1. About these terms
These Terms & Conditions apply to your use of the Rutherford Forge website and to enquiries, purchases and other transactions made with Rutherford Forge.
By using this website, submitting an enquiry or proceeding with a purchase, you acknowledge that you have read and understood these terms.
These terms should be read together with any specific terms that apply to the relevant service or product, including:
- Course Booking Terms;
- Gift Voucher Terms;
- Returns & Refunds;
- Shipping / Courier Information; and
- Privacy Policy.
2. Rutherford Forge
Rutherford Forge is a South African business specialising in handcrafted knives, axes, bladesmithing, forging, blacksmithing and related work.
Rutherford Forge is located in Johannesburg North, Randburg, Johannesburg, 2188.
All enquiries, orders and bookings are subject to acceptance by Rutherford Forge.
3. Website information
We aim to keep the information on this website accurate and current.
Because many Rutherford Forge items are individually handmade, photographs, colours, measurements, finishes and other details may vary slightly from one item to another.
Rutherford Forge may update, correct or change website information, product availability, course information, prices or images when necessary.
An obvious error in a price, description or availability does not create a binding obligation before the transaction has been confirmed.
4. Enquiries and quotations
Submitting an enquiry does not automatically create a contract or guarantee availability.
A quotation, price or proposed date remains subject to confirmation by Rutherford Forge.
Custom work, commissions and special requests will be discussed and confirmed individually, including the agreed design, price, timing, payment arrangements and collection or delivery arrangements.
5. Products and availability
Rutherford Forge products are handmade and may be unique or available in limited quantities.
An item is not reserved or sold until Rutherford Forge has confirmed the transaction and received the agreed payment or deposit.
Where an item is marked as sold or unavailable, it may no longer be purchased even if it remains visible temporarily while the website is being updated.
Dimensions, materials, finishes and other product details are provided in good faith. Please ask questions before purchasing if you need clarification.
6. Prices and payment
Prices are shown in South African Rand unless otherwise stated.
The payment method and payment instructions applicable to a particular product or service will be shown on the website or confirmed in writing.
Shop purchases currently use EFT payment. An order is processed once payment has been received and matched to the order.
Additional delivery, courier or other agreed charges will be explained before they are charged.
7. Orders, deposits and abandoned or uncollected items
Some Rutherford Forge knives and custom items are made, adapted or reserved specifically for a particular customer. A deposit or part payment may be used to purchase materials, reserve workshop time and begin or complete the work.
If a customer does not pay the outstanding balance, provide information needed to complete the order or respond to Rutherford Forge communications, Rutherford Forge will attempt to contact the customer using the contact details supplied.
If the customer does not respond within 14 calendar days after a final written notice, Rutherford Forge may treat the order as abandoned and cancel the order.
Where an order is treated as abandoned, Rutherford Forge may:
- apply the deposit or part payment towards reasonable costs already incurred, including materials, labour, administration and storage;
- sell or otherwise dispose of the completed or partly completed item, where reasonably possible and lawful, in order to recover those costs; and
- no longer be able to guarantee that the item will remain available if the customer later makes contact.
Any refund, credit or remaining amount will be considered after the costs properly incurred by Rutherford Forge have been taken into account and will be handled in accordance with the agreement and applicable law.
Rutherford Forge will not be required to store an unpaid or abandoned item indefinitely.
8. Handmade products and lawful use
Rutherford Forge takes care to describe its products accurately and to make them to a high standard.
The purchaser is responsible for using, storing and maintaining any product safely and lawfully, and for complying with all laws applicable to possession, purchase, transport and use.
Rutherford Forge does not market its products for unlawful use, violence or harm.
9. International orders, import rules and customs
Knives, axes and other bladed or workshop-related goods may be subject to strict export controls, import restrictions, permit requirements, carrier rules, customs procedures and other laws.
Some materials used in knives, handles, sheaths or related items may be subject to CITES, wildlife-protection laws, plant-protection laws or other restricted-material regulations. Examples may include certain exotic woods, ivory, horn, bone, skins or other animal- or plant-derived materials.
Where reasonably possible, Rutherford Forge will identify known regulated materials and advise whether additional documentation may be needed. This is general guidance only and is not a guarantee that a material or finished item will be approved for export, import or delivery.
The customer remains responsible for checking the CITES and other wildlife, plant, customs and import requirements of the destination country and for obtaining any required permits, certificates or approvals before placing an order.
Rutherford Forge may refuse or cancel an order if the necessary permits, certificates, provenance documents or approvals are unavailable or if shipment would create a legal or customs risk.The customer is responsible for checking, before placing an order, whether the intended item may lawfully be exported from South Africa and imported into, possessed in or delivered to the destination country.
Where reasonably possible, Rutherford Forge will review available information and advise whether a shipment appears possible. Any such guidance is general information only and is not a guarantee that the item will be permitted, cleared or delivered.
The customer remains responsible for obtaining any required permits, licences or approvals and for complying with all laws in the destination country.
The customer is responsible for all import duties, taxes, customs charges, handling fees, storage fees, return charges and other costs imposed by the destination country, customs authority or carrier.
This includes any costs arising from missing, incorrect or refused CITES permits, certificates or supporting documents.
Rutherford Forge will provide accurate descriptions and values on customs and shipping documents. We will not under-declare an item, misdescribe it or mark it as a gift to avoid customs charges or restrictions.
If an item is delayed, refused, seized, confiscated, destroyed, returned to Rutherford Forge or otherwise cannot be delivered because of destination-country restrictions, missing permits, unpaid charges, refusal to accept delivery or any other matter outside Rutherford Forge’s reasonable control, the customer remains responsible for the resulting costs.
In these circumstances, the purchase price, original shipping charges, return shipping, customs charges, duties, taxes and related costs are not automatically refundable. Any refund, credit or alternative arrangement will be considered only after costs properly incurred by Rutherford Forge have been taken into account and subject to applicable law.
Rutherford Forge may refuse or cancel an international order if we reasonably believe that shipment would be unlawful, prohibited, restricted or unacceptable to the carrier.
Nothing in this section limits any consumer right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded, including rights relating to goods that were defective or incorrectly supplied by Rutherford Forge.
10. Courses and gift vouchers
Course bookings are governed by the separate Course Booking Terms.
Gift vouchers are governed by the separate Gift Voucher Terms.
If there is a conflict between these general terms and a specific set of terms for a course or gift voucher, the specific terms will apply to that course or voucher.
11. Returns, refunds and delivery
Returns and refunds for products are dealt with under the separate Returns & Refunds policy.
Delivery, collection and courier arrangements are explained in Shipping / Courier Information.
Course cancellations and course-related refunds are dealt with under the Course Booking Terms.
12. Photographs, videos and submitted content
Photography, video and Student Story permissions are dealt with through the relevant consent wording and the Rutherford Forge Privacy Policy.
If you submit photographs, written comments or other material to Rutherford Forge, you confirm that you have the right to submit that material and that any required permission has been obtained from identifiable people, including a parent or guardian where a minor appears.
Rutherford Forge will only use submitted material for the purposes explained to you and in accordance with any consent given.
13. Intellectual property
The Rutherford Forge name, logo, tagline, wording, product descriptions, photographs, videos, designs, graphics, page layouts, forms, vouchers, certificates, downloadable documents and other original website material belong to Rutherford Forge or are used with permission.
You may not copy, reproduce, adapt, scrape, republish, repost, sell, commercially use or present Rutherford Forge material as your own information or work anywhere else without prior written permission.
This includes using Rutherford Forge material on another website, online shop, marketplace listing, brochure, advertisement, social-media account, promotional material or other commercial platform.
You may share a link to a Rutherford Forge page. You may also quote a short excerpt for genuine commentary or reference, provided Rutherford Forge is clearly credited and the original page is linked.
Material belonging to another person or organisation remains the property of its respective owner.
14. Website use
You must not use this website to:
- break the law;
- interfere with the website or its security;
- submit false, misleading or harmful information;
- attempt to access private administration areas; or
- copy or misuse website content.
Rutherford Forge may restrict access where necessary to protect the website, its users, its content or its business.
15. Privacy
Rutherford Forge collects and handles personal information in accordance with the Privacy Policy.
The Privacy Policy explains how information from enquiries, purchases, bookings, uploaded images, Student Stories and communications is handled.
16. Website availability
We try to keep the website available and functioning, but cannot guarantee uninterrupted access.
The website may occasionally be unavailable for maintenance, updates, technical problems, hosting issues or circumstances outside our control.
16. Limitation of responsibility
Rutherford Forge will take reasonable care in providing its products, services and website information.
Nothing in these terms excludes or limits any right, remedy, warranty or protection that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
17. Changes to these terms
Rutherford Forge may update these Terms & Conditions when necessary.
The version applicable to a transaction is the version available or provided when that transaction is confirmed, unless a later change is required by law or agreed with you.
18. Contact
For questions about these Terms & Conditions, a product, a course, a gift voucher, a return or an enquiry, please contact Rutherford Forge through the Contact Us page.
Last updated: 31 August 2026