ABOUT US - Founders Bio's

Curtis Iovito and Mark Carey, Co-Founders of Spartan Blades, LLC, possess over 40 years of combined military service and experience. They have built the Spartan Blades team and product line to reflect many of their lessons learned. This makes for better knives, built by a team that cares about their results and the customers' satisfaction.

Biographies: Founders of Spartan Blades Custom Knives

CURTIS V. IOVITO

Co-Founder / Co-Owner, Spartan Blades, LLC

Curtis is a native of Bolingbrook, Illinois where he spent most of his childhood hunting and camping along the Dupage River. Curtis entered military service as a U.S. Marine and at the completion of his first tour as a nuclear security guard, reenlisted in the U.S. Army. He was then assigned to the Rangers where he participated in the combat airborne assault of Rio Hato, Panama during Operation “Just Cause”. He volunteered, was selected and trained as a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant. He specialized in all aspects of unconventional warfare with an emphasis on counter terrorism and sniping. While serving in Special Forces he developed an interest in knife making which he advanced by making custom knives for his buddies in 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). He completed his 20 + year career after numerous sensitive deployments and missions through out Asia and the Middle East.

After his retirement form the Army, Curtis worked as the Marketing Director for a large armor development corporation. He quickly realized that he could combine his rapport building skills developed by working with foreign governments with the business world. It only made sense to combine these skills with his love of knives to form Spartan Blades, LLC. Curtis teamed up with Mark Carey, a former Special Forces teammate with a reputation as an intelligent “quiet professional” who had already proven himself in the military and business.

Curtis is enjoying his foray into the knife world and has found the industry to be not only welcoming but very close knit and helpful during the start up of Spartan Blades. Curtis’ extensive military background and love of knives gives him a unique insight into the critical needs of the modern warrior. It is this insight as well as his close relationship to the Special Operations community that has given rise to Spartan Blades. Curtis currently resides in Aberdeen, NC, just outside of Ft Bragg.

MARK CAREY

Co-Founder / Co-Owner, Spartan Blades, LLC

Mark is a native of San Diego, California. Mark entered military service in the U.S. Army (1984) and completed his first tour of duty as a light infantry soldier in Ulm, Germany. He was then assigned to a mechanized unit at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He volunteered, was selected and trained as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant. He specialized in all aspects of medicine, unconventional warfare with an emphasis on counter terrorism and sniping. While serving in Special Forces he developed an interest in business, logistics and entrepreneurial development. He completed a career of over 21 years with numerous sensitive deployments and missions throughout Asia.

Upon his retirement from the Army, Mark worked as the Director of Overseas Operations – Kuwait, for a local armor development corporation, planning and managing a multi-million dollar contract. He quickly realized that he could combine skills developed by working with foreign governments and the business world. Mark teamed up with Curtis, a former Special Forces teammate with a proven reputation of awesome knife designs to form Spartan Blades, LLC.

Mark is enjoying his foray and rapid induction into the knife world and has found the industry to be not only welcoming but very close knit and helpful during the start up of Spartan Blades. Mark’s extensive military background and tactical knowledge, love of knives and weapons, gives him a unique insight into the critical needs in the field. It is this insight, as well as his close relationship to the Special Operations community and industry, that has given rise to Spartan Blades. Mark currently resides in Aberdeen, NC, just outside of Ft Bragg.