Craftsman's Legacy

In A CRAFTSMAN'S LEGACY, host Eric Gorges goes on a quest to discover the true craftsmen in today's world. Traveling across the country, Gorges interviews the men and women responsible for carrying the tools, trades and traditions of fine craftsmanship into the 21st century. From a glass blower to a guitar maker, a weaver to a potter, every episode explains the history of a traditional craft and the importance of that craft in the United States today. Other tradespeople include: a woodworker, a snowshoe maker, a knife-maker, a boat-maker, a saddle-maker, a stone carver and a blacksmith. Gorges, a welder by trade, meets and interviews master craftsmen, and learns why they chose their craft, where they learned their skills, how they live using their talents, and the challenges and importance of keeping that tradition alive in a modern-day world. He then takes on the role of apprentice on a project under the guidance of the master craftsman. In these inspiring segments, Gorges proves that, with the right tools and careful direction, a person with no experience can learn the basic skills of a craft to create something of lasting value. As owner of Voodoo Choppers, Gorges creates custom motorcycles and stylish works of art for high-end restaurants and luxury homes. His one-of-a-kind choppers have been featured on The Discovery Channel.

Watch Craftsman's Legacy - Clips, Episodes & Previews

The Brass Horn Makers

The Rocking Horse Maker

The Arrow Maker

The Cowboy Hat Maker

The Spur Maker

The Spoon Maker

Craftsman's Legacy By Episode

The Woodworker (#101)
Host Eric Gorges visits John Wilson, a writer, a teacher and a woodworker, at his home shop and learns how to make a shoulder plane.
The Glassblower (#102)
Host Eric Gorges visits a friend, April Wagner, a glassblower working in abstract art.
The Guitar Maker (#103)
Brain Galloup builds guitars and runs a school to teach others the craft of guitar making.
The Stone Carver (#104)
Host Eric Gorges visits with Walter Arnold, an accomplished stone carver.
The Goldsmith (#105)
Host Eric Gorges visits goldsmith Susan McDonough, who works in a small studio on her family's farm in the mountains.
The Potter (#106)
Host Eric Gorges visits potter and musician Akira Satake, who discovered his love of pottery later in life.
The Saddle Maker (#107)
Charon and Tom Caldwell changed the horse saddle industry.
The Gun Maker (#108)
Mike Brooks builds long rifles based on designs more than 100 years old.
The Blacksmith (#109)
Host Eric Gorges visits with Lorelei Sims, a talented blacksmith working in a mostly male-dominated trade.
The Blade Maker (#110)
Knife-maker Tim Zowada's creations start from sand collected from Lake Michigan.
The Book Maker (#111)
Chad Pastotnik makes fine art books. Host Eric Gorges visits Chad's studio to learn about 400-year-old printing and binding techniques.
The Boat Maker (#112)
John Yothers builds beautiful and very functional wooden boats.
The Basket Weaver (#113)
Host Eric Gorges visits with Ron Paquin, a Native American who teaches others the fine craft of bark basket weaving.
The Clockmaker (#201)
Welcome to the magical world of a clockmaker, where the gears are lovingly handmade and time truly does stand still as host Eric Gorges and young clock maker Nate Bowers create a beautiful exposed gear clock.
The Metal Engraver (#202)
With intricate flourishes, filigree, and a lot of magnification, host Eric Gorges and metal engraver David Riccardo create a breathtaking metal engraving.
The Wood Turner (#203)
Let the chips fly!
The Stained Glassmaker (#204)
Ekaterina Reier and host Eric Gorges play with light and glass in this episode where viewers learn that following your dream can really pay off.
The Chairmaker (#205)
The century old tradition of building the Windsor Chair is a practical and elegant pursuit - host Eric Gorges and master craftsman Curtis Buchanan give the viewer a front seat.
The Weave Master (#206)
Weaver Jaunita Hofstrom wanted to have a place just for weavers to gather and pursue their love of weaving.
The Cheesemaker (#207)
Cheese, please!
The Primitive Bowmaker (#208)
Experienced naturalist and wilderness survivor, Greg Anderson is also a master bow maker.
The Medieval Armormaker (#209)
James Gillaspie has been making medieval/Renaissance armor for over 20 years.
The Quilter (#210)
Theadra Fleming hands over the needle and thread to host Eric Gorges as this quilter explains the African American tradition of quilting with a focus on colors, symbolism and the history of African textiles.
The Shoemakers (#211)
Best foot (ware) forward!
The Bicycle Maker (#212)
Oh, the freedom of two wheels!
The Furnituremaker (#213)
Host Eric Gorges visits Alan Kaniarz, an innovator in the world of furniture design.
The Sand Caster (#301)
Nothing fires up host Eric Gorges like working with molten metal.
The Yarn Spinner (#302)
This episode is all about hoof to hat. Meet Maple Smith, a retired schoolteacher who raises her own alpacas, sheers their coats, and spins yarn.
The Puppet Maker (#303)
Hey dummy!
The Duck Decoy Maker (#304)
Duck!
The Tool Maker (#305)
Seth Gould could easily be called one of the rock-stars of metalsmithing.
The Chocolatiers (#306)
In this episode, host Eric Gorges meets Dan and Jael Rattigan at their chocolate factory in Asheville, NC.
The Flute Maker (#307)
Geri Littlejohn has been making Native American style flutes for more than 20 years.
The Soap Maker (#308)
Host Eric Gorges and master soap maker, Deb Kraemer, stir it up with essential oils and herbs.
The Cooper (#309)
Think handmade wooden buckets a thing of the past? Cooper Jim Gaster keeps the craft alive and well.
The Master Penman (#310)
Host Eric Gorges meets the celebrated Jake Weidmann, the youngest ever master penman and one of only 12 in the world.
The Ceramist (#311)
Host Eric Gorges throws down. Master ceramist David MacDonald shares his magnificent talents with Eric as they work with clay and make a bowl.
The Fly Rod Makers (#312)
Host Eric Gorges and master bamboo fly rod makers, Jeff Wagner and Casimira Orlowski, make a rod together, underscoring Eric's belief that "a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work.
The Metal Shaper (#313)
We're switching it up!
The Sword Smith (#401)
Host Eric Gorges takes a stab at sword-smithing with Master Bladesmith Kevin Cashen, learning about the mystical world of metallurgy, forging a spatha.
The Ski Makers (#402)
Eric hits the slopes on handmade skis he makes with son and father team Jeff and John Thompson.
The Jeans Maker (#403)
Eric Yelsma has been drawn to sewing since a teenager.
The Table Maker (#404)
For his sixth birthday, Mark Whitley, was given a hammer and toolbox.
The Still Maker (#405)
Christopher Kelley makes beautiful copper stills. Host Eric Gorges works with Christopher to make a moonshine still worthy of the most potent of spirits.
The Brass Horn Makers (#406)
Eric shines the brass with master French horn makers and musicians Rick and Celeste Seraphinoff.
The Rocking Horse Maker (#407)
Master wood carver Jackie Wilson built a rocking horse for Prince George of Cambridge.
The Arrow Maker (#408)
Cherokee National treasure Noel Grayson shows host Eric Gorges how to craft traditional Cherokee arrows using primitive tools.
The Cowboy Hat Maker (#409)
Master Hatter Nate Funmaker is one of the only Native American Master Hatters in the nation.
The Spur Maker (#410)
Texas cowboy and master craftsman Wilson Capron creates spurs that truly are a thing of function and beauty.
The Spoon Maker (#411)
Legendary Lazy Spoon creator Jonathan Simons and host Eric Gorges dish up.
The Murrini Glass Maker (#412)
Master glass maker Shawn Messenger calls her pieces Impressionistic.
The Tool Chest Makers (#413)
Host Eric Gorges meets the craftsmen behind the esteemed H.