Rodrigo remembers seeing Rambo and then using his father’s tools to reshape one of his knives into a survival knife. He was thirteen. It wasn’t long before an aunt commissioned two knives for his cousins. As masterful as he became, making knives remained a hobby until he quit college to dedicate himself full time to the craft. In 2006, he obtained his Journeyman Stamp from the American Blade Society and in 2009 the Master Stamp, winning the award for Best Knife on both occasions. He has introduced new concepts to the knifemaking art, such as the forge welded integrals and the keyhole handle, influencing many knifemakers worldwide. He is often invited to teach classes around the world.