9/11: A Knife Forged From World Trade Center Steel

Here’s how one knifemaker forged a knife from 9/11 wreckage to fundraise for families affected by the attacks.

Do you remember where you were on Sept. 11, 2001, at 8:45 a.m. EDT when an American Airlines Boeing 767 loaded with 20,000 gallons of jet fuel crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City? That day was forever etched in many of our minds as a reminder of how paramount it is to safeguard our freedoms.

One knifemaker, Murray Carter, never forgot that day. He was approached to collaborate with FDNY343 and Building Homes for Heroes® to forge a knife from World Trade Center steel, and told BLADE he was humbled at the opportunity.

Building Homes for Heroes is a national non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2006. It has been at the forefront of making a significant difference in the lives of wounded American service members and their families, including those affected by the 9/11 attacks.

The knife Murray made went to auction, with all proceeds from the auction to be distributed to first responders who were directly affected by the 9/11 attacks.

As he noted, “Being entrusted to recreate useful cutting tools from remnants of the WTC was an honor and one of the most humbling tasks of my 29-year career.”

This past November, FDNY 343 RIDE flew Murray to New York to give a presentation and explain what he did with the WTC steel and how it was used in a three-layer laminate to create high-performance knives. It was an experience Murray said he will never forget.

“It went incredibly well,” he noted. “Best of all was that I got to meet many of the New York Fire Department members, as well as many American military heroes—they are all heroes, all first responders—and there was such a huge sentiment of being proud to be American. It was a very refreshing spirit to witness.”

The knife went for $10,500, with all proceeds going to Homes for Heroes.