Honor the story.
Craft the legacy.
Custom commemoratives, collector blades, and specialty manufacturing for military institutions, businesses, and individuals.
Featured film · American Made
The story behind
the saber.
Step inside the making of the U.S. Air Force Academy cadet saber. This film follows the craftsmanship behind a piece that marks a defining achievement.
A story from the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation
Checkpoints · December 2024
Three disciplines. One standard of care.
Made for a purpose.
From the significance of a ceremonial piece to the exacting needs of a custom assembly, the details matter.
Commemoratives
Ceremonial sabers, presentation pieces, and recognition for service, milestones, and achievement.
Explore commemoratives ↗02Fine Blades
Custom and collector blades shaped by the material, the maker, and the person who will carry their story.
Explore fine blades ↗03Manufacturing
Custom fabrication, specialty metalwork, prototyping, and small-batch production.
Explore manufacturing ↗Service. Achievement. Legacy.
Commemoratives.
Ceremonial pieces and recognition for military institutions, businesses, families, and organizations. Open a story to explore the work.
Achievement deserves its own form.
These awards were commissioned by the U.S. Air Force Academy and made by hand in our shop. Laser-etched details and bronze-cast propeller components bring the institution’s identity into the finished pieces. We approach private-sector recognition with the same attention to the people and occasion behind it.
Made for ceremony.
A ceremonial mace needs presence, precision, and careful execution. This U.S. Air Force drum major project demonstrates the range of our work beyond blades—from detailed metal components to the complete presentation.
Your identity. Made tangible.
Command transitions, retirement, graduation, or a team’s defining achievement: we work with you to translate the occasion into the right piece and presentation.
Our specialty work also includes command pins made using material from the USS Arizona battleship, a project calling for care in both execution and historical significance.
See the command pin project ↗Individual character. Considered craft.
Fine blades.
Custom and collector pieces for individuals, presentations, and collaborations. These are examples of past work, not live inventory.
A blade with a purpose.
The Mark II project brings together blade-making and presentation. The finished pieces shown here demonstrate our approach to custom blade commissions, fitted sheaths, and presentation cases. Ask about a private commission or a project connected to an organization or cause.
Start with the purpose. Then shape the piece.
Tell us about the design, intended use, and presentation you have in mind. Materials, feasibility, pricing, and timing are discussed individually before work begins.
The meaning behind the mark
Valor in the purpose.
Courage in the making.
VALCOUR takes its name from valor and courage. Led by Ron Hardman, we bring together commemorative work, fine blades, and specialty manufacturing in Colorado Springs.
We serve military and private-sector clients: institutions recognizing service, companies celebrating achievement, collectors commissioning a distinctive blade, and businesses developing something new.
Traditional forging and metalcraft sit alongside modern production tools. The right process serves the piece—and the people it is made for.
Tell us your ideaContributing to the next generation of makers
Craft is stronger when it’s shared.
VALCOUR contributes to AITS and Kilroy’s Workshop, supporting the community around hands-on skills and making.
From first conversation to finished work
A clear path to your piece.
- 01 / Tell us the purpose
Share the occasion or application, quantity, and target date. A rough idea is enough to begin.
- 02 / Define the project
Discuss design, materials, presentation, scope, pricing, and a feasible schedule.
- 03 / Make with intention
Once the details are agreed, the project moves into making, finishing, and preparation for delivery.
Before you inquire
A few useful answers.
Do you work with private individuals and businesses?
Yes. We welcome personal commissions, corporate recognition, collector projects, and commercial manufacturing inquiries alongside military and institutional work.
Can I buy the exact pieces shown here?
These photographs document selected work. Ask about availability or a related commission; they are not a live inventory or a promise that the same piece can be reproduced.
What will it cost, and how long will it take?
Pricing and timing depend on design, materials, quantity, presentation, and the production schedule. Include your target date and budget range if you have one, and we can discuss feasibility.
Do I need a finished design?
No. Start with the purpose and any ideas you have. If drawings or reference files would help, we can arrange a file exchange after the initial conversation.
Your next chapter
What will you make
meaningful?
Bring us your idea, your occasion, or your manufacturing challenge.
Start a conversation