Dwane Oliver Interview USA Knife Maker

• Dwane, are you a full time or part time knife maker?
• Fulltime, I was a part time maker for about 12 years, and just recently (January 2014) went fulltime.

• Generally, what kinds of knives do you make the most of?
• In the past I made ALOT of hunting knives, now the trend is going towards folding knives, but it is about a 50-50 mix.

• Do you forge, stock remove or both?
• I do mostly stock removal, but every now and then a design lends itself to being forged.

• What made you decide to start making knives?
• I needed a GOOD knife and thought to myself " How much money does that custom knife cost....I can make one"

• Do you sell your knives? If so, how do you sell the majority of them via internet, dealer, shows, word of mouth, etc?
• Internet mostly, I'm on Instagram and twitter, and all of the forums, some more than others.

• What advice would you give to a brand new guy just getting into knife making?
• Try and find another knife maker in your area, spend a day with him. Save your money and buy a 2x72 belt grinder, instead of wasting time and money on grinding jigs, waste some wood lath or mild steel and learn how to freehand grind.

• Whose shop would you like to spend a day in and why?
• King Cashen, he has been my biggest influence, I probably wouldn’t even need to go in the shop, just sit down with a pot of coffee and 1000 questions.

• What do you like most about knife making?
• The artistry , I love it when a customer tells me " make me something really pretty, you decide "

• What do you like least about knife making?
• The sales pitch.

• Do you make the sheaths also?
• A custom made knife deserves a custom made sheath, I take a lot of pride in my sheath work and make everyone to fit perfect.

• What is your Every Day Carry?
• That is kind of a loaded question for a knife maker. LOL, some days a fixed blade or one of my G6-LF large Folders with a Wharncliff blade. Some days I carry a little Kershaw that a friend gave to me or my Don Robinson Linerlock. I'm a collector as well as a maker.

• If you are full time, what surprised you the most about being a full time maker?
• I had no surprises going in, I knew exactly what I was getting into.

• Which shows do you attend to sell at?
• Hopefully the Local Spokane gun show's and Bighorn Show, I gota have time to make some knives to take to a show first.

• It seems every knife maker is working on a new skill, what are you working on that is new or you are just working to get better at it?
• Flippers..........on bearings.

• What has been the hardest lesson to learn about knife making?
• I think as knife makers we are constantly learning and evolving, it’s ALL been hard. If it was easy everyone would be doing it.

• Do you have any knife making heroes? Who are they?
• Bruce Bump, he's just Uber talented, and of course King Cashen because he's so dang smart.

• If you actively sell your knives, how do you market them? What has worked best for you?
• I’m on Facebook and I have a web site, I hate trying to "sell" my knives, I just let them speak for themselves.

• Do you take orders or commissions? If you take commissions, what is your current lead time? Do you charge a deposit?
• I do, I love making one off customs. I'm still learning about my lead times but it’s about 6 weeks.

• Is there a knife you are most proud of? (why, if so)
• I made a Gunslinger for a friend in Jersey, it just came out perfect. The grinds were perfect, the handle.......the sheath was a work of art (in my eyes any way). My friend thought so too.

• How long have you been making knives now?
• 12 years

• Do you have a quick shop tip to share?
• Don’t forge in sandals.

• What would you suggest to anyone wanting to learn how to make knives?
• Spend a day or two with another good maker, if you are still interested, jump in.

• What are you working on now?
• Orders, orders, orders.

• Have you gotten hurt making knives?
• No, not to my definition of hurt. I've never needed stiches or even superglue. Be aware of what you are doing, focus, focus, focus.

• What equipment does your shop have?
• Well I don’t have a mill, a lathe, or a surface grinder. I have the basics , 1- 2x72 grinder , 2 drill presses , a 16" Evenheat oven , forge , 100lb anvil , band saw, Dremel , air compressor , stick welder , plasma cutter.

• Most makers love their shop tools. Which is your favorite shop tool?
• My belt grinder, because I built it from scratch.

• What is your design process? Do you draw it first or just go with the force?
• I draw directly on the steel bar, and erase, until it looks "right".

• How long does it take on the average for you to make a knife?
• That’s a loaded question, some knives 3 hours, some knives 10 hours. I don’t make any super detailed art knives that take an Uber long time.

• Can you give us an idea of what some of your knives sell for lately?
• My least expensive knife is $165 (last week) , I sold a big ‘ol bowie 2 days ago for $700

• Knife making isn’t always great every day. What was the lowest point in knife making for you? How did you bounce back?
• About 6 years ago, I made about 40 knives in 90 days, for Xmas orders, and worked a full time job. I burned out and didn’t make a knife for almost a year. I just missed it finally, and said I would never burn out again. It can’t be about the money, it has to be about the passion first, then money.

• If you could only use one steel the rest of your days as a knife maker, what would it be?
• Damascus.....Duhh

Name: Dwane Oliver

Phone: 505-609-3794

Email: dwane@oliverknives.com

Web Site: www.oliverknives.com

Date: 7/21/14