened moniker, Grant started referring to Shawn as Jay. It, too, stuck.
Thus, you have Peetza Cutter Forge. Marchlenski primarily makes hunting knives, utility knives, carving, kitchen, and more all-purpose varieties. While he does have a forge, you won’t find him crafting swords, or hammering out chainmail on an anvil. That’s not the type of forging he’s doing.
“I’m not a big fan of making weapons, and I try to stay away from it,” Marchlenski said. “I like to make hunting and utility knives, and I don’t branch off too much into forging and metalwork. I like to make hunting and utility knives, don’t branch off too much in forging and metalwork, knives, tools, that’s pretty much it.
“If I can take something kind of plain and make it into a functional piece of art that someone can keep and hand down as an heirloom and pass it to their kids, that’s what I’m going for. It’s a phenomenal way for me to kind of escape everything and get lost in my work.”
Speaking of his work, Marchlenski reminds anyone wanting a hand-crafted Father’s Day gift to start hitting him up now.
When there isn’t a big holiday down the path, he predicts an average turnaround time from custom order to custom knife is around 2-3 weeks. Even the phone call to order can take up to 10-15 minutes because of the sheer number of possible customizations and design options available.”
“My knives start at $125, and the sky is the limit because of all the customization options,” he said. “With Father’s Day, I’d start getting orders in ASAP. I’m already getting them, and I will get them out as fast as I can. If you call now, I’d say you’re looking at probably two or three weeks.
“As it gets closer to June, it’ll be longer.”
Marchlenski is building a larger forge in a building on his property that will allow him greater freedom to hone his craft. It may also provide a different revenue stream further down the road.
In a year or so, Marchlenski hopes to be able to teach classes, either individually or in small groups, about knife forging and using the forge in general.
“We could bring people in and show them how to do it,” he said. “Have small pieces of material, come in, and make a knife. Maybe offer some advanced classes as well in a couple of years. That is my end goal.”
For more information, visit Peetza Cutters Forge on Facebook or give Marchlenski a call at (412) 537-5091.
