Iconic Fighters

Peter Bauchop of South Africa created the custom knives shown in this photo. Quite a few years ago I bought the smaller dagger he calls the “Witch” (top knife) and I had not come across many other Bauchop knives for sale since then. Luckily I happened on the black handled “Alleycat” for sale on the USN forum. Without a moments hesitation I purchased it. Then, a few months later, another one with a palm wood handle came available on the same forum.

Now it also a part of my collection. Bauchop-made knives are very rugged and well designed. They have always been highly sought after by South African armed forces and mercenaries (known euphemistically as contractors today). Bauchop knives are the African equivalent of a Randall-Made knife with their thick blades and graceful lines. Made from ¼ inch thick stock in a variety of steels, like A-2 and D-2, the blades of the Alleycats have a nice Persian sweep to the tip. The straight bladed Witch has a fully sharpened “false edge,” as do the robust Alleycats. Wth some difficulty I tracked down an email for Mr. Bauchop in South Africa. He is still actively making knives. All of you knife magazine writers and editors its time to get ahold of Mr. Bauchop and do a good article on him. His work is iconic and he will be listed in our new book when it comes out. I am very pleased, and honored, to have three world class Bauchop knives in my collection.