Tiaan Burger - new folder maker

Chui

Chui

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Jul 10, 2012
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Some years ago, think it was my first visit to the Knife Makers Guild Show in Johannesburg, I met Tiaan.

He wasn't making a great number of knives at the time, getting into it, but also produced wonderful sculptures and objet d'art. If I recall, he went off the boil a bit with knife making, but has returned with a vengeance - perhaps he'll appear and explain more...

Now, some years later, he has honed his knife making skills considerably and weaves his very artistic passion and skills into that making.

Just a start here below, but perhaps you'll agree, for a relative beginner in folder making of this type, he's not doing too badly ;)



























 
joeradza said:
Beautiful photos Paul. I’ve been following Tiaan on FB and his work is eye opening.
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- indeed, Alan :thumbsup:

Don't own any of these, btw - and the photos are all from Tiaan. There isn't a great following for multi-blades in UK so I thought he deserved a wee bit of a showing among all you fine fellas
 
Chui said:
- indeed, Alan :thumbsup:

Don't own any of these, btw - and the photos are all from Tiaan. There isn't a great following for multi-blades in UK so I thought he deserved a wee bit of a showing among all you fine fellas
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He definitely deserves a following and he's no beginner for sure.
 
:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

His work is not only stunningly beautiful, but then big touch for me is, I LOVE the exposed pivots. Easy to give it a tap to snug up if used. I wish more makers would do that. I love his work! I could even get back into collecting for this maker! I usually don't give five out five thumbs up, but I give ten thumbs up for this maker.
 
jackknife said:
:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

His work is not only stunningly beautiful, but then big touch for me is, I LOVE the exposed pivots. Easy to give it a tap to snug up if used. I wish more makers would do that. I love his work! I could even get back into collecting for this maker! I usually don't give five out five thumbs up, but I give ten thumbs up for this maker.
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That makes way too much sense, Carl!
Nice looking work by Tiaan!
 
Chui Chui got in ahead of me with this post! I have been lurking on this forum for the past three months, watching and learning, and been meaning to pay my maker's membership so I can show some of my knives here. Thank you Paul. :)

jackknife said:
:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

His work is not only stunningly beautiful, but then big touch for me is, I LOVE the exposed pivots. Easy to give it a tap to snug up if used. I wish more makers would do that. I love his work! I could even get back into collecting for this maker! I usually don't give five out five thumbs up, but I give ten thumbs up for this maker.
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Jackknife, thank you so much! Especially for the positive feedback on the pins as I was wondering if I should continue doing the domed pins.

Chui said:
- sure, but perhaps a beginner of this type of multi-blade folder ;) :)
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Yes, very much so. I have made a number of three-blade stockman folders and a couple of other patterns, the pics above are my first barlow, my second five-blade, my first split back whittler and my first four-blade congress. (I made my first half congress in September.)
 
Liking the fancy materials / filework … but not a fan of exposed pivots and brass. Hiding pins is an art, exposed pins are a sign the maker hasn't mastered that yet. Brass is soft, scratches when you look at it and flexes significantly compared to steel. Have a few dozen custom slipjoints and never had to snug up any. Maybe I'm old school, but I like to see a makers stamp on at least one blade. Where is his stamp?
 
Chief said:
Liking the fancy materials / filework … but not a fan of exposed pivots and brass. Hiding pins is an art, exposed pins are a sign the maker hasn't mastered that yet. Brass is soft, scratches when you look at it and flexes significantly compared to steel. Have a few dozen custom slipjoints and never had to snug up any. Maybe I'm old school, but I like to see a makers stamp on at least one blade. Where is his stamp?
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- think he beautifully etches it into the liners, John ;):thumbsup:
 
Tiaan Burger said:
Jackknife, thank you so much! Especially for the positive feedback on the pins as I was wondering if I should continue doing the domed pins.
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You're very welcome, and YES, by all means keep up with the domed pins.

In the 'old days' ( As a bonafide old fart I can say that!) domed pins were not that rare. Any object, no matter ow beautiful, should be able to function at it's intended task. No matter if its a highly engraved presentation gun, show car, or art knife. The gun should shoot to point of aim reliably, the car should get you to where your going and back, and the knife should be able to cut and be put to work as needed, if needed. Any folding knife, no matter how fancy, will need a bit of maintenance now and then. Touch up on a stone, and maybe a tap now and then on the pivot.

I regret that more makers don't use domed pins. Even the humble sodbuster has a pivot that can be snugged up if need be. I love the birds eye rivets also.

Keep up the gorgeous work!:thumbsup:
 
Wow, that five blade congress is a work of art. Between the Damascus blades, file work, and lovely MOP, you can't ask for much more.

What is the handle material on the splitback Whittler and 4 blade congress? Ivory? Viewing on my phone and can't tell if there is any grain to it or not.
 
JustinR said:
Wow, that five blade congress is a work of art. Between the Damascus blades, file work, and lovely MOP, you can't ask for much more.

What is the handle material on the splitback Whittler and 4 blade congress? Ivory? Viewing on my phone and can't tell if there is any grain to it or not.
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Thank you!
The splitback whittler has white paper micarta, the four blade congress has warthog tusk.
 
Normally, I'm not a whittler kind of guy, but that wharnie whittler has a very powerful draw to me. Great lines and the shape of the wharnclife blade blends so well with the overall shape of the knife. It's a very very elegant knife, fit for some Victorian Earl or Duke's pocket.

But then, so are the rest of them!
 
Chui said:
Some years ago, think it was my first visit to the Knife Makers Guild Show in Johannesburg, I met Tiaan.

He wasn't making a great number of knives at the time, getting into it, but also produced wonderful sculptures and objet d'art. If I recall, he went off the boil a bit with knife making, but has returned with a vengeance - perhaps he'll appear and explain more...

Now, some years later, he has honed his knife making skills considerably and weaves his very artistic passion and skills into that making.

Just a start here below, but perhaps you'll agree, for a relative beginner in folder making of this type, he's not doing too badly ;)



























Click to expand...
A very fine string of real beauties Paul .

Harry
 
Very nice work! I especially like the beautiful blade grinds on the first two. Crisp transitions at the tang and at swedges, coupled with a very well-executed flat grind with very thin edges, make these a winner for me.

What wood is used on that stockman?
 
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