From pastime to profession
- Dalibor is a self-taught knife and axe maker
- He mostly uses Damascus steel to make blades
- His wife is a leatherworker and she makes all the sheaths
Around 2013, Dalibor Trkulja started making knives as a hobby. Today, with the help of his wife, he runs a successful bladesmithing business and sells his products in Serbia and abroad. Dalibor is from Inđija, a town in northern Serbia. He makes unique handmade blades in the traditional way, by forging in a forge fire. His blades are generally made of Damascus steel, a material produced by joining two types of steel by forging, which creates beautiful patterns. Besides knives, Dalibor also makes custom axes, belt buckles, and bottle openers. His wife makes knife sheaths out of leather. So far, he has not had any apprentices, but due to the numerous enquiries he receives, he is thinking of hiring someone eager to learn about his craft.
Interview
- How would you define what you do?
- Everything I create I do according to the wishes of my customers. I do not have standard models of any of my products. Each piece is unique. What I really like about this job is that I can make my client happy by making him or her a one-of-a-kind piece.
- Can you share with us a memorable moment in your professional life?
- Famous and important people from TV, actors, and athletes whom I admired as a child started visiting my studio and appreciating my work. Lots of big and important names from my country. I am very proud of that and it is something I will never forget.
- In what way are your customers involved in the design of your knives?
- Each of my works is made according to the idea of the customer, from the materials used to its colour. Making my works in that way allows customers to be involved in every detail of the making process.
- Is there something about your work that people do not normally know?
- People usually do not know how much work goes into making a good knife or axe. That is why I created a YouTube channel where I post videos to show all the steps of the process behind each knife.
Dalibor Trkulja is a master artisan: he began his career in 2014 and he started teaching in 2015
Where
Dalibor Trkulja
