Email: info@watson-knives.com
Social Media- Joe's IG is joewatsonusa and on Facebook it is https://www.facebook.com/joewatsonusa/. Please note that he, nor Watson Knives has zero input nor control of any other social media page or "group", despite what may be advertised.
"I offer a variety of high performance, handmade knives from kitchen to outdoors to duty use to art knives. I always wanted simple tools and equipment that would last a very long time and require very little maintenance and upkeep. I occasionally like doing historically inspired knives and art pieces and improving them with modern construction methods. I still fabricate, cut, grind, shape, dress and polish things one piece at a time. Not too unlike I did when I made my first knife in high school. I am meticulous in my heat treating and effort in the details to offer people the best knives I can. I enjoy it ALL- whether it is working with the latest hi-tech materials or working with rare, unique natural and antique components. I've had a lot of hobbies, so I make knives for different purposes. Many are working tools, some are art pieces to explore and keep the craft alive." -Joe Watson
Watson Knives story and philosophy:
From soldiering, to hunting, to bushcraft, to martial arts, hunting guide work and rural land management- we build knives because we need knives.
The industry has no shortage of people selling "tactical knives" who have not been trained in their use. There's no shortage of blades produced which were never tested for their intended use. No shortage of outdoors knives designed by people who don't even carry knives. Show salesman are often generic hired help posing as a knife company employee when they aren't involved in any of the company's operations. Joe wanted to do things differently than industry norms, because himself and peers needed knives designed and made by people who know them. Watson Knives are unusual in part because they were made, used and vetted for years before one was ever sold to the public.
"From one longtime tactical trainer, I learned to never take untested equipment or procedures in front of students, nor to combat. From that I also took away to never use customers as guinea pigs. How many consumer goods do you see in which folks express "stay away from for a couple years until the bugs are worked out"? That practice has never been OK to me. " -Joe
As a teenager Joe joined in the US Army during the peak of the War on Terror. Years before a business, it was a hobby. He'd been making sheaths, modifying knives and making kydex pistol holsters before all the vast options of today were available. Between training and combat missions, he'd gathered some thoughts about what knives should and should not be. Folding knives would routinely foul up, lose screws & clips or get lost from being snagged on the environment or an operator's rifle sling or pack strap. When a locking mechanism failed, you had a real safety problem on your hand. If you weren't in the jungle, some huge, bulky knives took up too much space and weight on equipment. Sheaths were not what they were today and either large nylon with poor function, or large paddle- style kydex made out of .060 material which is frail and completely unsatisfactory for duty/field use. At that time, many sheaths and holsters made from the thin material would beak or deform within a week. He began making fold over kydex sheaths out of thicker, harder to work materials, with eyelet patterns that accepted industry standard holster attachments. After all- armed professionals quickly accrue a box full of pistol holsters and such attachments. From his collection of Japanese Nihonto he was inspired to experiment with a number of the ancient handle wrap styles on smaller, full-tang modern knives. He used far more durable materials and modern epoxies. The knives and sheaths both received laborious care to properly shape and remove sharp edges so that they could be used, worn all day and during intense physical work. This often overlooked detailing remedies common blisters, hotspots and jab points, as well as abrasion on skin, clothing and equipment.
Much of the time spent overseas was living and working out of remote outposts and local abandoned buildings without running water or electricity, which is where he learned to do more with less. He'd find himself training at a tracking school ran by David Scott-Donelan, who was a former member of the Rhodesian SAS. These men in their prime went into areas with their backpacks and often had to provide the rest on their own. In situations like this, good knives are an absolute must have. The skills Joe picked up at that school would set a foundation to multiple excursions in life where again-knives really mattered.
Upon leaving the military he would work in private sector security and training roles. He got to learn from some of the finest trainers around. Over the years he's practiced BJJ, boxing, Muay Thai, Filipino and Indonesian martial arts. In many places he had coworkers who could not carry firearms, so they'd started to heavily seek out edged, impact and improvised weapon training. While traveling, they'd find out who was local and would go train as students. As far as knife and sheath design, Joe noted a lot of things he did and certainly did not like. Large guards and choils would snag when testing in organic mediums, sheaths that did not allow full grips caused users to come out of the sheath with their hand partially wrapped around the blade. Eventually he'd have friends direct him to other trainers who were using combat sports as a basis and pressure testing techniques against non-compliant opponents.
Initially the goal was only to make functional tools without a thought to fit and finish. Joe continued to learn under knife makers such as Johnny Stout. He also got shop time- tips, tricks and techniques from other longtime pros with immaculate attention to detail and craftsmanship such as John Young, Harvey Dean and John Horrigan. After seeing their masterpieces, he was inspired to refine his work further.
"By remaining active in the defense training industry as both a teacher and student, I am blessed with constant feedback on my designs as well as awareness of what people on the job require in ever-evolving environments. Since I respect the value of other methodologies and experience, I also frequently work with professionals from the military, law enforcement and private sectors on solutions to their individual needs. I'm thankful for your support and for those who allow me to do work I love."
-Joe Watson
