We use many materials in the quest to make the best handmade knife. 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, also at this stage we drill any lightening holes to ensure the knife is as balanced as possible once completed. This is especially important when using Damascus or San mai as these are usually heavier due to the thickness of the steel from the layers. Damascus Knives are still a firm favorite of mine to create. Handmaking english Damascus knives is important with all these cheap imports made from milk bottle tops that you see advertised on google for a tenner!
Knives can be made from
Damascus Knives
San Mai Knives
Carbon Steel Knives
Stainless steel Knives
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 1250c. 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.
Different steels need different temperatures and different uses require this as well
Stainless steel hunting knives need different temperatures to stainless steel kitchen Knives to get the correct HRC or hardness.
Damascus kitchen knives vary depending on the make up of the steel in the damascus
The next major step is grinding down the steel 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.
Some materials we use in the handles are Resin, Turkish Walnut, Stab Wood, Hybrid Handles, WA Handles, Kirinite, Carbon Fibre and Ebony to name a few.
Final step is to grind off all the excess epoxy and wood around the full metal 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. Although all our woods are stabilised in a process that creates a very solid and pretty much waterproof wood finish, the surface can wear with use and the oil and waxes help maintain this final finish.
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. Our steak knives for restaurants are very popular, and i’m pleased to say numerous high end restaurants and some great local pubs have our steak knives in there cutlery draws.
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 Wiltshire 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!
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!
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Handmade steak knife set
Turkish walnut steak knife set
Chefs Knife, Kitchen Knives, kitchen knife, Ktip knife
