South African Knifemaker Willem Steenkamp (b. Nov 1969) is from Bloemfontein, South Africa. He has always had a deep appreciation for working with his hands, especially working with wood and steel, a skill which he learned from his father. This has always kept him busy in the workshop for hours at a time. His passion for knifemaking started after he was commissioned to build a knifemaking machine for a friend. Having built the machine, he soon tried his hands at making a knife for himself and was immediately hooked.
Willem made and sold his first knife in 2006 and in 2008 was accepted as a member of the Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa. He built a workshop with all the machines that a professional knifemaker needs -- building the belt grinders, disc grinders, and many other machines himself!
Willem spends his free time in his workshop making a variety of different knives. He specializes in making folding knives - particularly flipper style knives and slipjoints. He also still makes the occasional fixed blade. All parts of the knives are made by Willem in-house with manual machines. No CNC machines are used.
Willem uses high end steels for his blades such as Bohler M390 and N690, CTS-XHP, forged damascus, and Damasteel. His handles often feature stunning materials such as various African hardwoods, carbon fiber, Micarta, G-10, and other unique synthetic materials. Willem’s fit and finish is exceptional, rivaling that of even some of the most talented knifemakers out there.
Knifemaking has become a family tradition for Willem. He is the brother of Kosie Steenkamp and the father of Sakman Steenkamp.
Willem’s knives are prized -- not only for their craftsmanship -- but also for their exceptional value. He has earned a reputation for combining collector-grade materials with unparalleled artistry, making Willem’s knives a must-have for any serious knife enthusiast. Whether for practical use or as a centerpiece in a collection, Willem’s knives are built to last a lifetime.
