Bandit – the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition is “n. an outlaw who lives by plunder.”

We’re not sure exactly how this definition applies to George Roberts, or how he adopted the moniker – but anyone familiar with his work understands how George plunders the natural beauty of steel and antler, molding and merging the best of the materials to create unique pieces. While George may steal from the individual pieces, he blends what he takes, before giving the natural beauty back in some of the finest blades.

George has been fashioning knives for over 30 years – in the early days combining that with his ‘day job’ supporting his family, and working every spare moment he could find. With a customer base of hunters and fishermen, George branched out into other areas, including kitchen cutlery and specialty knives. In 1994 George was one of the founding members of the Canadian Knife Guild. That same year, with an inventory of knives, George decided it was time to wander, and in his words “loaded up my wagon and headed west”. Haven’t we all wanted to do that?

Selling knives as he went, George worked his way from Vancouver, edging ever further north, eventually finding himself in Whitehorse, Yukon, where he settled and lives to this day.

George finds that the natural beauty of the area seems to generate an excitement that influences his work, and the creative atmosphere of the native peoples acts as his inspiration. The “uniqueness of the design, the way lines flow and joints meet, perfections of all the pieces being one and the great feel of the balance in the hand” keeps George always looking to create even finer prices.

A founding member of the Yukon Artist at Work Gallery, 10-year veteran of the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik, NWT, George’s work has been featured in Blade, Knives Illustrated, and is featured in the new Art of The Knife volume.

Widely travelled across Canada, and internationally, the “Bandit” has the following advice to new and experienced makers alike: “take a few minutes to look at your finished work, and then take a half hour to make it the best you can”. Wise words indeed from a master.

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