The Knifemakers Guild of Southern Africa held their annual show at Gold Reef City in Johannesburg this past weekend (13 - 15 Sept). All indications are that it was the most successful to date, with knifemakers experiencing a veritable feeding frenzy for their knives in the opening hours!
The standard of work was excellent, as was the variety of knives, ranging from Robert Bauchop's big swords down to Kevin Harvey's award winning miniatures.
Interesting pieces . . . . Ettore Gianferrari's "antique" dagger forged from eight different patterned billets with a carved ivory handle sitting atop a forged mokume stand! . . . . Bill Burger's incredibly graceful carving sets . . . . The gentleman's folders of Des Horn, Nico Pelzer, Louis van der Walt, Mike Skellern, Lourens Prinsloo, Garry Lombard, Corrie Schoeman, and Jan Potgieter . . . . Jeff Angelo's one-piece damascus folder, innovative and beautiful . . . . The scrimshaw of Sharon Burger . . . . The finishes of Rob Brown, Andre Thorburn, and Fanie La Grange . . . . the swordcanes of Fred Burger . . . . the larger G10 folders of Mike Skellern . . . . the unique clamshell handles of Dawid Pienaar . . . . the engraving and gold inlays of Helene Van Wyk.
Observations . . . . Damascus was very popular, as was mokume . . . . Mammoth and mother-of-pearl are still the handle materials of choice for high-end knives . . . . Value for money unsurpassed, especially in $$$ and Euro terms.
The Guild was also pleased to host three foreign dealers . . . Larry Connelley (USA), Harvey Silk (Germany), and Giovanni Valdroni (Italy).
Far too much good work to mention individually here, but keep an eye out for the Knifemakers Guild of Southern Africa's new website (in its final stage of development) which will contain a full show report together with pictures!
Regards, HILTON
The standard of work was excellent, as was the variety of knives, ranging from Robert Bauchop's big swords down to Kevin Harvey's award winning miniatures.
Interesting pieces . . . . Ettore Gianferrari's "antique" dagger forged from eight different patterned billets with a carved ivory handle sitting atop a forged mokume stand! . . . . Bill Burger's incredibly graceful carving sets . . . . The gentleman's folders of Des Horn, Nico Pelzer, Louis van der Walt, Mike Skellern, Lourens Prinsloo, Garry Lombard, Corrie Schoeman, and Jan Potgieter . . . . Jeff Angelo's one-piece damascus folder, innovative and beautiful . . . . The scrimshaw of Sharon Burger . . . . The finishes of Rob Brown, Andre Thorburn, and Fanie La Grange . . . . the swordcanes of Fred Burger . . . . the larger G10 folders of Mike Skellern . . . . the unique clamshell handles of Dawid Pienaar . . . . the engraving and gold inlays of Helene Van Wyk.
Observations . . . . Damascus was very popular, as was mokume . . . . Mammoth and mother-of-pearl are still the handle materials of choice for high-end knives . . . . Value for money unsurpassed, especially in $$$ and Euro terms.
The Guild was also pleased to host three foreign dealers . . . Larry Connelley (USA), Harvey Silk (Germany), and Giovanni Valdroni (Italy).
Far too much good work to mention individually here, but keep an eye out for the Knifemakers Guild of Southern Africa's new website (in its final stage of development) which will contain a full show report together with pictures!
Regards, HILTON