Are Andre de Villiers' knives made in South Africa?

[brancron]

This is just a question, not a libelous insinuation, I promise you that! But it strikes me that I've never seen any photos or videos of an ADV knife in progress, no shop pics, no grinding pics, no workshop/factory pics, nothing.

So, does anyone know the answer?

 

[Jdottinger]

I get a real qrtrmstr vibe from his knives. Always been curious myself about the CoO. They may be great knives just not my cup of tea. When it comes to appearance, I’d compare some of his pieces to gas station/BudK knives.

 

[Glenn Goodlett]

The Scavenger is made in China by Rike Knife. The others say South Africa. I have a bunch of ADV knives, they are quality products. However, Hoback's are quality as well. Some of his wild anno paterns look much like the work of Rike Knife. I hope not to have a deja vu moment.

 

[Dadpool]

I've Googled AdV in the past trying to answer that exact question and never come to a satisfactory conclusion. There's definitely some "Hoback energy" to the website.

I would be surprised if AdV's modern locking folders are manufactured in South Africa.

 

[goldie]

I have a Trailboss that i bought on the exchange about 2 years ago, the date on it is 2016; the butcher knives he makes or made were at that time and before that,which is 2010 maybe earlier or later. Back then i dont think the China manufacturing of that kind of quality was there yet,so im imagining the butchers trailboss and similar are made in South Africa but i cant guarantee it,just trying to go by a timeline of when China really started making quality knives.As stated above the scavanger and i think one other is made by Rike but its not hidden like Quarter disaster,its shown on blade hq and knifecenter that they are made in China...

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

I believe he is from SA but don't know where his workshop is.

 

[goldie]

I hope this thread isnt going into the Quartermaster realm unless De Villiers has a car wash in cape town

 

[Jdottinger]

It’s also strange his Facebook lists his current city as being in Florida and has for several years.

 

[Lee D]

This is my only experience with the man and his knives…I’d trust him as far as I could throw him.

 

[JeremiahWeaver09]

maybe adv is another jared west pseudonym/company lol

 

[dericdesmond]

If I was a bettin man….

 

[Steven65]

I have not seen him at any South African show in over 20 years. I don't know anyone who has seen his shop.

 

[goldie]

I hope we are wrong on this one....

 

[shane45-1911]

I hope we are wrong on this one....

Every time I have needed to "hope" something (or someone) works out to a positive outcome in the knife world, it seldom does.

I prefer to support tried-and-true proven good guys. I don't spend my money on "hopes".

 

[rhino]

I don't know whether the knives are made in South Africa, but Andre de Villiers was!

(Hah! I crack me up!)

 

[LimpCroissant]

It's not too inspiring to know that most of us here all seem to have that kind of "funny feeling".

 

[brancron]

Not to pat myself on the back or anything, but despite my being coy in the top post, the answer is pretty obvious to me. After enough years it’s just too easy to spot these sorts of things. Quartermaster, Brous, Hoback, ADV, etc.—the proof is in the pudding.

 

[goldie]

Theres a picture on his FB page of his son in the shop on a big machine,looks like a combo lathe/ belt sander,hitting a fixed blade handle w that sander,so thats a good sign....

 

[Chuck_Nunface]

I asked ADV a few years ago via DM on IG. He told me all except the Ronin (at that time) were made in his shop in SA. Take this with as many grains of salt as you see fit.

 

[FullMetalJackass]

My gut feeling says:
Made in SA as much as Hoback's were made in USA