John Young – Custom Knife Maker from Utah
I have been interested in knives since I was very young, spending much of my childhood making them from old files that I softened by heating. After making a few knives the hard way, I began acquiring tools to make the process easier and faster.
Although Bob Loveless, Harvey Draper, and many of the great Utah knife makers influenced how I think about knives, my biggest influence by far has been Steve Johnson (SRJ).
I met SRJ through a nephew who told me I should meet his uncle. At the time, I had no idea who Steve Johnson was—but after reading about him in several magazine articles, I knew I had to meet him. After that first tour of his shop, I was hooked. Looking back, I realize that I had the best knife-making instructor possible. Seeing his knives and the quality of his work has helped me move a long way toward achieving my knife-making goals.
In 1997, I began making knives seriously, focusing mostly on small hunters. Since then, I’ve expanded to include double-edge and sub-hilt knives as well. I generally use ATS-34 steel and prefer natural handle materials such as stag, ivory, mother of pearl, and sheep horn. I also enjoy using exotic woods and Micarta for its toughness on working knives. In addition to creating functional knives, I strive for perfect fit and finish on every knife I make.
Comments from Steve Johnson on John Young
A native of Central Utah, John Young is a soft-spoken man who speaks loud and clear when it comes to his workmanship and the desire to make an outstanding knife. He is constantly pushing himself to produce better, cleaner, and often more complicated knives. He is a family man with tremendous integrity and a steady focus on the goal of making a better knife and giving the buyer more than his money’s worth. I am proud to call him a friend.
— S. R. Johnson
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