Exhibitor Profile

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(949) 439-5478  
Coto de Caza, CA

Website: www.JeridJohnson.com

E-Mail: jerid@jeridjohnson.com

Knives:

I specialize in making hand forged bowies and hunters using high carbon tool steel.. Typical steels used are 5160, 1095, and O-1. I also make my own custom fit leather sheaths for my knives.

Profile:

One day while watching TV, I came across a documentary on the history of Buck Knives. The documentary showed how Buck began making knives from old files. After watching the show I thought to myself, “I could do that”. Having a life long interest in knives and the outdoors, I hopped on the internet and started searching for more information. Surprisingly, I came across a vast amount of knowledge and people who were eager to teach and transfer knowledge to wanting to learn the craft.

I began to make handmade knives November 2003. I started out using the stock removal method of blade shaping. My first knife was a little full tang hunter with 6 brass pins holding the scales on. Needing a better method than using a blow-torch to heat blades for the heat treatment, I built a forge. With a running forge in my shop I quickly went out and purchased a cheap anvil and started forging blades to shape. I love the freedom forging offers in designing a blade.

I have been truly impressed with the performance characteristics of high carbon steel blades and feel they have outperformed all production knives I have ever owned in the past. My knives are crafted by hand using various hand and power tools. All tools are guided by my hand and eye which makes for a truly unique finished product.

I was born and raised in Southern California and currently reside in Coto de Caza, California. Besides knife making, I enjoy spending time with family, motocross, surfing, hunting, shooting, photography, and reef aquariums.. To pay the bills, I work at Quest Software Inc. as a Director of Technical Support for the company's Monitoring and Java products. Don’t ask how I find time to make knives… somehow it just works out (usually very late at night).

Bladesmithing has become a very fulfilling hobby and I take great pride in my work and I am constantly trying to improve the fit, finish, and function of my knives.

Come see me at the Expo 07 show or simply give me a call.