Cape Town, South Africa
Tel. 021 556 5486
Cell. 083 449 0799
eMail. neels_roos@hotmail.com
I decided to start knife making as a hobby after I retired from my day job. This was a complete unknown area as my previous hobbies were pottery, photography and collecting rare nearly extinct cacti. In November 2004 I built myself a belt grinder from information off the internet and also taught myself knife making off the internet. From there on I started striving to make the perfect unique once-off knife with full authorship of all embellishment. In 2009 I imported engraving equipment from the USA and started teaching myself engraving off the internet and getting advice from the Engraving Forums. Since then I have thoroughly enjoyed the artistic designs of the engravings being done on my knives. I make both fixed blades and linerlock folders and each knife is unique.
In January 2012 I applied for membership to the Knifemakers Guild of South Africa and was accepted as a member. I have served as secretary of the Cape Knife Club for two years. I am at present the secretary of the Cape Knifemakers Guild. My wife Corinne is my biggest critic and also does the sewing of my sheaths by hand.
Knifemaking is a serious and challenging hobby for me. I therefore take my time in designing and planning each piece to be a masterpiece of which the eventual owner can be proud and know that I thoroughly enjoyed making the knife. I am inspired by unique well-made knives. Also knifemakers like Arpad Bojtos ,the late Buster Warenski and Joe Kious to name a few are inspirational as well as the engraving artist like Steve Lindsay, Sam Alfano, Brian Hochstrat, Julie Warenski Ericson and Phil Coggan.
I am also in the fortunate position to be able to source the best materials like Damasteel and some of the world’s best mosaic Damascus steel from Ettore Gianferrari. I am always amazed by the artistic skills of some of our local knifemakers and I am glad and honoured to be part of this knife making fraternity.
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