About us

About Us

The Battle Star Collection started as an idea from the Battleship’s Development Director, Terry DeMeo. The hull repair project had just been completed on the Battleship and she had the vision of selling hand forged knives from the Battleship’s steel. She contacted knife maker Steve Watkins and asked if he would be interested in working together. The Battle Star Collection team grew to include more staff members from the ship’s Programs Department. Their input included an idea of having rough cut silhouettes made from the ship in the shape of the Battleship, itself. Shelly Robinson found Edwards Crane, whose office happened to be a few miles away from the ship. Edwards Crane was able to use their water jet machines to cut the Battleship’s steel into anything. They created beautiful silhouettes of the Battleship with incredible detail along with anchors, lighthouses, crabs, and anything else the Battle Star Collection team could dream up. At this point, the ”BB 55” and the “NC” squares were born. Remembering the “Grandmother’s Club” and the milk money that the children had used to save the ship, Danielle Wallace and Shelly Robinson thought it was extremely important to have a steel piece that would be priced affordably so that a parent could give their children each a square or a grandparent could give their grandchildren each a piece of the Battleship.

Growth & Collaboration

Things were going along when the BSC team became aware of Nic Nichols, who had won the “Our State” magazine “Best in State” award for his Battleship Teak Chef Knife. AND he, too, lived in Leland, NC, which is only a few miles from the Battleship. So, the BSC team reached out to Mr. Nichols and asked him if he wanted to be a part of the BSC and his enthusiasm was infectious.

Danielle Wallace was visited by an old friend of the family. She showed Skip Eanes the BSC and he fell in love with the knives. Knowing he was a big knife enthusiast, she asked him to review the BSC knives and he gladly accepted. He has created several videos where he shows many different uses for the knives and the pros/cons of each.

The BSC team continues to search for other great artisans and vendors who could add some unique products to the BSC. It will be fun to go with us on this journey to see how the BSC grows and evolves.

Steve Watkins

I’m an artist, custom knife maker and athlete living in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. This website is the culmination of all the influences that shape who I am and my Knife making.

I was born in Jonesboro AR. into a culture of farming and hunting. When I was 5 yrs. old my dad got a new job and our family moved to Cape Girardeau, MO. Growing up in the Midwest, a large part of my life was spent hunting and fishing. This helped develop a love of knives. Since moving to Charlotte Nc. I’ve traded most of my guns for bikes but I still have all my knives. To this day I believe there is nothing more beautiful than the clean precision fitting of steel and wood.

When I’m not making knives I’m running and riding in preparation for Ironman triathlons. I love traveling to races and there is nothing better after racing for 10 hours than eating great food! This interest in food has lead to a fascination with Custom Chef Knives.

I have trained with the top master smiths in the world in order to learn my craft. I have also spent several years working closely with some of the best chefs in the country to develop knife designs that are visually stunning and function flawlessly. I hope you enjoy!

Nicholas Nichols

My name is Nicholas Nichols but you can call me Nic. I live in southeastern North Carolina with my beautiful wife Amanda and our three children - Keller, Tucker, and Iris. I am a member of the NC Custom Knifemaker's Guild and was a contestant on Forged in Fire - Japanese Ono (Season 7, Episode 33) Most recently, my Battleship Teak Large Chef's Knife won the Our State Magazine 2020 Made in NC Award for the Home & Garden category. My interest in metal arts first began when I discovered my great-great-grandfather was a blacksmith in Columbus County near my hometown of Leland, NC. After spending some time learning about ornamental metalwork, I happened upon a gentleman who introduced me to knifemaking. I quickly realized I had found my passion and began learning from other knifemakers including a master bladesmith.In my former life as a chef, trained at Johnson & Wales, I learned that high-quality ingredients are the foundation for great meals. The same applies to high-quality materials and great knives. One of the greatest materials I have the privilege to work with is reclaimed teak decking and steel from the hull of the USS NC Battleship (BB-55). The most decorated battleship of World War II is permanently docked on the Cape Fear River just over a mile from my home and it is my honor to work with these and many other specialty materials.

Skip Eanes

Hi Battlestar Knife Collection fans, Skip Eanes here. I was asked to tell you a little about myself,So here goes. I was born in Leakesville North Carolina. Don’t try finding it on a map, it doesn’t exist anymore. Leakesville, Spray, and Draper North Carolina are now All part of Eden, North Carolina. My dad was a barber and I lived in a lot of small towns in North Carolina and Virginia when I was Young. I guess my early fascination with edge tools started while watching my father strap his razor before he-shaved someone. Then when when about six years old and living in the country I was given an old Barlow pocket knife with a broken blade. Man did I whittle with that thing. Eventually we settled in the country near Brosville Virginia. By then I had acquired a sheath knife and two pocket knives. One was a Barlow with two blades and one was an old single bladed knife, I don’t remember the brand. My dad kept it sharp and I carried it most of the time when I was hunting. Which was most weekends and evenings when I wasn’t playing ball. Football, basketball, baseball, whatever was in season. Eventually I acquired a degree from Appalachian State University and a masters degree from East Carolina University. Between these two college experiences I spent four years in the US army. I have always appreciated edged tools. Hatchet, axes, knives, saws, chisels, really just anything that you could cut with I have found useful. I own, and have owned a lot of edged tools over the years, but I have never used anything like these BattleStar collection knives. These knives are obviously superior to what I have owned in the past. I have used these tools like they cost two dollars a piece. They have not been babied, I have used them hard. I wash them when they are dirty, and I think I oiled some of them once. They look and cut like new. I can recommend these BattleStar knives as useful edged tools. They are so beautiful you could carry them for show. But, if you have to use them you will find you have one of the finest edged tools on on the market. Well thanks for letting me ramble. And let me wish you good hunting when you search for souvenirs at the battleship USS North Carolina. And even if you aren’t interested in knives I invite you to take a look at the BattleStar collection. I can’t buy the Mona Lisa but I’d sure enjoy looking at it. And remember, be safe, and have some fun every day. Maybe Spock said it best, live long and prosper.