Abel van Heerden was born January 1968 in the North West Province town of Reivilo. 

He started schooling in Reivilo and finished at the Technical High School Kimberley before joining the South African Police in 1987. 

He left the police in 2018 and is currently a farmer and part time knife maker. 

After leaving the police a friend Pieter du Preez introduced him to knife making. 

He attends the fixed blade and folder course with Gawie and Tinus Herbst, who are members of the Knife makers Guild of Southern Africa. 

And in 2020 he attends the liner lock folder course with Andre Erasmus. 

Thanks to their guidance, his knife making has improved by light years.

 He is currently staying in Meyerton in the Vaal triangle. He has a small workshop where he makes his custom knives part time. 

He uses N690, K110, 12C28 and Damascus steel for most of his blades. 

For the handles he uses various types of materials with his favourite wood Vaalbos from the Kalahari. 

He is currently an active member of the Vaal Triangle Knife Makers Club.