MATT WRIGHT, SURVIVALIST ON DISCOVERY CHANNEL’S NAKED AND AFRAID, TALKS ABOUT HIS EARLY BEGINNINGS, KNIFE-MAKING AND HIS TIME ON THE SHOW.

TEXT BY MICHAEL D’ANGONA WITH MATT WRIGHT

PHOTOS BY MATT WRIGHT AND DAVID E. WEST PHOTOGRAPHY

Matt stalks prey with a knife in hand and an indomitable spirit in his heart.

(Photo: David E. West)

It’s no exaggeration that Matt Wright is Naked and Afraid’s alpha hunter.

Time and time again, Matt, needing sustenance to keep his body and mind performing at top capacity, could be seen carrying a large, wild game animal over his shoulder or a string of fish secured within his hand. Every catch gave him the energy to continue on—whether grouped with his fellow survivors or running solo—while in the wilds of a foreign land.

In addition to being self-sufficient in the outdoors, Matt is also a custom knife maker. He uses his experiences in real-life scenarios to help him perfect the knives he creates and maximize their multiple uses in the outdoors, whether hunting, fishing, constructing shelter or creating fire.

“‘A FIXED-BLADE IS ALWAYS WHERE MY HEART LIES. IT CAN BE USED IN A GREATER RANGE OF SITUATIONS.’”

Now, this “juggernaut” of the outdoor world takes time out from stalking prey and forging his creations to talk about his past adventures, his time on Discovery Channel’s most physically and mentally challenging show and the pleasure of creating a knife from raw product to a polished beauty—using his own mighty two hands.