In the shadows of the Sangre de Cristo mountains sets a century-old adobe ranch house where the artisans of Santa Fe Stoneworks handcraft art knives of rare and exquisite beauty. Santa Fe Stoneworks is a family business. Through the years, Bill Wirtel, along with his daughter Anna and son Miles have designed artistic inlays to enhance the knives and cutlery produced by many of the country's leading knife makers.

Gemstones, coral, fossilized bone, shell and intricately detailed wood marquetry are the materials most frequently used to adorn knife stock produced by Santa Fe Stoneworks, or purchased from entrusted high-quality manufacturers such as Spyderco, Kershaw, Camillus and Buck. A careful selection of superior quality materials, chosen for their uniqueness in color, pattern or other distinctive characteristics assures the transformation of something commonplace into an exceptional work of art.

Santa Fe Stoneworks is known for producing their own line of high-quality custom knives. Made from scratch, the old fashioned way, "We hand-grind our own designs from top notch 440C and ATS-34 blade steel." By definition steel is a combination of iron and a small amount of carbon. Blade steel typically is alloyed with trace amounts of other elements to produce special properties (unique qualities for a particular use.) These qualities include rust resistance, ease of sharpening, edge retention and strength.

Each Santa Fe Stoneworks design is a unique example of the quintessential marriage incorporating the use of fine steels with gemstone, shell, or intricate wood marquetry. From one-of-a-kind custom designs to popular, affordable collections of pocket knives, one can be assured that every Santa Fe Stoneworks knife is a work of exceptional quality.

By the Bay Gallery has featured the beautiful, superior quality knives of this family run business for almost 20 years.