Looking for Wess Barnhill bio information

[Boybacon]

Hello, All.

I'm asking for a little help for information on Wess Barnhill, as I recently purchased a JS knife of his on the secondary market. When I buy a new knife, I like to have a little info on the maker (where their shop is/was, how they got into knifemaking, awards, etc.). I then take that information and write a short, one page bio that goes with a picture of the knife. In doing this, I have a fairly decent catalog of my knife collection, the makers and any personal connections that I have with them. Obviously, I wouldn't have a personal connection with Wess, but I would like to know a little more about him.

That "catalog" will then go to my children when I head up to that great knife show in the sky and I'd like my wife and kids to know a little bit about each knife in my collection. Thank you.

-Eric

 

[SharpBits]

This page at the American Bladesmith Society lists an email address for him. You might be able to contact him for details. https://www.americanbladesmith.org/membership-account/profile/?pu=wess-barnhill

 

[Jsega51]

Hey Eric, Wess earned his J.S. stamp in 2015 and was awarded the Joe Keeslar award that year, it’s given to the maker who submitted the “best” knife for J.S. testing. I’m not sure exactly when he started making knives but the last I knew he was still living in Virginia around the Ashland area, this was back in 2020 when I had ordered a knife from him. Super nice guy and his work is very well done!

 

[Boybacon]

Hey Eric, Wess earned his J.S. stamp in 2015 and was awarded the Joe Keeslar award that year, it’s given to the maker who submitted the “best” knife for J.S. testing. I’m not sure exactly when he started making knives but the last I knew he was still living in Virginia around the Ashland area, this was back in 2020 when I had ordered a knife from him. Super nice guy and his work is very well done!

Thank you, Jsega51! That's exactly what I was looking for.

 

[Jsega51]

Thank you, Jsega51! That's exactly what I was looking for.

Here’s a hunting knife Wess made for me and the wood was a chunk of walnut from an old English made shotgun. Wess’ dad was a gunsmith so he has some cool materials at his disposal for using on knives. The steel is W2 with a nicely polished out hamon.