We start by carefully drawing out the knife in template form, unless it’s from one of our favourite stock templates. From there we grab the goggles and start the metal work, shaping and profiling the blade and tang. Next step is to mark and drill the pin holes that will hold the handle in place, and drill them, also at this stage we drill any lightening holes to ensure the knife is as balanced as possible one completed.
Then it’s time to heat treat the blade, we use a digitally controlled Knife makers kiln by ‘Evenheat’ which holds the correct temperature for the correct time for the certain steel, each steel has individual requirements up to 1200c. The steel is then removed and plunged into warmed quenching oil to rapidly cool the blade, we then clamp the blade in between marble slabs to further cool and ensure the blade remains true.
The final stage of the heat treat is a series of tempering cycles at 150-250c again depending on the steel for 2x2hr cycles usually.
The next major step is grinding down to final profile, ensuring all is straight and true.
The handle can be made from pretty much any material you like, we love to use bright and colourful materials, but also keep a good stock of traditional woods. After the handle has been copied over, we cut out the material, marry it up to the knife and drill the pin holes then sand and polish to extreme levels. We then use a long cure epoxy to hold all in place and pin the handle scales as well to hold all to the tang, and leave for 48hrs to cure.
Final step is to grind off all the excess epoxy and wood around the tang, and shape the handle, we use 80 grit then 240 grit on the belt grinder, then hand sand 240, 400, 800, 1200 grits, then some require 2000 and 4000 depending on the composites. All are then buffed using a cutting then a final polishing compound to get a lovely gloss finish. All handles are then given a coat of food safe wax to protect and further enhance them.
Looking for a custom order? We often work on custom orders with our clients choosing all aspects of their knife, from shape and style, blade material, handle material, liners and pins.
Meet our lasers, we have 2!
One is CO2 and ideal for wood and other materials, but for the knives we really needed a big boy, an all singing and dancing Fibre Laser. With these 2 combined we can engrave pretty much anything, from slate to steel, from wood to plastic.
We are located in West Sussex and can source and engrave your materials for you, or we can engrave items you send to us. If you want laser engraving or laser marking done in the UK, drop us a message to see what we can do!
Fellow knife makers get a discount on knife marking, and discounts per item done on a quantity basis.
Check out our shop to upgrade your blade, or to enquire about your project! We can do 1 item or 1000, it doesn’t matter, with quick turn arounds, low or no set-up cost and a great network of postage options, we can engrave your item quickly and efficiently!
steak knives, set of 4, carbon fibre and stainless steel
8.5 inch san mai Chefs Kitchen Knife red hybrid
11.5 inch san mai Chefs Kitchen Knife pink
As every knife is unique and made for a different purpose, how do you know which Smoking Knife they'd love most? Yep, gift vouchers. Super easy to get and you can choose the exact amount you want the gift voucher to be.
