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Dave Ber, San Juan Island Knife Maker
Near the center of San Juan Island, in an area known to some as ‘Hippy Heights,’ Dave Ber hand-
crafts knives in his 200-square-foot shop.
THE SELF-TAUGHT KNIFE ARTISAN
began honing his craft in 1986. He out-
fitted his first blade with a simple wood
handle. Crude in comparison to his
work today, Dave never sold the knife.
It wasn’t up to his standards. But the
three-incher foreshadowed the elegant
designs and exceptionally well-balanced
blades he makes today.
Dave’s shop is one of three rustic
wood structures on the 2.5-acre perch
overlooking San Juan Channel where
he lives with his wife, Lina Vander
Houwen. It sits at the center of the
three buildings, flanked by Linda’s cozy
get-away and their home — a beautiful
cabin originally constructed in 1988
before they bought the property. “It
was just one room when we moved in,”
Linda told me as we sat in their toasty
living room. “Dave added the loft. The
bathroom. This room where we are now.
The deck. We just kept expanding as
need be.”
Dave and Linda moved to San Juan in
1991 in search of sunshine. Before they
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retired, the pair spent their summers
working in Alaska canning factories. Ini-
tially, they wintered in Bellingham. But
they tired of the rain and the crowds.
Having begun his knife business on
the mainland, Dave continued to spend
his winters crafting new blades — just
as he does today. “I’ve always made
my knives during the winter. Now that
means I make them November through
June, when the San Juan Island Artists’
Studio Tour takes place,” said Dave.
Originally Dave sold his work at the
Alaskan canning factories and trade
shows. But now, the Studio Tour is his
This year’s San Juan Island Artists’ Studio
Tour is slated for June 6 and 7 from 10am -
5pm. Dave’s studio is located at 656 Miller
Road. You can learn more about the other
featured studios on the tour’s website:
sanjuanislandartists.com
only scheduled event. “I accept commis-
sioned pieces from time-to-time, but I
think one of the things people really like
is being able to come and see where and
how the knives are being made. That’s a
really special part of the tour,” said Dave.
The process is special indeed. It
begins with sourcing ancient wood and
ancient ivory — the gorgeous natural
artifacts that give Dave’s knives such
character. Using a variety of hard woods,
including Rosewood and Dessert Iron
Wood, and ancient ivory, including
mammoth and walrus, Dave is able to
create his signature colorful look.
“I want my knives to be colorful.
Something people will remember.
Nothing makes me happier than hearing
someone is buying my knife for a specif-
ic purpose — whether that’s to put it on
display or use it in the field. That’s one
of my biggest honors,” Dave said.
He cuts his blades from Damascus
steel, primarily using a selection forged
with a twisted pattern that’s created by
welding layers of steel together. The pat-
tern eventually comes to life when Dave
superheats the steal to 1,600 degrees
and shocks it in olive oil. Other knife
makers will use crude oils, like motor
oil, to shock their steel. “I use olive oil
because it makes the shop smell like
fresh baked cookies,” said Dave. (And
who doesn’t love freshly baked cook-
ies?)
Dave makes an average of 35 knives
a year, many of which will be on display
during the Studio Tour.
He can also be reached via:
360.378.7230 / [email protected]