{"id":485,"date":"2025-01-24T15:40:44","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T15:40:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/austincountynewsonline.com\/hello\/?p=485"},"modified":"2025-11-20T19:01:33","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T19:01:33","slug":"phenix-knives-bellville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/austincountynewsonline.com\/hello\/phenix-knives-bellville\/","title":{"rendered":"Episode 10: Phenix Knives with Cowboy Szymanski"},"content":{"rendered":"

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January 24, 2025<\/h4>\n

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Episode 10:\u00a0Phenix Knives with Cowboy Szymanski<\/yt-formatted-string><\/h1>\n

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In this episode of Hello Austin County, Shelley Stuessel-Brian sits down with Cowboy Szymanski, the owner of Phenix Knives in Bellville, Texas. A bladesmith with 27 years of experience, Cowboy shares his fascinating journey from his early interest in swords and knives to becoming a world-traveled craftsman, honing his skills across the globe.<\/p>\n

Cowboy discusses how he moved to Bellville in 2003, drawn by the opportunity to restore and operate the town\u2019s historic 1891 blacksmith shop. Over 21 years, he turned the shop into a hub for knife-making, demonstrations, and community engagement before recently relocating to a larger facility to expand his business.
Learn about Phenix Knives\u2019 hands-on experiences, where visitors of all ages and abilities can forge their own knives and gain insight into the art of blacksmithing. Cowboy also highlights the annual Texas Select Custom Cutlery Event, which he and his wife started in 2018. The event has grown to host over 200 vendors and attendees from multiple states and countries, celebrating craftsmanship and attracting fans of the History Channel\u2019s Forged in Fire.<\/p>\n

Discover the passion behind Cowboy\u2019s craft as he shares the challenges and rewards of working with kids, preserving history, and creating a one-of-a-kind showroom in his new facility. From unique handmade knives to engaging educational programs, Phenix Knives continues to be a landmark for creativity and tradition in Austin County.<\/p>\n

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\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f Host:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Shelley Stuessel-Brian<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Director of Operations, Austin County News Online<\/span>\u00a0& Co-Creator, <\/span>Hello Austin County<\/em><\/h3>\n

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Greg Stuessel<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Publisher, Executive Producer, Technical Director
Austin County News Online & Austin County Media<\/span><\/h3>\n

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\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f Guests:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Cowboy Szymanski, \u00a0Owner<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Phenix Knives in Bellville, Texas<\/h4>\n

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\ud83c\udfa7 Episode Highlights<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n

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\u23f0 \ud835\udfce\ud835\udfce:\ud835\udfd0\ud835\udfce \u2013 \ud835\udc08\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc2d\ud835\udc2b\ud835\udc28\ud835\udc1d\ud835\udc2e\ud835\udc1c\ud835\udc2d\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc28\ud835\udc27: Meet Cowboy Szymanski and learn about Phenix Knives.
\u23f0 \ud835\udfce\ud835\udfd1:\ud835\udfd1\ud835\udfcf \u2013 \ud835\udc00 \ud835\udc01\ud835\udc25\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc1d\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc2c\ud835\udc26\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc2d\ud835\udc21\u2019\ud835\udc2c \ud835\udc09\ud835\udc28\ud835\udc2e\ud835\udc2b\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc32: Cowboy shares his global experiences and dedication to craftsmanship.
\u23f0 \ud835\udfce\ud835\udfd4:\ud835\udfd0\ud835\udfd1 \u2013 \ud835\udc13\ud835\udc21\ud835\udc1e \ud835\udc07\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc2c\ud835\udc2d\ud835\udc28\ud835\udc2b\ud835\udc32 \ud835\udc28\ud835\udc1f \ud835\udc0f\ud835\udc21\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc31 \ud835\udc0a\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc2f\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc2c: Reviving Bellville\u2019s historic blacksmith shop and creating a lasting legacy.
\u23f0 \ud835\udfcf\ud835\udfce:\ud835\udfd2\ud835\udfd3 \u2013 \ud835\udc05\ud835\udc28\ud835\udc2b\ud835\udc20\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc20 \ud835\udc04\ud835\udc31\ud835\udc29\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc2b\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc1c\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc2c: Hosting hands-on workshops and working with kids and families.<\/span>
\u23f0 \ud835\udfd0\ud835\udfd3:\ud835\udfd2\ud835\udfd6 \u2013 \ud835\udc13\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc31\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc2c \ud835\udc12\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc25\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc1c\ud835\udc2d \ud835\udc02\ud835\udc2e\ud835\udc2c\ud835\udc2d\ud835\udc28\ud835\udc26 \ud835\udc02\ud835\udc2e\ud835\udc2d\ud835\udc25\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc2b\ud835\udc32 \ud835\udc04\ud835\udc2f\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc2d: Behind the scenes of a rapidly growing annual event.<\/span>
\u23f0 \ud835\udfd1\ud835\udfd0:\ud835\udfd2\ud835\udfd4 \u2013 \ud835\udc05\ud835\udc2e\ud835\udc2d\ud835\udc2e\ud835\udc2b\ud835\udc1e \ud835\udc0f\ud835\udc25\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc2c: Cowboy\u2019s vision for expanding Phenix Knives and creating a world-class showroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

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