Knifemaker
Nkosilathi (Nkosi) Jubane
Nkosi Knives
Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng
In Nkosilathi’s own words
I developed the love for art at the age of seven, and I believe I inherited the gift from my mother whose hobby was sketching at the age of seven. In 1993 I had the opportunity of watching someone (neighbour artist ) making shona sculpture on black serpentine stone, I tried my hand making drawings on stone.
I am a full time scrimshaw artist who makes his own fixed blade knives. The making of scrimshaw began in whaling ships between 1817 to 1824 on the Pacific Ocean, and survived until the ban on commercial whaling. The practice survives as a hobby and as a trade for commercial artist. A maker of scrimshaw is a scrimshander.
In 2007 I was honoured to become a member of the Knife Maker’s Guild of Southern Africa as an associate member specialising in Scrimshaw. I am proud to be a member of this prestigious guild.
I normally use as my ivory as my canvas. Hippo tooth and Elephant ivory (if and when it can be legally obtained) and any animal bone.
Written for this directory in 2020.
Past work
These pieces show Nkosilathi’s style; most have found owners. Ask what’s on the bench now or commission your own.
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2 photos
Folder – 2
Can be made on order. · Blade N690/ 3.2mm thickness. · Zaldoknox Damascus bolsters. · Titanium G5 liners.
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2 photos
Folder – 1
Can be made on order · Blade N690/ 3.2mm thickness · False edge · Ebony wood bolsters
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2 photos
Small Hunters
Available on order. · These are small hunters measuring about 180mm overall. · I use N690 ss for blade and 316 bolsters. · Giraffe bone handle material.
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2 photos
Drop Point Big Hunter
Drop point big hunter. · 225mm overall length. · N690 blade 316ss bolsters. · Giraffe bone handle material.
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Clip Point Hunter
Clip point hunter. · 180mm overall length. · N690 ss for blade, 316ss for bolsters. · Giraffe bone handle material.
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2 photos
African Big 5
Available on order. · African Big 5 in 6x knives, the sixth knife is scrimshawed the heads of all big 5 animals on both side handles. · Each knife profile is 180mm overall length. · N690 stainless Steel blade.
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Lion Drop Point Hunter
N690 stainless Steel blade /3.2mm blade thickness. · 316 ss bolster · Scrimshawed giraffe bone. · 58-59 Rockwell
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Clip point hunter – 2
N690 stainless Steel blade /3.2mm blade thickness. · 316 ss bolster · Wood handle · 58-59 Rockwell
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Clip point hunter – 1
N690 stainless Steel blade /3.2mm blade thickness. · 316 ss bolster · Giraffe bone handle · 58-59 Rockwell
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3 photos
NJ Doc 8
Blade Steel : N690 stainless Steel · Blade style : Clip point hunter · Handle material : Giraffe bone · Bolster material : 316 stainless Steel
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4 photos
NJ Doc 7
Blade Steel : N690 stainless Steel · Blade style : clip point hunter · Bolster material : 316 stainless Steel · Overal length : 210mm
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3 photos
NJ Doc 6
Blade Steel : N690 stainless Steel · Handle material : Giraffe bone · Bolster material : 316 stainless Steel · Overal length : 225mm
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NJ Doc 5
Blade Steel : N690 stainless Steel · Bolster material : 316 stainless Steel · Overal length : 225mm · H/Treatment : by Bohler 58-59 Rockwell
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NJ Doc 4
Blade Steel : N690 stainless Steel · Bolster material : 316 stainless Steel · Handle material : Giraffe bone · Overal length : 180mm
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NJ Doc 3
Blade Steel : N690 stainless Steel · Bolster material : 316 stainless Steel · Handle material : Giraffe bone · Overal length : 180mm
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NJ Doc 2
Blade Steel : N690 stainless Steel · Overal length : 165mm · H/Treatment : by Bohler 58-59 Rockwell · Sheath : Cow leather
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NJ Doc 1
Blade Steel : N690 stainless Steel · Bolster material : 316 stainless Steel · Overal length : 180mm · H/Treatment : by Bohler 58-59 Rockwell
