When Glenn Lathrop moved to Colorado in 1992 to pursue the “ski bum” lifestyle, he didn’t expect to become a dedicated Western Slope bladesmith. Now, he is the proud owner of Lathrop Craft Cutlery, selling handmade, one-of-a-kind chef knives across Colorado.

Lathrop grew up in central New York on a dairy farm. With a never-ending list of things to fix around the farm, Lathrop quickly developed a passion for tinkering and problem-solving. He was initially drawn to Colorado for its flourishing ski culture. However, when he moved to Durango in 2002, he focused his love of tinkering on a small coffee-roasting business. “In the coffee roasting business, people would ask what the best coffee was,” says Lathrop. “I would encourage them to seek out a local roaster in their area, as hand-crafted things are always best when you find a connection to them personally. That’s what I love about craft and locally-made or sourced goods and products.”

After 17 years in the coffee business, Lathrop sold his coffee company and moved to Palisade. “I was looking for the ‘next thing,’” says Lathrop. “I’ve always enjoyed creating and loved cooking, which led me to appreciate handcrafted chef knives.” He began the journey by taking a two-week Introduction to Bladesmithing class through the American Bladesmith Society, which inspired him to pursue the craft further. He took a second class and dedicated more time to working in his shop to learn how to hand-forge his own custom kitchen cutlery.

In 2022, Lathrop started Lathrop Craft Cutlery, where he sells chef’s knives hand-made in Palisade. Lathrop’s inspiration for his cutlery comes from his roots in the food industry. “It probably all starts in the kitchen,” says Lathrop. “I love to cook and using a really good knife is a lot of fun and makes the job easier.” Lathrop uses his knives daily to identify what works and what doesn’t, which he applies to future designs. “I also have been fortunate to have worked with a couple of other makers who have been very helpful, not only in design but in process,” he adds.

In Lathrop’s shop, where he crafts his knives from scratch, he has a quote pinned above his workbench by Vince Lombardi. It reads: “Gentlemen, we will chase perfection, and we will chase it relentlessly, knowing all the while we can never attain it. But along the way, we shall catch excellence.” Lathrop frequently references this in his own work and cites it as his motivation for constantly creating new things. “I seem to be driven by the never-ending desire to always do better,” says Lathrop. He aspires to improve with each knife and learn more to achieve his vision.

Lathrop has recently enjoyed experimenting with Damascus steel to craft his blades, also known as pattern-welded steel. Creating Damascus knives requires an understanding of the metallurgy of different steels and how to deform them. It takes about five times longer to make than a regular steel knife blade. However, this technique results in the layering of two different steel alloys to create intricate, contrasting patterns on the knife blade. “The process is mesmerizing,” says Lathrop, “watching the transformation of layers of steel come into shape.”

Ultimately, Lathrop hopes to spread the usage of handmade, quality kitchen cutlery. “The goal is to have more folks using really good kitchen knives daily and to continue creating tools that chefs and home cooks love to use in their kitchens,” says Lathrop. In the world of bladesmiths, however, Lathrop hopes to become a Journeyman Bladesmith as accredited by the American Bladesmith Society. The process requires a series of difficult tests and judging of finished knives. There are less than 300 Journeyman Bladesmiths in the country, and Lathrop’s training and preparation may take several more years.

Colorado has been a significant influence on Lathrop and his entrepreneurial lifestyle. After moving from New York, Lathrop has lived on the Western Slope for more than 20 years. “Living in Colorado inspires entrepreneurism and the need to be creative to find your place here,” says Lathrop. After selling his coffee roasting business in Durango, it was difficult for Lathrop to imagine living anywhere other than the Western Slope. “Moving to Palisade took me back to an agriculturally-centered small community, similar to where I came from in New York,” he shares. Lathrop is grateful for the close-knit community of local small businesses and the creative, out-of-the-box thinkers who support them.

Originally published in the summer 2025 issue of Spoke+Blossom.

Lathrop Craft Cutlery: This Local Bladesmith Creates Handmade, Quality Kitchen Knives