Keeton, Bill

"In 1969, I made my first knife from a kit purchased from Dixie Gun Works in Union City, Tennessee. Intrigued by the experience, I continued to make and sell knives part-time until I retired from Philip Morris in 1993. As the son of a mechanic, I have always been familiar with tools of all sorts. But, when I decided to become a knifemaker, I sought the advice of local knifemakers on some of the finer points of the craft and the proper machines to purchase. I continued to make knives, teaching myself at each step and refining my methods. One of the most rewarding aspects of this process was designing and building my own machinery as I went along. I now perform every operation of the knifemaking process. I have been honored since 1975 to be a member of the Knifemakers' Guild."