Welcome, Guest
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:
Affiliations:
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 |
Permali |
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 |
Spheres |
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 |
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 |