Master Bladesmith · Washington, AR
R.VILAR KNIVES
HANDCRAFTED IN THE USA
HANDCRAFTED IN THE USA
Commissioned blades built to your exact specification. Your vision, Ricardo's mastery.
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Production designs built for operators, law enforcement, and special forces. Proven in the field.
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Limited special projects co-created with other masters of their craft. Purposeful. Unforgettable.
ExploreThe History Channel declared what the forge already knew. Ricardo Vilar won Forged in Fire Season 7 — and went on to serve as judge for Forged in Fire Latin America across 3 seasons.
Commissioned by Jeff Davis of TSG USA, Ricardo Vilar was chosen to forge a one-of-a-kind Bowie knife for His Majesty King Mswati III — Sovereign of the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Royal House of Dlamini.
Forged in Washington, Arkansas — the same ground where James Black created the original Bowie nearly two centuries ago. Ricardo calls it one of the most meaningful works of his career: a gift made not only for the King, but for the generations of the Royal House that shall follow.
From the birthplace of the Bowie knife
— to the hands of a king.
From first sketch to final edge — every R.Vilar knife is designed, forged, and finished by Ricardo alone in Old Washington, Arkansas.
Each blade begins as a hand sketch — dimensions, balance, and purpose defined before steel is touched.
Steel meets fire. Ricardo shapes each blade at the forge, coaxing the metal into its final form through heat and hammer.
The bevel, geometry, and edge are formed by hand on the grinder — the step that defines how the knife will perform.
Handle, hardware, polish — every detail brought to Ricardo's exacting standard before it leaves the shop.
Watch Ricardo at the forge — the fire, the steel, the hours of work that go into every blade. See the craft from raw billet to finished edge.
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Ricardo has partnered with warriors, artists, military units, and master craftsmen to create knives that carry more than just an edge.
A one-of-a-kind Bowie forged as a royal gift for His Majesty King Mswati III of Eswatini. Feather Damascus, coffin handle, 24K gold inlay. From Washington, AR — to the hands of a king.
See the StoryJapanese geometry meets modern tactical DNA. Co-designed with martial artist and FiF star Doug Marcaida.
View in ShopEngraved Damascus blade with gold inlay and mammoth ivory handle. A collector's masterpiece born from two masters.
View in Gallery35 custom presentation knives commissioned as official gifts for members of the Brazilian Senate. Each individually crafted.
View in GalleryStainless steel blade with precision laser engraving. A seamless fusion of two bladesmithing legacies into one signature knife.
View in GalleryOfficial tactical blades commissioned for Brazil's elite jungle warfare unit — the Centro de Instrução de Guerra na Selva (CIGS).
View in GalleryA production-scale tactical collaboration merging Ricardo's forge expertise with Donovan's manufacturing precision.
View in GalleryFrom international competition stages to the History Channel, from royal commissions to military honors — Ricardo Vilar's blades have carried his craft to every corner of the world.
His Majesty King Mswati III · Ngwenyama · TSG USA
Selected to forge a royal Bowie knife as an official gift for King Mswati III of Eswatini — feather Damascus, coffin handle, 24K gold inlay. One of the most meaningful commissions of Ricardo's career.
History Channel — Season 7, Episode 27
Defeated all competitors in the final episode to claim the title and $10,000 prize.
History Channel Latin America
Invited to serve as expert judge across 3 seasons of the Latin American edition.
Old Washington, Arkansas
Created and leads the annual festival honoring the legendary Jim Bowie knife and Arkansas bladesmithing heritage.
American Bladesmithing
Historic milestone: first bladesmith from South America to earn the Journeyman Smith designation.
Global Bladesmith Events
40+ awards earned across international competitions spanning three decades of forging.
Historic Washington State Park
Recognized and nominated by the Historic City of Washington, Arkansas as their Master Bladesmith.
Brazilian Army · CIGS · BOPE · Firefighters
Commissioned to create official blades for multiple Brazilian elite military and emergency units.
International Bladesmithing Showcase
Custom Damascus sword showcased at the prestigious Masters of Fire international competition event.
Your Vision.
Our Steel.
Let's Build.
Tell Ricardo what you need. He'll handle the rest.
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