Do we have any South Africa (preferably Lowveld) based knife makers here by any chance?

If so, I have a couple of properly cleaned giraffe leg bones and some buff horn I'd like to give away and also need a couple of small jobs done.

If anyone's interested, please send me a PM.

I can't send them overseas because the paperwork etc is too much of a hassle.

I saw some gorgeous knives in SA, I was surprised at the level of skill shown on several. One shop had some on display and I went "home" that night to ponder about buying one but when I went back the next day the shop was closed and it was my last day in the area.

Steve: Contact Arno Bernard. I am surprised that you haven't heard of him. He uses a lot of giraffe bone and some buff horn. Look to www.arnobernard.com

Steve
If you can find me someplace to sleep and a few tools I'll be glad to come over and make you a few knifes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hook,

You'll need to pack your lathe because the jobs I want doing involve fitting ivory handles to swords.

UEG

Thanks for the tip, I'll give him a try.

ADDED

UEG,

I've just checked the link you posted and he's in Florida USA..... I need someone here in South Africa because I can't send the ivory overseas.

I'll track someone down eventually and it's not something I'm in a hurry for.

we could find a lathe there I'm sure

Yeah I guess you're right but finding someone who can work ivory on one without burning the material and putting them together ain't so easy!

next time I'm across the pond we might have to make a plan

Yup!

Steve

Arno Bernard's shop is in South Africa. According to my information he is just outside of the Eastern Free State in the town of Bethlehem.
A better and higher quality knife maker is Tinus Beukes. The only contact information that I have for him is that he is a teacher for Gauteng Dept. of education.
I have no idea of your and there proximity.
Hope this helps, keep us posted.

James

OK, Thanks James.

I'm just outside White River which is close to the KNP but I could always send them down by courier if I had to.

I'll try & track them down!

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Hook,

You'll need to pack your lathe because the jobs I want doing involve fitting ivory handles to swords.

UEG

Thanks for the tip, I'll give him a try.

ADDED

UEG,

I've just checked the link you posted and he's in Florida USA..... I need someone here in South Africa because I can't send the ivory overseas.

I'll track someone down eventually and it's not something I'm in a hurry for.

Where in the Arno Bernard link does it say that he is situated in Florida???

Here:

http://www.arnobernard.com/ser...-template/about/Page

Thanks for your interest in Arno Bernard Knives.

In business since..., our mission is to provide the best...

We will be adding extra features over the next few months, so come back regularly.

You can contact us at:
Arno Bernard Knives or by phone at (813) 754-3908.

We are located at:
4011 N. Forbes Rd
PLANT CITY, FL 33565

Or am I missing something?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by shakari:
Here:

http://www.arnobernard.com/ser...-template/about/Page

Thanks for your interest in Arno Bernard Knives.

In business since..., our mission is to provide the best...

We will be adding extra features over the next few months, so come back regularly.

You can contact us at:
Arno Bernard Knives or by phone at (813) 754-3908.

We are located at:
4011 N. Forbes Rd
PLANT CITY, FL 33565

Or am I missing something?[/QUOT

Something weird is going on.

When I click on the link you provided, it clearly states in the first line that Arno Bernard knives is located "just outside the beautiful Eastern Free State towm of Bethlehem".....first sentence.

I am totally confused.

Try again. Can someone else please verify this for me.

I think I need a drink.

OK, What's the phone number you see?

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
OK, What's the phone number you see?

Perhaps they market the knives from the USA.

Do you agree that it states (on the link you posted) that the factory is in RSA. First paragraph.

That is where your raw materials will be of most use.

No mate..... The version I see only says:

About Arno Bernard Knives

Thanks for your interest in Arno Bernard Knives.

In business since..., our mission is to provide the best...

We will be adding extra features over the next few months, so come back regularly.

You can contact us at:
Arno Bernard Knives or by phone at (813) 754-3908.

We are located at:
4011 N. Forbes Rd
PLANT CITY, FL 33565

Go Back

and nothing else.

Do you see a SA phone number or email address on what you see?

And if so, what are they please?

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
No mate..... The version I see only says:

About Arno Bernard Knives

Thanks for your interest in Arno Bernard Knives.

In business since..., our mission is to provide the best...

We will be adding extra features over the next few months, so come back regularly.

You can contact us at:
Arno Bernard Knives or by phone at (813) 754-3908.

We are located at:
4011 N. Forbes Rd
PLANT CITY, FL 33565

Go Back

and nothing else.

Do you see a SA phone number or email address on what you see?

And if so, what are they please?

Ok, that may be their "contact address", it does however state in the link you provided that the factory is in RSA.....agreed?

Ring the USA number and ask for their Bethlehem address.

John,

No buddy. All I see is what I posted..... quite how there can be two different versions in two different countries, I don't know but that does appear to be the case.

I'll call the Florida number on Monday.

Steve: Try contacting Arno at: bernard109@telkomsa.net

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
John,

No buddy. All I see is what I posted..... quite how there can be two different versions in two different countries, I don't know but that does appear to be the case.

I'll call the Florida number on Monday.

It's got me fucked Mate.

I think that UEG may have the answer, above.

quote:

Originally posted by John Frederick:

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
John,

No buddy. All I see is what I posted..... quite how there can be two different versions in two different countries, I don't know but that does appear to be the case.

I'll call the Florida number on Monday.

It's got me fucked Mate.

I think that UEG may have the answer, above.

I agree with both statments and thanks to all for the help!

You might try Kevin and Heather Harvey. They are in Belfast; Mpumalanga.
Very nice couple who do very nice work. Do an internet search for Heavin Forge.
Mike

Mike,

They're much closer to me but I'm not getting any answer to my emails.......

shakari;
They may be on walkabout, fishing for a few days, they may be in the states; who knows.
They are superb artisans, be patient.
I would have heard if something drastic had befallen them; i think.
M

Steve: Arno will respond as well. If I happen to find a telephone number for him I will send it on.

Thanks Chaps...... I'll try both and see what happens.

The Belfast option would be a lot more convenient for me as they're only an hour (maybe two) or so drive away but I can always use post to either if I had to...... or alternatively, if either are coming up to my neck of the woods for something, I could meet up with them somewhere.

You'd think it'd be easy for me to give something away FOC but it's obviously harder than I thought it'd be!

FWIW, I've seen examples of both companies work and both are fabulous...... my only fear is if I go to the either of their showrooms, I'll end up buying something I love but don't really need!

It's an addiction Steve. Last knife that I bought from Arno (I actually had him make it for me) was a fixed blade knife with mammoth ivory handles, meteorite bolsters and a damascus blade. Very nice!

Sounds beautiful and I'd love to see some pics......... there's something about damascus that just REALLY does it for me!

I liked the combination of the "old": mammoth ivory over 10-15 thousand years old; meteorite that is very rare and is millions of years old(and from outer space); and damascus, which is 'old school' but is quite popular again today. Now I just need a nice "modern" elephant hide knife scabbard instead of the cape buffalo hide scabbard that came with it. . . . Oh, I'll look to see if I have a picture that I can post of my knife. In the meantime, here is another one of Arno's with mammoth, meteorite and damascus:

Oh mate, that's a beautiful piece of kit!

I've never seen meteorite used in something like that but it looks great.

Funnily enough, I was a TV programme on meteorites a little while ago and only then realised I've seen a fair number of them in a few different parts of Africa.

Reckon I'd be a much richer man if I'd known what they were and picked 'em up at the time.

No kidding! I hear that the price of meteorite might be as expensive or more so than gold! That stuff is fairly rare.

I couldn't believe the prices they were talking about on the documentary and I'm 99.99999% sure that the things I've been seeing for years in certain wilderness areas are exactly the same thing.

Ah well, shit happens and I look a lot more closely now!

If you have access to a metal detector (i.e. like the one pictured here) you'll know for certain if it's meteorite or not! If you find some, save a chunk of it for your old AR buddy (me)!

I wouldn't have time to use a detector while I'm there but it looks like I'm going back to one of the areas in question next year. In which case, I'll keep my eyes peeled and bring anything likely looking home with me and check them over at home.

Like I say, I'm 99.999% sure they're the real thing though.

Interestingly, When I was in Uganda this year I found some iron ore with cut marks and what I'm fairly sure is slag (waste) from iron smelting...... no idea how old it is but as it was in the middle of no-where, I'd have thought it's helluva old.

I REALLY wish I'd studied geology a bit harder when I was younger.

Wow! The Ugandan iron ore with marks was probably really ancient. Keep me updated on your "finds". In the meantime, good luck with Arno-you will most likely have a built in buyer for any meteorite that you manage to find and bring home!

Perhaps this list could be of some use to you:

http://www.kgsa.co.za/guildmem...74e95428805f3959dbb0

I like the looks of the knives made by Albie Wantenaar.