Dan Watson is a knife maker, who lives and works on Jinibara Country, in a town called Maleny, forging handmade knives and kitchen wares from premium blade steels and local timbers. He started knifemaking in 2015 whilst living and studying in nipaluna (Hobart) using a rudimentary forge as a winter time hobby. By spring of that year he was so taken by the knives that he had dropped out of uni and started making and selling knives at the MONA markets.

​

After a few years making knives in nipaluna the opportunity to work with the Crocodile Island Rangers in north-east Arnhem Land came up. He worked for several years as an Indigenous Ranger Co-ordinator, caring for country and working alongside Traditional Owners and community. During his time with the rangers, knife making took a back seat, occasionally creating the odd tool using a handmade forge created from repurposed gas bottles and other found scrap metal.

​

In late 2019 Dan moved to his hometown of Maleny, rekindled the knifemaking practice which he balances with his other job, in bush regeneration. The focus of his knife making practice is high quality carbon steel chef knives and handmade cookware that are a pleasure to use and created to last. He has made knives for some of Australia’s best chefs, home cooks, Qld Gov house and knife enthusiasts from around the world. He has exhibited at the Melbourne Design Fair, Maleny Wood Expo, MONA markets and the occasional surprise stall here and there, with a small selection of knives available through Artisan in Brisbane.