Profile

First Name:
John
Surname:
WILMOT
In Memoriam:
I have been interested in knives ever since I can remember, and as a youngster I used to make crude knives using my father's tools, incurring his wrath at the same time. After completing my schooling, I worked for the Department of Agriculture and trained as a civil engineer.

In the early nineties, my wife brought a book home from the library on how to make knives, which sparked my interest in knife-making once again. At first I made fixed-blade hunting knives which I gave away to friends.

In 1995, I took early retirement and relocated to the Eastern Cape coast with the aim of concentrating on my knife-making hobby. The following year I joined the Knifemakers' Guild and started making folding knives soon afterwards.

I continue to specialise in folding knives, using high quality materials such as Damascus steel and mammoth ivory. I am a part-time knifemaker, also involved in consulting engineering work. Although knifemaking is a hobby, I see myself as a perfectionist and strive for improvement with each knife. My knives are both collector's items and intended to be used.

Knife: Linerlock folding knife
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: Blade: Damasteel stainless Damascus. Handle: Mammoth ivory. Bolsters: 303 stainless steel. Celtic strapping and gold inlay by Armin Winkler.
Knife: Linerlock folding knife
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: Blade: Damasteel stainless Damascus. Handle: Elephant ivory. Bolsters: 303 stainless steel. Engraving and gold inlay by Armin Winkler.
Knife: Linerlock folding knife
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: Blade: Damasteel stainless Damascus. Handle: Wild Olive burl. Bolsters: Hot-blued Damascus by Ettore Gianferrari.
Knife: Linerlock folding dagger
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: Blade: Damascus by Bertie Rietveld. Bolsters: Pin-striped Damascus by Bertie Rietveld. Handle: Elephant ivory.
Knife: Linerlock folding knife
Category: General Knives
Status: Display Only
Notes: Blade: Damasteel stainless Damascus. Handle: Anodised titanium. Art Deco engraving by Armin Winkler.