OR Knife Maker Joel Purkerson

D lisch

D lisch

Joined
Aug 27, 2007
Messages
2,466
I had a new table holder next to me this year, Joel Purkerson. His Knives are a lot like many new makers, well constructed but fit and finish just a bit rough. I like his designs they are all original. as we talked I learned more and more about him and the more I learned the more respect I had for him and his work. he is making these knives with very little tools I had been listening to him talk to folks about his knives and it was clear why he makes knives, he Loves it with all his heart. I had been seeing this Big knife out of the corner of my eye and had seen a few folks pick it up Joel would say "it's a working knife, I like to have at least one like that on my table" they would put it down and walk away. I am not saying that Joel was not selling knives. he was. he had a good show and had started buying some supplies so I reached over and picked up the big knife and almost fell out of my chair. my eyes almost popped out of my head, the big knife was only 50 bucks. I but it under my table and handed Joel a $50, his face went blank and he said really with disbelief and I said "hell ya." it was worth 50 bucks just to tell this story. I asked Joel if I could tell this story and he said yes . in my picture you can see his hand is gored up, he had a knife he was working on at the buffer get loose and bite him hard, 17 stitches. and I think it kept him from working on knives for about two hours while they worked on it. we talked about knives and the cost of making knives ,you know, wood steel sand paper, stuff like that. Joel keeps track of these things he thinks that he is making just over 2 bucks an hour working on knives and I believe Him and I know for a fact like many makers he is not doing it for the money. he loves making knives. so if you want to do something cool, buy a knife from Joel . I am not sure what I am going to do with my knife, but I was thinking I would send it to Lorien and let him put it to the test. this was meant to clear brush and vines & I bet it can do a bit more then that. contact Joel at jpcustomknives@hotmail.comjpokc3.jpgjpokc5.jpgjpokc.jpgjpokc4.jpgjpokc2.jpg
 
I always tell people that a knifemaker is going to make knives no matter what tools he has or doesn't have. That man is a knifemaker.
 
holy crap. That does look like a Hobbit sword to me, so perhaps I will find some orcs to vanquish during testing, should you send it my way.
Good on ya bro for helping Joel find his way in here, definitely looking forward to seeing more from this guy. VERY cool designs!
 
Lorien Send me your address I will send it your way you can have the knife in return I want you to post a full review of what it can do.
 
sounds good to me Dave : )

Sooke Mountain Cycle
2075 Anna Marie Road
Sooke, BC
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This is what I love about knife making. the stories and meeting the people behind the knife! A friend asked me recently do people actually pay 100$+ for custom knives. I told him the ones I want to work with do! Its not about the $ so much as getting to know that person and know someone out there is truly appreciating your knife whether its perfect or a rough one by a newer maker.
 
Love of knives touches human lives across an amazing scope. To see the class reflected in this thread and then the next thread from Bob on the Erickson/Warenski pieces and then a few titles away to find David Darom's thread on the Van Barnett & Dellana knives, all very appropriately occupying the same board at the same time, is a nice reminder to run across on a Sunday afternoon.
 
Good on ya, Dave. I'm not too sure about you givin' away that sword though . . . it looks like it suits you all over!
 
Being a knife maker was a dream I had since I was nine years old. I heard of and contacted Wayne Goddard around age 14 and wanted to start learning from him at that point but I did not actually meet him till the Oregon Knife Collectors knife show in 2007. At that point I started putting in a full time effort to learn the art and science of knife making. After doing this for four years I think I have made somewhere in the vicinity of 50 to 60 knives most of which I have given away because they did not meet my expectations in their level of quality and fit and finish.
At this point I am confidant in my heat treatments and get quite consistent results, I know that my knives are good blades and useful tools but my goal is to make them look exceptional. I am learning from other knife makers like David and Rocco, Wayne and others and year by year my knives reflect the advice I get from them.
That is why this year I am so grateful and appreciative of the feedback that I have gotten from other knife makers at this years show especially from both David Lisch and Rocco Chicarilli who gave me invaluable advice and affirmations about my knives. It is hard not to get discouraged at times when the knives that I turn out do not reflect the expectations I had when I imagined them. I can't help but compare my work with other knife makers and try to understand what process they go through to make their knives look so phenomenal. I go home and try to figure out how to do the same with the resources I have at hand. I am truly excited about where my designs are going in the coming year and as soon as my hand is healed up I am going to put my ideas into practice. So thank you David for the kindness and the respect that you have shown me, It means the world to me.
 
been checking the mail every day!
 
Joel, Your making $2 bucks an hour! That's better than most of us! Seriously though, keep up the good work, and keep the faith!
 
Sweet. Love to see stuff like this. I would have laid down $50 on that in a heart beat. I would probably modd the end of the handle to round it out a bit. And make it one of my choppers!
 
$50 for that?!?!?! Joel, you are *way* under charging. There are less-well-made production knives going for more than that.

Don't get discouraged. You're definitely on your way to where you want to be.
 
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