Imagine yourself walking down the isles of the Blade Show in Atlanta, looking at all the wonderful knives on display. You are having a great time. You work your way back to the back and you come upon a pleasant older gentleman with a peaceful smile.

 

He looks up at you and says, “Hello, how are you this fine day?” 

 

You notice an accent that seems to be almost European with a slight twist of English, Scottish or Australian. What a friendly fellow, you think to yourself. He invites you to take a closer look at his knives and begins to explain to you all about the handle materials, steel and features of each piece.

 

That very friendly fellow you learn is from South Africa, and his name is George Muller. 

 
Knife Specifications: Woolly Mammoth Tooth Scimitar Fighter
Blade Length: 3.5"
Overall Length: 7 7/8"
Blade Type: Scimitar Fighter
Blade Composition: Twisted Ladder Pattern Damascus
Bolster Composition: Twisted Ladder Pattern Damascus
Handle Material: Wooly Mammoth Tooth Ivory
Locking Mechanism: Titanium Linerlock
Opening: Thumbstud
Special Features: Direct from the Blade Show 09 in Atlanta comes this exquisite scimitar fighter folder. When I first laid eyes on this beautiful piece, my first thought was "this is George's best knife to date." This terrific knife has absolute fantastic materials, great workmanship and nice attention to detail. Whether it is the fantastic rustic mammoth tooth, terrific filework on the back of the liners, or the great color and patterns in the damascus, it is truly a beautiful specimen to have and behold.

~ From Custom Knife Gallery of Colorado
 

George always had a strong fascination with knives even from his youngest years living in rural South Africa. That stands to reason since he grew up in the outdoors and was heavily involved in activities such has hunting, camping and fishing.

 

In the early 70s, George’s buddies assigned him the task of making a knife. George used a 3mm saw blade to make this first camping knife. His friends were impressed. He was assigned the responsibility of making all their utility fixed blades for their outdoor excursions.

 

From this first experience, George fell in the habit of making a knife for every trip, using the knife during the trip as necessary. Then George would give the knife as a gift to whichever tracking/assistant was working with them on that particular trip.

 

Upon retiring from his day job, all George could think about was making knives. He took up the art of knifemaking more seriously so he could keep active and fulfill his passion.

 

George was fascinated with folding knives and began to explore how to make them. George dismantled a Kershaw lockback folder to determine how the mechanism functioned. His interest in folders grew even more.

 

Another knifemaker from South Africa, Chris Booysen, introduced him to locking liner folders. Chris provided George with some coaching and assistance. This inspired George to produce locking liners. Chris also advised George to attend a knifemaker course. George promptly signed up for a course offered by knifemaker Andre Thorburn in June of 2000. Subsequently, George also attended other knifemaking courses to further his skill level.

 
Knife Specifications: Woolly Mammoth Trailing Point Folder
Blade Length: 3"
Overall Length: 7"
Blade Type: Drop Point
Blade Composition: Heat Colored Ladder Damascus
Bolster Composition: Heat Colored Ladder Damascus
Handle Material: Blue Wooly Mammoth Ivory
Locking Mechanism: Titanium Linerlock
Opening: Thumbstud
Special Features: This beautiful knife has great detail on the damascus blade and bolsters, fantastic mammoth ivory with a very interesting pattern and filework on the anodized titanium backspacer. It also has nice damascus bolsters, recessed linerlock and smooth action. Fit, finish, action and blade center are very nice as well. It represents a great value for the dollar as all George Muller folders are.

~ From Custom Knife Gallery of Colorado
 

 

As time went on, George realized he loved making locking liner folding knives. He said they challenge him. According to George, making a folder is far more complex than making a fixed blade knife. George makes numerous fixed blade knives for use in the field and for collectors.

 

 

George likes working with natural handle material and top quality stainless and Damascus steel in the creation of his locking liner folders. For blade steel, George uses ATS-34, RWL-34, Bohler N690, Sandvik 12C27, 19C27, Damasteel, mosaic Damascus and other carbon Damascus. George really likes ATS-34 for outdoor use because of its edge-holding characteristics. George also likes RWL-34 because it not only holds a great edge, but takes a fine finish as well.

 

For handle materials, George prefers warthog tusk, giraffe bone, mammoth ivory, mammoth tooth, African hardwoods and various pearls such as mother of pearl, black lip, gold lip and abalone shell. 

 

For bolster materials, George uses titanium, 416 Stainless Steel, Damasteel, and carbon and mosaic Damascus. George also uses meteorite and considers it to be his favorite bolster material.

 

For liners and backspacers, George usually uses titanium, which he anodizes various colors to add artistic beauty to his pieces.

 

George will often add embellishments on many of his folding knives, such as filework on both Damascus and stainless backspacers, filework on the liners of his locking liner folders. Thumbstud inlays appear on his higher priced folders. 

 

For carbon and mosaic Damascus pieces, George will frequently employ cold bluing and heat coloring to bring out additional color in the blade and bolster steel.

 
Knife Specifications: Gents Black Lip Pearl Folder
Blade Length: 2.25"
Overall Length: 5.5"
Blade Type: Drop Point
Blade Composition: Damasteel Damascus
Bolster Composition: Damasteel Damascus
Handle Material: Premium Grade Black Lip Pearl
Locking Mechanism: Titanium Linerlock
Opening: Thumbstud
Special Features: Here is a nice little knife with lots of color, terrific black lip pearl scales, and stainless damasteel damascus blade & bolsters.  The blade spine is also damasteel and the liners are anodized titanium. George has included great materials, smooth action and compact size together in this great little knife and a great price as well.

~ From Custom Knife Gallery of Colorado
 

 

George will further expand his knifemaking to include folding daggers and symmetrical pieces. Also, with his recent acquisition of an industrial pantograph, George plans on including inlays in his fancier knives as well.

 

Although George lives in South Africa, he has attended numerous knife shows in other locations such as Paris, Switzerland, Oregon, Las Vegas, New York and the Blade Show in Atlanta.

 

George plans to attend three shows in the United States moving forward. Look for him at the Blade Show in Atlanta, and the New York Custom Knife Shows in November and February.

 

Though George will entertain special order requests, his knives are available at knife shows, as well as at select dealers throughout the U.S.

 

 

George F. Muller

G.F.M. Custom Knives

109 Roets Street

Rensburg 1441

Heidelberg, Gauteng South Africa

+27 0 16 341-7586