Buying South African custom knifes?

I own a shamwari and a burger...both had issues.
I have buddies with multiple shamwaris and burgers. They are all mint. I would say that SA makers are just like all makers...some just come messed up.
Communication is important. Thats where being a "good" maker, or and "exceptional" maker comes into play. Just my opinion.
 
I own a number of Trevor Burgers knives, they are all excellent.

We had a meet up last week and I had an opportunity to see his latest stuff, it's brilliant. If you have a chance to attend Blade stop by his table, you won't be disappointed.

I am still interested to know exactly what information the OP wants to gain from this thread????
 
I'm not sure he knows what he was really asking. I don't. A hand-made knife is a piece of art. Where it was made is immaterial, in my opinion, appreciation of art knows no borders.
 
Just remembered Doctor Frunkey in one of his reviews mantioning, that with regards to South African custom knifes their always seems to be something just a little wrong with them? He seems to have a lot of experience with them.
 
I have one from Timothy LaCombre, from his budget line. 1/2 the price of a slipjoint from some well known makers in America I have knives from. A fantastic knife at a great price!!
 
The knives I have seen from SA Guild members have been on par both price-wise as well as quality-wise with similar Americans makers' offerings. But you never know until you get it in hand, as with anything...
 
I have never found anything wrong about my beautiful JD Ellis custom that was a gift from a friend - it is a beauty that exudes quality and fine craftsmanship.
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best

mqqn
 
I have handled a Charls Pinaar knife in the past. The fit and finish on it seemed unfinished .The lock was not ingageing fully with the tang of the blade causing side to side blade play.
I have also noticed that some of our local dealers, are sitting with certain South African makers knifes for months with out them selling?
 
I think I now what the OP's getting at. On a well known pre-owned knife website, formerly based in Arizona but now in Florida, you can look for all offerings by a particular maker. They maintain a listing of not only all knives for sale by that maker, but also for all knives previously sold along with the actual sale price.

Now for Arno Bernard, for example, their current offerings go for several hundred dollars. However, similar knives sold 10-15 years ago were selling more like in the $70 range. That price difference is not accounted for solely by inflation (go ahead, do the math), although the difference between the Rand and the USD may account for some of that. But I would guess the big difference is back then they were trying to establish themselves in the US market, whereas, as the OP is hinting at, they've now decided to take advantage of this market and are looking for bigger profits. Absolutely can't blame them for that, but I think that's what the OP is questioning.

I only have one South African knife, an older Arno Bernard Sr. knife I recently purchased, and it's very well made (he/they specialize in locally available exotic handle scales), and yes I paid more than $70 for it.
 
Bobobama.....Exzectly!!!!!

Get Rich fast approach.

Some knifes have issues.

For me to risky.

End result, buy locally.
 
Tarry said:
Get Rich fast approach.

Some knifes have issues.

For me to risky.

End result, buy locally.
Click to expand...
Il have to disagree with you.
Everybody wants to put food on the table and if their knives sell, they are obvously not too expensive - no more expensive than other custom knives. Nothing 'get rich quick' scheme about it.
Knives from any country can have issues or not. Plenty of reports about wonky knives from other countries. See the relevant forum sub.
If you prefer to buy ''local'/domestic made knives only, that is of course your perogative.
 
It's still not clear why SA custom knives would specifically have issues, but nothing wrong with supporting craftsmen close to home.

I've generally found that a-holes can come from anywhere ;) If anything, I'd be wary of makers that rely heavily on a social media and witless sycophants to support them. Hype is good indicator of future disappointment.
 
Wait a moment...so its wrong for SA makers to up their price and take advantage if the market...but's ok for north american maker to do it?
Im so confused here.
 
I must elaborate...I just cant get my head around this so I had to get my thoughts in order...inflation happens. It seems like everything (household bills, food, gas, products, etc.) is going up in price. Everything but my paycheck. Why would knives be any different?
I have been collecting knives for a long long while. Ive seen the prices go up. In fact, ive seen older production knives double, and even triple in value, sometimes more! Am i happy about the high knife prices? Absolutely not, but that's what happens when a certain product becomes popular and collectible.
I myself have paid more than a knife was "originally" sold for because i wanted it. Nothing wrong with that.
I feel this is another thread about supply, demand, and inflation.
I am a firm believer in deleting sale prices in our threads for this exact reason. Just because something sold for x amount of dollars in the 90's, doesnt mean that is the correct market price today.
I feel as if this thread is just a bash at SA makers for whatever reason. Some make great knives, some make horrible knives, and some are inconsistent. This applies to ALL makers from ALL countries. Do your due diligence before you buy, and things turn out ok. Pick a trustworthy maker who communicates well.
Anyhow, if this is a SA maker bash thread, im out. I like my SA folders, and will buy more if opportunity allows.
Also, i collect domestic and international knives, so im not bias here.
So question to OP...do you have something against SA makers? For me to continue posting, I'm curious to know.

Edit for spelling
 
Last edited:
Tarry said:
Bobobama.....Exzectly!!!!!

Get Rich fast approach.

Some knifes have issues.

For me to risky.

End result, buy locally.
Click to expand...

I can assure you there is NOTHING in knife making that is "get rich quick " try making not just a knife but an exceptional piece and let me know how that goes
 
Making a GOOD knife isn't easy, and making enough good knives to sell on the open market is a whole other thing. If you don't like SA knives, then just don't buy them. The makers won't ever know, or even care, most likely, and someone else will buy their goods. You aren't important to them. But don't look down on me if I do.
 
Sharp & Fiery said:
I must elaborate...I just cant get my head around this so I had to get my thoughts in order...inflation happens. It seems like everything (household bills, food, gas, products, etc.) is going up in price. Everything but my paycheck. Why would knives be any different?
I have been collecting knives for a long long while. Ive seen the prices go up. In fact, ive seen older production knives double, and even triple in value, sometimes more! Am i happy about the high knife prices? Absolutely not, but that's what happens when a certain product becomes popular and collectible.
I myself have paid more than a knife was "originally" sold for because i wanted it. Nothing wrong with that.
I feel this is another thread about supply, demand, and inflation.
I am a firm believer in deleting sale prices in our threads for this exact reason. Just because something sold for x amount of dollars in the 90's, doesnt mean that is the correct market price today.
I feel as if this thread is just a bash at SA makers for whatever reason. Some make great knives, some make horrible knives, and some are inconsistent. This applies to ALL makers from ALL countries. Do your due diligence before you buy, and things turn out ok. Pick a trustworthy maker who communicates well.
Anyhow, if this is a SA maker bash thread, im out. I like my SA folders, and will buy more if opportunity allows.
Also, i collect domestic and international knives, so im not bias here.
So question to OP...do you have something against SA makers? For me to continue posting, I'm curious to know.

Edit for spelling
Click to expand...
The bad feedback on Gareth Bull is 100% warented. Very bad threads and angry customers.
 
Have a Thorburn/Van Heerden A2 A5 and am very happy with it, both from a fit/finish perspective and a value perspective.

As others have commented, supply and demand is the name of the game. With a few exceptions, the market dictates price - if knives are moving at the makers' specified prices, that says something (regardless of the country/continent of origin). FWIW, SA makers are not the only ones that adjust prices according to market demand. Take the Norseman for example..
 
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