My father, Dick Patton has been making knives for around 30 years or so. He has his degree in Physics which he taught at the high school level for many years before moving on to the private sector and sales rep work. He went fulltime/professional maker around 1990 before moving to Idaho in 1993. His 70th birthday was January 31, 2002 and he still works a full day at the shop, (except during hunting season…) He's still going strong and he never ceases to amaze me with his knowledge and insight and technical skill…especially in a pinch. Without Dick Patton there would be no Patton Knives, and I am forever indebted and thankful to him for taking the time and energy and patience to pass on some of his knowledge and hopefully some of his skill, to me.
I was a Political Science major with a minor in Philosophy which led me directly into my previous life in local government. For ten years I was with the Village of Sugar Mountain, NC. My main function in that life was as Ordinance Administrator and inspector/enforcement officer of all land use regulations which centered on zoning and land use planning. The last four years of my tenure there was as Town Manager.

I got into knife making the hard way; I quit a real job having no idea what I was really getting myself into. I moved myself and my all-too-willing wife and accomplice Gina from the mountains of North Carolina to Idaho and set up shop with Dad, who proceeded to try to teach me everything that he could when I'd shut up long enough to listen. Going on six years later after a lot of fear and loathing and poverty and learning and trying and hooking up with the finest community of people I'd ever imagine possible, I see that this is THE great adventure of my life and I wouldn't trade off one moment of it for anything.

My wife and soul mate Gina, is a Biology major (we both went to Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C.) who has been professionally involved with the Grey Wolf Recovery Program in Idaho. Her job kept her in the backcountry of this magnificent state running trap lines, mounting radio collars on captured wolves, and conducting radio telemetry keeping tabs on pack locations. She now works for Idaho Fish and Game as a Wildlife Technician. She is my best friend and is totally supportive of me in my quest as a maker.

At Patton Knives we continue to develop our artisanship as we continue to push the performance envelope on everything we do. From grinding or forging a blade, making Damascus, fitting and finishing a piece, or heat treating steel, we are always trying to improve our abilities and to live and learn more of the art and craft of knife making…
"Constant Progression"

Knife making is my life, as it is that of my father, and we are Patton Knives.

Thanks for stopping by.