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Coetzee, Rucus

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Rucus Coetzee admiring his hard work at the forge

Rucus Coetzee was born in 1991 in South Africa. Coetzee is a bladesmith, renowned for his exceptional craftsmanship and respect for historical weaponry. His journey into the bladesmithing began in 2010, when he joined the Heavin Forge Bladesmithing School taught by ABS Mastersmiths Kevin and Heather Harvey.

Rucus stumbled upon the Harveys’ forge during a visit to Belfast, South Africa while he was 18 years old. At that time, Coetzee was making traditional longbows and arrows, but the allure of blademaking sparked a new passion for him. He began working a holiday job at Heavin Forge after completing his final year of school.

Afterwards, he was offered a full-time apprenticeship which lasted two and a half years. This unique opportunity marked the beginning of his career as a bladesmith.
“What captivated me about Heavin Forge at that time was the attention to detail and the historical aspect that is so evident in Harvey's work” says Rucus. “I have had an obsession with historical weapons since a young age and that's what got me -- first, into making longbows, and then knives. I had also loved working with my hands and just couldn't see myself in a standard type career.”

During his years at Heavin Forge, Coetzee honed his bladesmithing skills under the watchful eye of the Harveys. In 2011, at 20 years old, Rucus joined the Knifemakers Guild of Southern Africa (making him -- at the age of 20 -- the youngest member, an honor previously held by Kevin Harvey). He made an impressive debut by winning Best Sword and Best New Maker at his first show!

Coetzee's admiration for historical weapons and his passion for hands-on craftsmanship drove him to forge his own path. After leaving Heavin Forge in 2013, he established his own workshop. While he initially juggled knifemaking with teaching workshops, he fully committed and became a full time bladesmith in 2020. Coetzee is currently focused on achieving the American Bladesmith Society Journeyman Smith rating and continues to refine and mature his work.

Today, Coetzee operates his workshop on a farm in the Southern Cape region, near the beautiful Garden Route of South Africa. His work is inspired by a diverse range of historical blades, which he seeks to recreate with an authentic feel, integrating innovative materials and designs. Coetzee has developed a particular fondness for swords, influenced by both Japanese blades and European-style swords and daggers. Additionally, he occasionally applies his skills to crafting Bowie and hunting knives. The influence of Mastersmiths Kevin and Heather Harvey continues in Coetzee’s work, but he also credits other local makers such as De Wet van Zyl (another Heavin Forge protégé) and Stuart Smith for their generous sharing of knowledge, which has significantly impacted his knifemaking. Coetzee aspires to the high standards set by esteemed smith Vince Evans, whose incredible swords continue to inspire him.

Rucus’ pursuit of excellence and innovation ensures that his contributions to the art of bladesmithing will be appreciated for years to come. Simply put, purchasing one of Coetzee’s knives is to purchase a family heirloom to be passed on for generations.

Rucus Coetzee with his long bow

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