Shopping Cart Items: 0   Sub-Total : $0.00
Welcome, Guest ( Login )

Horn, Des

$
to
     
  • 1

Page 1 of 1
New
New
New
New
New
     
  • 1


Des Horn in his knifemaking workshop

Des Horn (b. 1947) is a knifemaker based out of Cape Town South, South Africa. He started knifemaking as a young schoolboy and has been designing and making art knives for over 40 years. Des believes that a custom knife should embody excellence in design, material selection, and construction.

Des is renowned for his high-quality workmanship, use of exotic materials, creative designs and mechanisms. His knives have won awards all around the world. He was included in the book Greatest Living Knifemakers by Steve Shackleford.

His background in dentistry honed his precision and quest for perfection and fine details. His passion for gunsmithing and competitive shooting further refined his eye for detail. As an expert marksman, he proudly represented South Africa in various shooting competitions. Notably, Des co-designed the 9mm Hawk pistol.

Des is dedicated to extracting the best from every material at his disposal. Decades of continuous development allowed him to perfect every aspect of his creations, from precision folder mechanisms to the selection of flawless materials for handles and frames, as well as the finest steels for blades. Each component is machined, finished and meticulously fitted by hand. His hand ground blades are usually made from RWL-34, Damasteel, or Damacore. Each blade undergoes a cryogenic quench in liquid nitrogen after hardening and then a double temper. This results in the blade having a hardness of between 61 and 63 Rockwell with unsurpassed sharpness, optimal edge-holding ability and toughness. Des prefers using stainless materials in a working, folding knife. His handle materials include solid gold, titanium, 4.5 billion year old Gibeon meteorite and sterling silver in combination with mammoth ivory, black and goldlip mother of pearl and hardwoods such as pink ivory, sneezewood, and snakewood.

Des believes a knife is first and foremost a working tool and secondarily a piece of art. Whether practical, collectable, or artistic, a knife should support this principle. His world class knives could easily be the pinnacle of any serious knife collection.

Des’ numerous awards include:

  • 2024 - Prix d’Honneur - SICAC Show, Paris, France
  • 2024 - Best Gentleman’s Folder - Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 2024 - Best Bird & Trout - Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 2023 - Best Gentleman’s Folder - Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 2019 - Best Gentleman’s Folder - Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 2018 - Best Bird & Trout - Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 2016 - Best Art Folder - Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 2015 - Best Gentleman’s Folder - Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 2015 - Best Art Folder - Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 2014 - Best Gentleman’s Tactical Folder - Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 2014 - Best Gentleman’s Folder - Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 2014 – Best Art Knife - USN, Las Vegas, USA
  • 2012 - Best Folding Knife - Helsinki Knife Show, Finland
  • 2011 - Trofeo Mara Bianda, Switzerland
  • 2008 - Messer des Jahres - Solingen, Germany
  • 2008 - Award of excellence - Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 2007 - Knife Award - USA Guild Show, Orlando, USA
  • 2006 - Messer des Jahres, Solingen, Germany
  • 2005 - Award of Excellence - Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 2003 - “Miglior Coltella Colp di Fulmine” - Mostra Internazionale Coltella D’Arte, Rome, Italy
  • 2002 - Espolamo “Premio Miglior Chiudibilw” - Lugano, Switzerland
  • 2001 - Prix Special du Jury - S.I.C.A.C, Paris, France
  • 1999 - Award of Excellence - Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 1998 - Premio “Miglior Pieghevole” - Corporazione Italiana Coltellinai, Milan, Italy
  • 1997 - Award of Excellence - Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 1996 - Best Folding Knife - Pliant, Cannes, France
  • 1996 - Award of Excellence - Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 1994 - Award of Excellence - Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 1992 - Award of Excellence - Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa Show, Johannesburg, South Africa

Affiliations:

  • Knifemakers' Guild of Southern Africa

Des Horn in his knifemaking workshop

PREVIOUSLY SOLD ITEMS
(NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE)
Baby Imvubu Ultra-light Folder with Blue G-10 and Damasteel
click to see more
Baby Imvubu Ultra-light Folder with Marble Carbon Fiber and Damasteel
click to see more
Baby Imvubu Ultra-light Folder with Orange G-10 and Damasteel
click to see more
Baby Imvubu Ultra-light Folder with Yellow G-10 and Damasteel
click to see more
Backlock Folder with Mercury Effect Steel and Pietersite
click to see more
Ball Release Folder with Mother of Pearl and Damascus
click to see more
Ball Release Front Flipper with Carbon Fiber and Titanium - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Ball Release Front Flipper with Silver Strike Carbon Fiber and Engraved Titanium
click to see more
Ball Release Front Flipper with Silver Strike Carbon Fiber and Mercury Effect Zirconium - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Ball Release Front Flipper with Whitelip Mother of Pearl and Engraved Zirconium
click to see more
Ball Release Front Flipper with Whitelip Mother of Pearl and Engraved Zirconium
click to see more
Barrel Front Flipper with Damasteel and Prism Titanium
click to see more
Blacklip Interframe
click to see more
Carbon Fibre
click to see more
Damascus Backlock Folder with Mercury Effect Steel and Pietersite
click to see more
Damascus Ball Release Front Flipper with Hippo Tooth
click to see more
Damascus Ball Release Front Flipper with Hippo Tooth
click to see more
Damascus Ball Release with Sneezewood and Mercury Effect Bolsters
click to see more
Damascus Boot Grind Backlock Folder with Pietersite
click to see more
Damascus Boot Ground Backlock Folder with Gibeon Meteorite and Pietersite Inlays
click to see more
Damascus Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Snakewood
click to see more
Damascus Small Boot Ground Backlock Folder with Lapis Lazuli
click to see more
Damasteel HBP80 Front Flipper
click to see more
Damasteel HBP80 Front Flipper
click to see more
Engraved Backlock Interframe Folder with Blacklip Mother of Pearl and Damascus
click to see more
Engraved Backlock Interframe Folder with Mother of Pearl and Damascus
click to see more
Engraved Damascus Ball Release with Pink Ivory Wood
click to see more
Engraved Damascus Ball Release with Pink Ivory Wood
click to see more
Engraved Damascus Ball Release with Wild Olive Wood Burl
click to see more
Engraved Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Hippo Tooth
click to see more
Engraved Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Mammoth Ivory
click to see more
Executive Point Ultra-Light with Carbon Fiber- Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Falling Star
click to see more
Flipvubu with Carved Handle and Damascus (IKBS)
click to see more
Flipvubu with Damasteel and Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber (IKBS)
click to see more
Flipvubu with Damasteel and Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber (IKBS)
click to see more
Flipvubu with Damasteel and Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber (IKBS)
click to see more
Flipvubu with Damasteel and Twist Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Flipvubu with Damasteel, Mercury Effect Zirconium, and Black and Blue Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber (IKBS)
click to see more
Flipvubu with Damasteel, Mokuti, and Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber (IKBS)
click to see more
Flipvubu with Damasteel, Timascus, and C-Tek (IKBS)
click to see more
Flipvubu with Damasteel, Titanium Damascus, and Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber (Ceramic Bearings)
click to see more
Flipvubu with Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber (IKBS)
click to see more
Flipvubu with Mercury Effect Zirconium and Silver Strike Carbon Fiber (IKBS)
click to see more
Folding Damascus Utility
click to see more
Gibeon Meteorite Boot Ground Backlock Folder
click to see more
Gold and Pearl Button Lock
click to see more
HBP80 Front Flipper with FatCarbon - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
HBP80 Front Flipper with Gibeon Meteorite and Damacore
click to see more
Imvubu Front Flipper with Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Imvubu Front Flipper with Chatoyant FatCarbon - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Imvubu Front Flipper with Marble Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Imvubu Front Flipper with Marble Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Imvubu Front Flipper with Nitrobe 77 and Silver Strike Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Imvubu Front Flipper with Silver Strike Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Imvubu with Carbon Fiber and RWL 34
click to see more
Imvubu with Carbon Fiber and RWL 34
click to see more
Imvubu with Carbon Fiber and RWL 34
click to see more
Imvubu with Damasteel and Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Imvubu with Damasteel and Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Imvubu with Nitrobe 77 and Silver Strike Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Imvubu with Nitrobe 77 and Twist Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Imvubu with Twist G-10 and RWL-34
click to see more
Lapis Lazuli Boot Ground Backlock Folder
click to see more
Large Ball Release Folder with Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Large Ball Release Folder with Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber and Damascus
click to see more
Large Ball Release Folder with Mammoth Dentine
click to see more
Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Damasteel and Blue/Silver Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Damasteel and Blue/Silver Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Damasteel and Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Damasteel and Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Damasteel and Hippo Tooth
click to see more
Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Damasteel and Hippo Tooth
click to see more
Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Damasteel and Hippo Tooth
click to see more
Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Damasteel and Hippo Tooth
click to see more
Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Damasteel and Mammoth Ivory
click to see more
Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Damasteel, Hippo Tooth and Mercury Effect Zirconium
click to see more
Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Damasteel, Pink Ivoy and Mercury Effect Zirconium
click to see more
Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Mammoth Ivory and Damascus
click to see more
Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Mammoth Ivory and Damascus
click to see more
Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Snakewood and Engraved Zirconium
click to see more
Large Ball Release Front Flipper with Snakewood, Damascus, and Engraved Zirconium
click to see more
Large Engraved Ball Release Folder with Mammoth Ivory
click to see more
Mammoth and Mokume
click to see more
Mammoth Ivory Gentleman
click to see more
Meteorite and Mammoth
click to see more
Meteorite and Mammoth
click to see more
Meteorite Ball-Release Folder
click to see more
Meteorite Ball-Release with Hippo Tooth
click to see more
Meteorite Ball-Release with Mother of Pearl
click to see more
Model #450 Alphen Arrow Folder
click to see more
Model #450 Blue Thunder Folder
click to see more
Model 16 Front Flipper with Damasteel and Gold
click to see more
Model 16 Front Flipper with Zirconium - Damacore
click to see more
Model 450 Front Flipper with Damasteel and Gold
click to see more
Model 450 Front Flipper with Damasteel and Gold
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Blue/Silver Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Blue/Silver Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Blue/Silver Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Bronze/Silver Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Bronze/Silver Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Bronze/Silver Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Damascus Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Electric Blue Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Electric Blue Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Electric Blue Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Marble Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Marble Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Marble Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light Front Flipper with Nitrobe 77 and Marbled Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Blue/Black Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Damasteel and Blue/Silver Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Damasteel and Blue/Silver Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Damasteel and Blue/Silver Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Damasteel and Uni-Directional Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Marble Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Nitrobe 77 and Blue/Black Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Nitrobe 77 and Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Nitrobe 77 and Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Nitrobe 77 and Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Nitrobe 77 and G10
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Nitrobe 77 and Marbled Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Nitrobe 77 and Marbled Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Nitrobe 77 and Marbled Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Nitrobe 77 and Marbled Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Nitrobe 77 and Marbled Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Nitrobe 77 and Marbled Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Model 450 Ultra-Light with Polished Marble Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Model 450 with Blue Pietersite and Damasteel
click to see more
Model 450 with Pietersite and Damasteel
click to see more
Model 450 with Pietersite and Damasteel
click to see more
Model 450 with Whitelip Mother of Pearl and Damascus
click to see more
Orion's Belt
click to see more
Planetary Folder
click to see more
Shinkansen Bullet Front Flipper with Blue/Silver Carbon Fiber, Timascus, and Damascus
click to see more
Shinkansen Bullet Front Flipper with Blue/Silver Carbon Fiber, Zirconium, and Damascus
click to see more
Shinkansen Bullet Front Flipper with Carbon Fiber and Damasteel
click to see more
Shinkansen Bullet Front Flipper with Damasteel and Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Shinkansen Bullet Front Flipper with Damasteel and Silver Strike Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Shinkansen Bullet Front Flipper with Snakewood and Damascus
click to see more
Slimflip Front Flipper with C-Tek and Damasteel
click to see more
SlimFlip Front Flipper with Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber and Damasteel - Nitrobe-77
click to see more
SlimFlip with Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe-77
click to see more
SlimFlip with Carbon Fiber and Titanium Damascus - Nitrobe-77
click to see more
SlimFlip with Nitrobe-77 and Marbled Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Slimvubu with Black/Blue Chatoyant Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Slimvubu with Black/Blue Chatoyant Carbon Fiber - RWL-34
click to see more
Slimvubu with Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Slimvubu with Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Slimvubu with Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Slimvubu with Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Slimvubu with Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Slimvubu with Carbon Fiber - RWL-34
click to see more
Slimvubu with Damascus and Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Slimvubu with Damascus and Marbled Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Slimvubu with Damascus Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Slimvubu with Damascus Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Slimvubu with Damasteel and Twist Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Slimvubu with Damasteel and Twist Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Slimvubu with Fluted Stainless Steel - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Slimvubu with Nitrobe 77 and Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Slimvubu with Nitrobe 77 and Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Slimvubu with Nitrobe 77 and Twist Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Slimvubu with Nitrobe 77 and Twist Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Slimvubu with Nitrobe 77 and Twist G10
click to see more
Slimvubu with RWL34 and Twist Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Slimvubu with Twist Carbon Fiber - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Slimvubu with Twist G10 - Nitrobe 77
click to see more
Small Ball Release Folder with Blacklip Mother of Pearl and Damacore San Mai
click to see more
Small Ball Release Folder with Damascus - Damacore San Mai
click to see more
Small Ball Release Folder with Mammoth Ivory and Damacore San Mai
click to see more
Small Ball Release Front Flipper with Damasteel and Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Small Ball Release Front Flipper with Damasteel and Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Small Ball Release Front Flipper with Damasteel and Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Small Ball Release Front Flipper with Damasteel and Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Small Ball Release Front Flipper with Damasteel and Silver Strike Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Small Ball Release Front Flipper with Mammoth Ivory and Engraved Zirconium
click to see more
Small Ball Release Front Flipper with Raffir and Damascus
click to see more
Small Ball Release with Mammoth Ivory and Meteorite
click to see more
Small Imvubu Ultra-Light with Damascus
click to see more
Thiers 10
click to see more
Thiers 10 Front Flipper with Damascus and Gabon Ebony
click to see more
Thiers 10 Front Flipper with Damasteel and Snakewood
click to see more
Thiers 10 Front Flipper with Damasteel, Carbon Fiber, and Mercury Effect Zirconium
click to see more
Thiers 10 Front Flipper with Damasteel, Mammoth, and Meteorite
click to see more
Thiers 8 Front Flipper with Damasteel and Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Thiers 8 Front Flipper with Damasteel, Mammoth, and Meteorite
click to see more
Thiers 9 Front Flipper with Damasteel and Blue Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber
click to see more
Thiers Knife
click to see more
Thiers Model 10 Linerlock with Damasteel and Lighting Strike Carbon Fiber - Extra Mammoth Ivory Scales Included!
click to see more
Titanium and Damascus Gent
click to see more
Zebrawood Ball-Release
click to see more

Featured Products