This site, like SABA is dedicated to the art of the forged blade. Amongst today’s modern knife makers there are few who have embraced the oldest form of knife making.

Forged blades are defined as a knife or cutting tool formed by the heating and shaping of high carbon steel by a hammer on an anvil. A bladesmith has the ability to form a knife blade near to completion without having used the grinder even once. Once a blade has been formed the process that follows is much like that of conventional knife making.

Another advantage of the modern bladesmith is that they do all their own heat treating. A bladesmith’s heat treating methods differ from makers in the fact that their blades are what are referred to as, ‘selectively hardened’. This process involves the partial quenching of a knife giving hardness to its edge while retaining flexible strength in the spine. Blades are also selectively tempered where the smith draws a blowtorch flame along the back of the blade further increasing its flexibility and reducing potential stress.

What follows in the various sections of this site will be several ‘how to’ sections which will help aspiring bladesmiths to develop and refine their skills. Also we will be posting profiles on some of the bladesmiths in South Africa, with interviews and workshop tours. You may also visit our gallery or shop sections to see if there are any new knives or supplies for sale.

Should you wish to become a member of SABA you need only attend one of our meetings during the year at which your details will be added to our data base. We are also affiliated with the Sharp Shapes Knife club at whose meetings we perform bladesmithing demonstrations. Please see our events calendar to see where and when we will be holding meetings and when we will be performing demonstrations.

Founding Members

Here is a group photo of the founding members of SABA:

From the left is Tom Nelson, Kevin Harvey, Heather Harvey and Bertie Rietveld.