When David Bradley took up blacksmithing in 2016, he had no idea his hobby would spark a business crafting high-quality, locally sourced cookware. As a passionate camper and home cook, he saw a gap in the market for well-designed outdoor cooking gear and set out to create something better—a perfect skillet built to last for generations.
“I wanted to make things that are functional for people,” David recalls. “I like camp cooking and the farmers’ market scene, and I thought it’d be cool to bring local cookware to the local food community.”
He teamed up with metal spinner Ken Sharp, who spins the body of each pan, while David designs and forges the ergonomic handles. The duo spent nearly two years refining their process—sourcing American-made steel and importing antique fly presses from the UK. In 2023, they officially launched Colorado Skillet Company, creating versatile cookware designed to perform equally well in home kitchens and over campfire flames.
Lighter than traditional cast iron, each skillet is hand-riveted with a 100-year-old Scottish press, and finished with details that will serve you well when outside of the kitchen, like a built-in bottle opener. The logo stamped on the bottom? It’s a childhood sketch from David’s son. “There are little differences— not imperfections—but signs that it’s not factory-made. There’s part of us in every piece,” he says.
The company has since expanded to griddles, knives, and cleaning products, with a lighter skillet, a crepe pan, and carbon steel spatulas in the works. Inside his shop in Manitou Springs, David plans on hosting events that bring his skills to the masses: think forging 101 and exploring the intricacies of campfire cooking.
“People want to know where their food comes from,” David emphasizes, “but they should also focus on what they’re cooking their food in.” Because a great meal starts long before it hits the plate.
