By the time he turned 23, after graduating from Paula Souza Technical College at 19, his passion had become a vocation. In 2016, he obtained is Journeyman Smith stamp from the American Blade Society, winning that year’s Best Damascus Blade award to boot. Two years later, he was admitted into the select group of less than 200 holders of the Master Smith title; he is one of three in Brazil. Dionatam also manufactures some of the tools of the trade, such as tongs and hardies as well as sanders, hammers, hydraulic presses and forges. He teaches, too. It is quite a sight to watch him put a new blade through its paces behind his workshop, hacking fourby-fours in two “because it needs to be a tool first!”