Profile

First Name:
Hennie
Surname:
VAN BRAKEL
In Memoriam:
My Profile – Hennie van Brakel
I was born on 12 May 1944 in the Free State town of Reitz. I started my schooling in Reitz and finished at the Technical High School Kroonstad. I joined the South African Air Force as an aircraft electrical apprentice. In 1970 I joined Hulett Aluminium in Pietermaritzburg where I remained until my retirement at the end of 2000.

One day I saw real hand made knives, and I said to my wife: “that’s what I want to do when I retire.” So, I started to build up my workshop and attended a basic knife making course in Durban with Andre Thorburn. Lourens Prinsloo also taught me the finer points of linerlock folders.

In 2004 I entered the non – guild knife competition. The task was to make a replica of the Harry Wolhuter Knife in the Skukuza museum. Through the competition I met the three Wolhuter grandsons. I discovered that Mike Wolhuter lives about 5 kilometers from me and his enthusiasm resulted in my making replica Wolhuter knives for almost his whole family.

In 2005 I was accepted as a member of the KGSA. I work in 12c27, N690, Damascus and Damasteel and make fixed blades as well as folding knives. I forge my own Damascus and do my own heat treatment. In making knives I also use technology in the form of Laser cutting, wire cutting and computer aided design.

Hennie van Brakel
87 Plane Crescent
1 Greenvale Gardens
Howick
3290
Tel: (033) 330 2173
Cell: 083 287 6038
E-mail hilknife@lantic.net

Knife: Bowie with Dog bone Handle
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: TOL:393mm,
Knife: Knifemakers Guild of SA - 30 years of Excellence
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: 3 Blades N690, 3 Liner lock release buttons, African Black wood frame work, Hippo tooth inlay.
Knife: Lady in Flight
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: Sidelock Folder, BL:45mm, Blade:12C27 Stainless Steel, Handle:Hippo Tooth with scrimshaw by Jubane Nkosi, Bolster:3GR12 Stainless Steel.
Knife: Bowie with Dog bone Handle
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: OAL:393mm, BL:270mm, Blade:RWL34, Handle:Hippo Tooth, Guard:RWL34, Handle Pins:316 Stainless Steel, Sheath:Cow Leather with ostrich inlay.
Knife: Silver Wings
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: Blade:Damsel Fine Rossets Damascus, Handle:Stag Antler, Embellishment:Oxidized 925 Sterling Silver, Scabbard:Wood covered with crocodile skin and fitted with decorated 925 Sterling Silver ends.
Knife: Knifemakers Guild of SA - 30 years of Excellence
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: 3 Blades N690, 3 Liner lock release buttons, African Blackwood Frame work, Hippo tooth inlay.
Knife: F22 Folder
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: Sidelock Folder. BL: 75mm, Blade Material: Rietveld Nebula damascus, Bolster: Black carbon fibre, Handle Material: Mammoth molar.
Knife: Bowie with Coffin Handle
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: OAL:397mm, BL:270mm, Blade:RWL34, Handle:Carbon Fibre, Guard:RWL34, Handle Pins:Nickel Silver, Sheath:Cow leather with ostrich inlay.
Knife:
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: TOL:393mm, BL:270mm, Blade:RWL34, Handle:Hippo Tooth, Guard:RWL34, Handle Pins:316 Stainless Steel, Sheath:Cow Leather with ostrich inlay.
Knife: F21 Folder
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: Sidelock Folder BL: 65mmm, Blade: Rietveld Nebula, Handle: Warthog Tooth, Bolster: Black Carbon Fibre.
Knife: Bowie
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: OAL: 410mm, BL: 279mm, Blade Material: RWL34, Handle: Tambotie.
Knife: Wolhuter Replica
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: OAL: 255mm, BL: 150mm, Blade: N690, Handle: African Blackwood.
Knife: Chef Knife
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: OAL: 317, Blade Material: BjörkmansTwist, Bolster: BjörkmansTwist, Handle: Maple Burl.