The Family of Knife makers

For more than a century, the Barnett family has been custom building knives for every need. Granddad, who was a full time blacksmith and wheelwright for well over sixty years, always advised his children to work for themselves if they wanted to achieve satisfaction and success at their job. His second piece of advice was "don’t get married before the age of thirty-five". I can’t say I was able to abide in the latter bit of wisdom, although I do label it ‘wisdom’.

I am lucky enough to own one of my grandfather’s knives, which he built by request in his blacksmith shop.

My father built knives, too, for mainly pleasure and as a hobby. I don’t believe he ever sold one of them. They usually just became gifts to the admirers of his handiwork.

My interest began as a young artist, when I was asked to engrave some knives for a local maker in the 1970’s. I soon began making a limited number of knives myself, learning from exposure to many of my knife making friends. When the opportunity arose for me to enlarge the shop, due to a demand for our knives, I didn’t realize that this was soon to be a full time opportunity for members of my family.

My oldest son, Van, began building excellent knives as a young teenager. Little did we realize he was to make this his life’s occupation. I must note here that at least Van took his great grandfather’s advice about working for himself. At the age of thirty-seven, the only profession Van has known has been as a knife maker. And now his ability has been enhanced by his marriage to a knife maker. Dellana is one of the most successful and well-known female knife makers in the world.

The last Barnett to have entered the ranks of knife maker is my youngest son Joseph. At nineteen, he may quickly catch the rest of the family in ability and fame. At this time hunting knives are his area of expertise.

No family member has been left out of our knife making tradition. My daughter, Kathy, has had a hand in the leather department of the business, building knife sheaths. And my wife, Brenda, works as manager and support staff.

As I continue to build knives, carving and engraving are my gift to the steel. And I have high hopes of seeing a fifth generation continue the legacy that grand dad started so long ago.