1. Who we are
Rutherford Forge is a South African business specialising in handcrafted knives, axes, bladesmithing, forging, blacksmithing, forging courses and related work.
Rutherford Forge is located in Johannesburg North, Randburg, Johannesburg, 2188.
For privacy questions or requests, please contact admin@rutherfordforge.co.za.
2. About this policy
This Privacy Policy explains how Rutherford Forge collects, uses, stores and protects personal information obtained through the Rutherford Forge website, enquiries, bookings, purchases, uploaded content and communications.
This policy should be read together with the Rutherford Forge Terms & Conditions, Course Booking Terms and relevant consent wording.
3. Personal information we may collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect:
- your name and surname;
- email address and cellphone number;
- enquiry subject and message;
- course, booking and attendance information;
- dietary, accessibility or other information you choose to provide for a course;
- order, product, delivery and collection information;
- EFT payment confirmations and transaction references;
- photographs, videos, written comments and Student Story information;
- consent, withdrawal or opt-out records;
- information you provide in an indemnity or consent form; and
- technical information such as IP address, browser type, device information and website activity.
Please do not submit personal information about another person unless you have the right or permission to do so.
4. Information submitted through forms
The Rutherford Forge Contact form may collect your name, email address, cellphone number, subject, message and any file or photograph you choose to upload.
The Student Story form may collect a student’s name, email address, course, attendance date, experience or comment, photograph and consent selection.
Rutherford Forge’s private internal upload tools may collect product details, gallery information, photographs and Student Story information supplied by authorised users.
5. How we use personal information
We may use personal information to:
- respond to enquiries;
- communicate about courses, products, custom work and bookings;
- confirm dates, prices, payments and delivery or collection arrangements;
- prepare and administer course bookings;
- process shop and custom-item orders;
- arrange courier or collection services;
- maintain business and accounting records;
- review and publish approved photographs, videos or Student Stories;
- respond to requests about consent, privacy or personal information;
- protect the website, accounts, forms and business from misuse; and
- comply with legal or regulatory obligations.
We do not sell personal information.
6. Photographs, videos and Student Stories
Photographs, videos, names and Student Stories will only be used for the purposes explained to the person concerned and in accordance with the consent given.
Course participants may be asked to complete an indemnity and consent form. Photography, video and Student Story permission will be a clearly identified section of that form. A participant who does not consent may cross out and initial that section before signing.
For a minor, the parent or legal guardian must provide or refuse consent.
If consent is refused or withdrawn, Rutherford Forge will not knowingly use that person’s identifiable image, name or Student Story for future promotional purposes. Rutherford Forge will consider reasonable requests relating to material that has already been published.
Students may take their own photographs and videos during a visit, provided this is done safely and does not interfere with Hylton, other students or workshop operations.
7. Student Story submissions
Student Stories are voluntary.
By submitting a Student Story, photograph or comment, you confirm that you have the right to submit it and that any required permission has been obtained from identifiable people, including a parent or guardian where a minor appears.
Rutherford Forge will review submissions before publication and may edit them for length, spelling, clarity or layout without changing their intended meaning.
Rutherford Forge may decline to publish or may remove a submission where consent is unclear, the information is unsuitable, or publication may create a privacy or safety concern.
8. Sharing personal information
We may share relevant personal information with trusted service providers where necessary to operate the business, including:
- website hosting and technical service providers;
- email and communication providers;
- payment, banking or accounting service providers;
- courier or delivery providers; and
- professional advisers or authorities where required by law.
Service providers should only receive information reasonably necessary for the service they provide.
We do not sell or rent personal information to third parties.
9. External websites and social-media platforms
The Rutherford Forge website may contain links to external websites and social-media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, Reddit and Telegram.
Once you leave the Rutherford Forge website, the privacy practices of the external platform apply. Rutherford Forge is not responsible for the privacy or security practices of external websites.
Photographs or other content published on social-media platforms may be copied, shared or retained by those platforms or other users outside Rutherford Forge’s control.
10. Cookies and technical information
The website may use essential cookies and similar technical tools to support website operation, security, forms, administration and shopping functions.
Cookies may also help remember preferences or maintain a secure session.
Your browser may allow you to block or delete cookies, but some website functions may not work correctly as a result.
We may receive technical information such as IP address, browser type, device type and basic website activity through hosting, security or website administration services.
11. Security
Rutherford Forge takes reasonable technical and organisational steps to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration or disclosure.
No internet transmission or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Please contact us promptly if you believe that information has been submitted or accessed incorrectly.
Private administration and uploader areas are restricted to authorised users.
12. How long we retain information
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, for business administration, to maintain appropriate consent and transaction records, or to comply with legal, accounting or other obligations.
When information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to delete it, anonymise it or securely dispose of it.
13. Your rights
Subject to applicable law, you may ask Rutherford Forge to:
- confirm whether we hold personal information about you;
- provide access to personal information we hold;
- correct inaccurate or incomplete information;
- delete information that we no longer need or are not required to retain;
- explain how your information is being used;
- withdraw consent where processing is based on consent; or
- stop using your information for a particular optional purpose.
A request should be sent to admin@rutherfordforge.co.za. We may need to verify your identity before responding.
Withdrawing consent does not necessarily affect processing that was already lawful or information that Rutherford Forge is required to retain.
14. Children and minors
Rutherford Forge does not knowingly publish a minor’s identifiable photograph, name, comment or Student Story without consent from a parent or legal guardian.
Where a minor participates in a course or appears in submitted content, the required consent must be provided by a parent or legal guardian.
15. Changes to this policy
Rutherford Forge may update this Privacy Policy when necessary.
The latest version will be published on this page.
Last updated: 31 August 2026