Allen spent his youth in the outdoors, fishing and hunting on Texter Mountain in western Berks County, Pennsylvania.

The surrounding area is rich in history and has provided him with an appreciation for how things were done in the past.

He grew up in a stone home that served as living quarters for a worker and his family of the old Robesonia Furnace. Today, he lives next to his boyhood home and has been hammering hot steel since the early-nineties.

His mom also grew up in that same house. As a young girl she owned a horse named Bucky. He was kept in a stable that her father built out of wood from a boxcar. The building was still standing many years later and with a few upgrades and improvements, it now serves as a quaint, rustic smithy.

A traditional coal forge was added by Allen and his father which was built from local field stone.

In addition to coal, he also uses a propane gas forge and a vintage 1910-era Little Giant power hammer to assist in forging his creations.
Allen has taken an interest in bladesmithing during the last few years and has been exploring the world of kitchen cutlery. He will also be offering hunting and bushcraft style knives in the future.

He is a member of PABA (Pennsylvania Artist-Blacksmith Association).

While trying to better himself by exploring the art and mystery of what it means to be a bladesmith and blacksmith, Allen is learning not only the old ways of these historical trades, but also new and modern techniques that are expanding his skills.