Products

Jean Wilke Custom Knives

Jean Wilke Custom knives are high end, one-of-a-kind pieces, made by Jean Wilke, priding himself on sole authorship of every piece and part.

 

With Jean’s endless drive for increasing quality and detail you will never make a mistake by owning one of these fine pieces.

Jean Wilke Custom Knives cannot be ordered or commissioned. Jean allows the artist in him to guide him to make the best creation possible.

These are put up for sale on this site shop or on bladegallery.com

To see and learn more about Jean Wilke and his amazing knives, follow the links below.

 

Fire Goby Forge shop (if available)

 

Links:

• Gallery of previous knives made
• Knifemaker’s Guild of Southern Africa
• Cape Knifemakers Guild

Fire Goby Forge Knives

 

Serious Performance. Smart Value.

 

Fire Goby Forge knives are the most cost-effective knives in the Fire Goby stable, delivering outstanding performance without compromise. These knives are by no means sub-standard—they are made using the same proven steels, heat-treatment standards, and attention to detail associated with Jean Wilke Knives.

The difference lies in the approach: Fire Goby Forge focuses on efficient production and functional finishing, allowing us to offer exceptional knives at a more accessible price point.
 

What Sets Fire Goby Forge Apart

• Performance-driven construction – primarily stock-removal blades for consistency and reliability
• Mono-steel blades – tough, easy to maintain, and ideal for everyday use

• Collaborative craftsmanship – knives may be worked on by Jean, Werner, or trusted subcontractors, ensuring quality while keeping costs down

• Machine-finished blades – clean, precise finishes focused on function rather than decorative hand-polishing

Why Choose Fire Goby Forge

• Outstanding value for money – professional-grade knives at an affordable price
• Proven, repeatable designs – reorder your favourite knife with confidence
• Kal-Gard protective coating – most knives feature a baked-on Kal-Gard coating for superior scratch resistance and corrosion protection

• Kydex sheaths included – durable, lightweight, and secure. The knife “clicks” into place, making it ideal for hard use and everyday carry

Designs

Fire Goby Forge knives are named after fish, reflecting their tough, hardworking nature.
Full details of each model are available via the shop link.

Core designs include:

• Sardine
• Tuna
• Lion
• Shark
• Wrasse

Built for Use. Made to Be Carried.

If you are serious about knives and EDC (Everyday Carry), Fire Goby Forge knives are essential tools—robust, reliable, and designed to be used, not babied. Most users don’t stop at one.

 

Knife Related Courses

 

Fire Goby Forge Training Courses

• 2-day Forged Knife Making
• 1-day Sheath Making (additional to the 2-day Forged Knife Making)
• 2-day Sheath Making
• 2-day Cleaver Making
• 5-day Hidden Tang
   

Jean Wilke is the chief instructor on all courses and is assisted by various makers, depending on the course presented.

 

Each course is aimed at a specific level in a knifemaker’s career. For example, the 2-day Forge Knife Making course is aimed at first-time makers and knife enthusiasts to experience and learn the basics of knife-making. The 5-day invitational course on the other hand is aimed at makers with a certain level of skill and experience, which is why it is invitation-only.

Other Products & Services

 

While Fire Goby Forge and Jean Wilke’s primary focus is, and always will be, knives, knives and more knives, the skills developed through our craft allow us to offer a range of unique products and services beyond blades.

Kydex Sheaths

•    All Fire Goby Forge knives are supplied with custom Kydex sheaths. This expertise allows us to produce a variety of other Kydex products as well.
•    These include knife sheaths, axe sheaths, commercial knife sleeves (such as Leatherman-style), as well as revolver and pistol sheaths.
•    Products are made in our workshop while you wait and in your presence, ensuring the fit meets your exact requirements.

Braaisets

•    Our forging skills extend beyond knives to other hot-forged products. One of our most popular offerings is what we call a “braaiset.”
•    A braaiset consists of three purpose-made tools—a spade, wire brush, and coal scraper—neatly hung on a forged frame.
•    It is designed for indoor braais or fire pits, where moving hot coals is essential but aesthetics still matter.
•    More details are available in the shop.

Knife Rehabilitation and Sharpening

•    All knives eventually become blunt. We can sharpen most knives to hair-shaving sharpness.
o    Note: Certain blades, such as low-quality imported “Paki knives,” are made from steel that simply cannot be sharpened effectively.
•    We can also repair severely damaged blades. However, in some cases the value of the knife does not justify the cost of restoration.
o    Once again—if you bought a “Paki” knife, we sympathise, but we will not work on it 🙂

•    We reserve the right to refuse work on any knife.
Certain knives, particularly historical pieces, should not be “improved” beyond recognition. A World War–era bayonet, for example, carries its scars as part of its history and deserves respect.
o    We will clean and sharpen such pieces, but we will not make them shiny and new.
o    Respect is as much a skill as restoring a knife.

Werner Hattingh Knives

Werner Hattingh is a young maker with an exceptionally promising future. He joined Fire Goby Forge as an assistant in September 2025 and, in a short space of time, has distinguished himself not only as a valuable asset in the workshop, but also as a knifemaker of remarkable talent.

His knives, based on Jean Wilke’s designs, already rival the work of some full-time makers. His own designs are both innovative and highly practical, reflecting a strong understanding of form, function, and craftsmanship.
If Werner continues on his current trajectory, he is expected to be ready for submission to the Knifemakers’ Guild of Southern Africa in late 2026 or early 2027.