Bio

My name is Jerry Goettig. Thank you for your interest in my handmade custom knives.

I have always been fascinated with creating things and have always wanted to make knives. I've always enjoyed working with my hands. I think it's a primitive thing like playing drums which I've done for most of my life.

My Dad was a craftsman and made many things in his shop when I was growing up. I grew up around power tools and was always taught to respect them. My Dad was more of a woodworker but he was also a Certified Welder and was always creating something. He made one knife that I am aware of and you can see it at the bottom of this page.

I made my first knife when I was in my teens and then it fell by the wayside as life unfolded. During an illness in 2009 I decided to put the time in and do some more research and I started buying some tools in order to pursue the craft. I made contact with some respected knifemaker's like Jim Ferguson (howtomakeaknife.net) Jim helped encourage me to pursue this dream of creating something from a piece of raw steel. I had asked him if he would make me a couple of clamps that I saw in one of his videos and he said I could pick them up at the blade show in Pasadena.  When I met Jim at the Blade Show I remember him saying to me "Are you sure you want to make knives? It's a dirty, nasty, dangerous business!" or something to that effect. He was right, it is a dirty, nasty, dangerous business but we are still drawn to it. My first knife (not counting the one I made in my teens) was made from one of Jim's patterns and is actually on his website under "Success Stories", my son now owns that knife and you can see it here:

Ed Caffrey, "The Montana Bladesmith" has given me some great input over the past few years as well. Ed is an ABS Mastersmith and always seems to find the time. Thanks Ed! It's guy's like Ed and Jim, that are so willing to share their knowledge with other maker's that it helps to preserve the craft and advance the art. I hope to someday be able to do the same for someone else.

I joined California Knifemaker's Association (Cal Knives) and Marcus Clinko helped me to Heat Treat my first knife. There are a lot of great guy's in Cal Knives but unfortunately my schedule didn't make it easy for me to get to all of their meetings but I enjoyed the ones I was able to attend. I kept making knives little by little over the last 3-4 years and after moving to Northern California in 2011, I was finally able to complete my heat treat oven and now I have the ability to heat treat my blades right here in the shop. (update: as of 6/15 I am back in Oregon and have added Cryogenic treatment to my heat treat)

I have also been drawn to Forging and I joined the American Bladesmith Society a couple of years ago as an Apprentice Smith. I finally acquired my forge and 300lb. Fisher Anvil in March of 2013. I am looking forward to spending more time forging blades as I move forward in this new realm of Bladesmithing.

Thank you for checking out my blades! Shoot me an email if you have any questions.