I am Pieter-Paul Derks,

I have been forging knives since I was 14 years old, what started as a hobby in my parents garage quickly spiraled out of control. Bladesmithing turned out to be a varied and challenging craft, forcing me to learn forging, grinding, machining, goldsmithing and leatherworking. Combining all these techniques into a single object is where the real art lies.

My inspiration comes from many sources, I am a huge fan of historical knives and weapons, and the influence of the old masters is felt both in my designs and in the traditional approach I take.

I deliberately choose archaic methods like the coal forge and the hand file to shape my pieces, this allows me full freedom of shape, and gives the work a ‘‘hand made’’ aesthetic that cannot be replicated by machine.

I combine this ancient craft with modern materials and a high-tech approach to heat treat to make knives of uncompromising durability and useability.

In 2024 my dedication to the craft got rewarded by the ‘‘Journeyman’’ Title in the American Bladesmith Society,

To achieve this I had to submit a knife to a rigorous destructive performance test, and make five knives to be judged by a panel of masters.

I passed both tests with flying colours, and while I am generally a humble person, I must say that I’m real proud of that!