Joe Olsen

I was raised on a farm outside of Geyser, Montana where my father ran a farm repair shop and so began my education in making stuff. I went through college on an art scholarship and taught elementary art for three years. When I realized that I was too anti-social to be a teacher, I went in to construction and was a carpenter/cabinet maker for 15 years. After a serious back injury, I was forced to make some life changing decisions. The only conclusion I came to was knifemaking. This mostly came about because I wanted a good hunting knife and could not afford to buy one so out came the rudimentary coal forge and I was hooked. That was about 9 years ago.

My first knives were made out of old car springs that I scavenged from our scrap pile behind the shop. I then attended my very first hammer-in hosted by Rick Dunkerly. By being around the very talented Montana Makers (Barry Gallagher, Rick Dunkerly, Shane Taylor, Wade Colter plus Ed Schemp), I was inspired to improve my skills. My art background has helped my steel and knife designs which has made it possible for me to sell enough knives to make a living at doing something that I enjoy.

I like to do a “narrative” type of steel. I try to make knives that tell a story as well provide function and design. I am able to satisfy many types of buyers; those that are wanting an art form and those that just want something really cool.