Knifemaker
Donald Peake
Peake Custom Blades
Beestekraal, North West
In Donald’s own words
I am a part-time knife maker from Beestekraal situated in the North West Province of South Africa.
Since I can remember I have always had a passion for knives, but it was only when I started my own Professional Hunting Company in the early nineties’ and then later becoming an outfitter that the true value of a good reliable knife with a comfortable handle was emphasized (skinning a giraffe is no joke), and my search for that for that perfect knife started.
As a self-employed engineer, I know that precision and durability work hand in hand. With that in mind, I spend much of my free time in the knife-shop striving and challenging myself with every new design to create working knives of the highest quality.
Loving outdoor and hunting activities, I focus mainly on designing and making fixed blade utility, hunting and kitchen knives. I also make functional EDC equipment for the every day guy. Due to the diversity of South African’s fauna and flora, I favor natural handle materials like Indigenous woods, burls, ivories, horn and giraffe bone.
As passionate as I am about knives it does not displace my love for my LORD and Savior, Yeshua Messiah and of course I drive a Land Rover Defender!
Written for this directory in 2020.
Past work
These pieces show Donald’s style; most have found owners. Ask what’s on the bench now or commission your own.
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4 photos
Bone Knife
Textured 1055 high carbon steel blade with a stabilized kudu cow shin bone handle with a304 stainless steel guard. · It has copper pins and a copper to hold the lanyard and has a sheep dolos (knee bone) for a bead. · Blade length is 185mm the blade wide is 51mm and 3.8mm thick. · Knife overall length is 363mm.
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2 photos
Utility Knife
Sheep foot disc plough shear, blade. With a leather thong. · Blade length is 50 mm with an overall length of 174mm. · The blade width is 25mm and is 6mm thick. · Handmade veg tan leather sheath included.
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2 photos
Kiridashi 4
Wrecker Knife. · Chisel ground disc plough shear, blade. With a leather thong. · Blade length is 50 mm with an overall length of 172mm. · The blade width is 29mm and is 6mm thick.
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2 photos
Kiridashi 3
Disc plough shear blade. · With a leather thong. · Blade length is 40 mm with an overall length of 158mm. · The blade width is 28mm and is 7mm thick.
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4 photos
Camp Knife
Stonewashed L4528 blade with jimping. · Scales are Black Stinkwood from a Voortrekker ox-wagon wheel. · Wood is over 150 years old . · Copper pins and a copper lanyard tube.
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3 photos
Syncerus Hunter 3
Stonewashed N690 blade with jimping on spine just ahead of the bolster. · Zebrano scales, Green micarta liner and Burlap bolster and green, yellow G10 liner under the bolster and full length red G10 liners. · Is fitted with copper pins and a copper lanyard tube. · Blade length is 100mm with an overall length of 200mm the blade is 25mm wide and 2mm thick.
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4 photos
Nelson Knife
Featuring a curved Sandvik 12C24 stainless steel blade, the Nelson Knife enables you to use a rocking action to cut your food. It also has a pronged end that can be used as a fork and is designed for one-handed eating. · It features Camel thorn scales and has stainless steel pins. · The blade is 90mm long and the overall length of the knife is 190mm. · Blade width is 25mm and is 2.5mm thick.
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4 photos
Kiridashi 2
O1 tool steel with brass pins with a Tambotie handle. · Blade length is 30mm with an overall length of 185mm. · The blade width is 15mm and is 4mm thick. · Custom hand stitched veg tanned leather sheath.
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3 photos
Clever 2
Cold gun blued and stonewashed SAE 5160 blade with a flat grind. · African Wild Olive scales with copper pins and a copper lanyard tube. · Leather thong with copper tube bead. · Blade length is 150 mm with an overall length of 280mm.
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3 photos
Syncerus Hunter 2
Hollow ground disc plough shear blade. Blade length is 60mm with an overall length of 158mm. · The blade width is 25mm and is 7mm thick. · Kydex type thermoplastic sheath.
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2 photos
Sheep foot EDC
Hollow ground disc plough shear blade. Blade length is 60mm with an overall length of 158mm. · The blade width is 25mm and is 7mm thick. · Kydex type thermoplastic sheath.
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3 photos
Carving Set
Sandvik 12C24 knife and fork with unique stabilized spalted River Bushwillow scales. Brass pins. · Blade length is 180mm with an overall length of 305mm. · The blade width is 28mm and is 3mm thick. · In a presentation box.
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2 photos
Kiridashi
Disc plough shear blade. · With a leather thong. · Blade length is 40 mm with an overall length of 175mm. · The blade width is 28mm and is 7mm thick.
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2 photos
Chef Knife
N690 brushed finish blade. · Stabilized spalted Rivier Bushwillow scales with brass pins. · Blade length is 215mm with an overall length of 332mm. · The blade width at the heel is 71mm and is 2mm thick.
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3 photos
African Hunter
Matt cold gun blued SAE 5160 blade with distale tapered and tapered tang. · Brown random rag micarta. · Stainless steel pins and stainless steel lanyard tube. · Blade length is 250mm with an overall length of 395mm.
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4 photos
Parang
Recycled O1 tool steel circular saw blade used for the blade. · Russet Bushwillow scales attached with brass pins. · Paracord thong. The blade is 250mm long and has an overall length of 415mm. · Blade width is 60mm and 4mm thick.
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4 photos
The Shank
African Warthog tusk and African hardwood bolster. · N690 blade. · Blade length is 105mm, 210mm overall length, 15mm at its widest part and 2.8mm thick. · Handmade leather sheath.
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4 photos
Large drop point knife
Large drop point knife with a cold blued and stonewashed SAE 5160 blade. ” · Green cotton micarta with red Formica lines. · Stainless steel pins and has a tapped tang. · Blade length is 180 mm and an overall length of 310mm.
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3 photos
Syncerus Hunter
Stonewashed N690 blade with jimping just ahead of the bolster. · Burlap scales on green cotton micarta liner and copper bolster. · Copper pins and lanyard tube. · Leather thong with copper tube bead.
