Sharpened By Death. Trusted For Life.

My name is Jake, and I’ve always been a hands on, hard working kind of guy. I grew up in an Army family, spending over a decade at Fort Carson, Colorado. I found my love for the mountains there, earned my Eagle Scout, played lacrosse, and set my sights on becoming a pilot in the Army. I chased that dream with everything I had. Initially through ROTC, but realized aviation commissions weren't necessarily going to the most qualified candidate. So I dropped out and enlisted in the Utah National Guard to start my Warrant Officer packet, I was also wrenching as a full-time National Guard mechanic for my day job. Everything was lining up. I aced the SIFT, and my packet for Flight School was finally complete. I was three days away from my scheduled board interview. Then life hit—literally.

I was in a motorcycle accident caused by a distracted driver. Thrown over 100 feet tomahawking head over heels, I tore open my femoral artery, split my pelvis, had my leg hanging on by skin, and a laundry list of other injuries like more broken bones. I died multiple times in the emergency operating room that night. I Flatlined and was revived again and again on the operating table. That’s where the name “Flatline” actually comes from. Recovery wasn’t easy. I got to Walter Reed and doctors told me my left leg was 100% paralyzed waist down. After a long and painful year of therapy, I made the difficult choice to amputate. It was the right call—it gave me some mobility back. Even through rehab, I kept grinding. Being a non-service connected injury I had no income but a lot of expenses. I worked rideshare apps with my wheelchair loaded in the trunk until I could no longer bear the pain. I applied for civilian jobs at Walter Reed while still fighting with open wounds. I earned my bachelor’s degree online during my 24 months of recovery. I am also very proud to say I earned my pilots license making me a certified one-legged pilot. During my 24 months at Walter Reed I came up with the idea to start Flatline Hardgoods. Going from physical therapy and wound care straight to a nearby garage to grind knives was my daily routine.

The work never stopped, because it couldn’t.

That same energy powers Flatline Hardgoods today. I've got passion for making tough, dependable tools because I know what it is like to work hard for what you have earned. This isn’t just a business to me—it’s personal. It’s proof that no matter what knocks you down, you can rise, rebuild, and keep moving forward. An arrow's strength is forged from it's biggest setback.

Flatline Hardgoods is for people who work hard, earn everything, and demand tools that won’t quit. 

Sharpened by death. Trusted for life.

Jake - Founder