Johan Ellis

How I started

At age 14 I visited the Kalahari Gembsbok Park with my father. At the entrance gates you receive a complementary copy of the official SA Parksboard magazine "Custos"
That specific issue featured legendary Ted Whitfield, park ranger, who made some stunning knives. His knives were made from tool steel and he had them chromed.
I was hooked and a journey sparked by this fanatical desire to become as good as Ted without internet but just a telephone and letters to suppliers, posted, no money and knowledge,started.

What I make

I make slipjoints and lately I have IMHO perfected the double dedent folder design which is my absolute new love in knives.

How I work

I lazer my Ti liners, I am too old to waste my time trying to pretend that I can cut Gr5 Ti better than a lazer, I bandsaw most blades, temper and grind and surface grind manually. Inlays I create with my small CNC and the rest is handmade.

Ordering

As I am still participating in my Professional Accounting practice I am limited to weekends to make knives. If I work super fast I produce about 3 - 4 knives a month. What I make I post on social media and sell it there. I keep list of interested buyers but negotiations about materials usually take too much time, like days, to come to agreement that I mostly make what I like and if there is another like minded person that wants it, we do business.