Joe Olson - Montana Maker - Email Address?

J

jrgannon

Joined
Aug 24, 2000
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Hello - trying to find Joe Olson's email address. I need to contact him regarding one of his folders. Thanks, John
 
joekeri AT 3rivers DOT net

He'd be happy to talk to you. :D

Coop
 
I tried this email and it did not work for me. I bought a collection which I think has a couple of his early knives which I would like to ask him about. Is there a new email ?
 
Joe notes on his website they've moved, and is taking off most of 2014 from knifemaking as a hiatus for the upending he's going through, and to give him time to restructure his new shop.

Come back with even fresher ideas! :)

Joe's a good egg. I've spent time with him in a dinner conversation one Blade.

Coop
 
Thank you again. I emailed him at that address but no reply. I do not want to be a bother and so when I figure out how to post photos I will show the knives which I have and see what you serious knife people think.

Many years ago when we were concerned with killing N. Vietnamese as quietly as possible. I met a knife maker named Wilson who was from West Virginia. I designed and he made a special killing knife for me. Would anyone know if he is still in the field ? I met him at a gun show in Monroeville Pa. in the late 1960s as I recall. My family doesn't care about such things and I am in the process of getting rid of my souvenirs. I would like to get this back to him if he is still in it.
 
^^^ Off topic for this thread, but it appears you are looking to get ahold of RW Wilson from Weirton, WV.

rwknives AT comcast dot net 304-723-2771 as listed in Knives Annual 2014.
 
Again thanks. You are a wealth of knowledge.

I stopped collecting blades 40+ years ago. Last year a good friend came down with Cancer and has been selling off his collection. I bought a big piece of it to help out. A couple of knives I am fairly sure were made by Joe Olson as I have seen others like this done by him. One is a real mystery. The handle is painted and has the monogram of the painter which is also seen on another of the knives. The mystery is that the knife is quite a simple design, the blade is unmarked and the blade cants off to the right. If it is his it has to be VERY EARLY in his efforts. I had hoped to run it by him before posting photos.
 
Photo one is a marked "OLSON" knife which is painted. Photo 2 is an unmarked hand made knife painted by the same artist. Is knife 2 an OLSON ?





Knives have the same artists monogram.
 
Thanks for the photos! It really helps. I would be 99% sure these aren't Joe Olson's work. Even early.

In the Knives Annual 2000 edition there are three other Olsons: Rod Olson, Wayne Olson, and Darrold E. Olson.

Send me your email and I'll give you contact if you like.

Bottom line: These appear to be tourist and souvenir type knives. They may have even been made oversees and embellished here.

That's only fair quality knifemaking. I've seen a lot to state that.

Where is the folder?

Let me know.
 
You might want to have a look at this.

http://www.4gwz.com/knifemakers/id46.html

and this

http://knifedogs.com/archive/index.php/t-7124.html , That IDs a similar style knife to mine and says it is Joe Olson made.

If you really want to get confused try this;

Most of these knives are in fine sheaths made by "BODEAN HIDE WORKS" in Montana. I researched that and found that they also made gear for the late Bob Schopp also from Montana. Seaching for his knife images on Google. I found that he made the EXACT same type of knives which I have and mine are marked OLSON and do not carry the Schopp logo.

YIKE !
 
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Well, you just educated me. Thank you. My total experience with Joe Olson has been in the era and selling of his art folders. These knives are quite a departure.

(And I not only photograph knives, but I work fixing boats and coaching athletics. We do many things with our hands, in many styles.)

And others with the same style, different markings? The plot thickens.

Thanks for the links. I appreciate YOUR time!
 
My first guess is that Olson bought out the remnants of Schopp's business after he died. He added his own blades and continued to sell the Schopp style knives. Later he moved on to making the folding knives for which he is currently known.
The art handle knives are marked "TS" in a monogram which could refer to one of Schopp's relatives who did the painting. I have an email out to the fellow on this site who IDed the OLSON painted knife. I hope that he can add detail or clarification.
 
A big part of the mystery has been solved. Both Olson and Schopp made knives for a local dealer in the "track knife" style which they wanted. The painting was done by a local artist who works for the same dealer . Schopp was said to have a thriving business with several employees making "tons" of knives.
 
You were half right. These are tourist knives made for a local dealer in Helena. Both Olson and Schopp made knives for them. The pattern was the dealers.
 
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