Bespoke bladesmithing projects
My passion is making unique, creative, artistic knives. I don’t make series knives. I don’t hold stock or have a catalogue. I don’t make standard patterns or have a list of choices of handle for the same set of knives. There are brilliant fellow bladesmiths up and down the country who do that and do it wonderfully, and I’d be happy to point you to some.
But maybe that isn’t what you want, perhaps you are looking for something utterly unique. I never make the same project twice, everything I do is unique to me, and probably to anyone else. Everything is designed from scratch from a basic concept, and with me, you get to define that concept, and it can be wild, lets have some fun together. Within the categories of knives I make I’ll do anything that’s not insane, and some stuff that is. I do four categories of knife. Chefs/kitchen, desk swords, steak knives, and specialist food prep knives. Here are some case studies of my work.
A three part wedding knife set with sayas made from a single block that had solid copper spacers inside it.
Steak knives. I LOVE steak knives. I love making them, I love using them, there are so many cool concepts rattling around in my head for stands, wall hangers, blade shapes, handle designs and materials…
Bespoke steak knife sets is where you can really have some fun with design, get something totally unique, and blow the minds of your guests.
A fish filleting knife that has a handle shaped like a fish, with a bolster of forged layered bronze mouth and baby fish saya pin.
Katana style desk sword with Titanium guard and matching stand
Kitchen knife sets for everyday use. I recommend 2 or 3 piece sets. ‘Everyday use’ sets should have simpler patterned or monosteel, and be built to withstand a lot of use. but that doesnt mean they cant be beautiful.
Materials
I have a workshop full of interesting and high quality materials.
I can also source specific materials, within reason, from anywhere the world. You just need your knife handle made from New Zealand Swamp Kauri? That can be done.
Or maybe you have something you want included in the knife. Perhaps you have a piece of mammoth tusk your grandfather left and you want it used in the handle? No problem.
I get the pattern welded, modern damascus billets that I forge my knives from made in the UK by some of our best bladesmiths. Nothing cheap, mass produced, off the shelf or made abroad. Every piece is hand-made to my specification so it is the highest quality, and patterned just way way I, or you, want it.
A beautiful tool
Its essential to me that my projects are visually and artistically interesting and unique. But its not enough. These are all tools, everything I make has to work, and work for a long time, be repairable and easy enough to live with. I don’t compromise on techniques or manufacturing methods to look pretty. I’ve trained with some of the best bladesmiths in England and studied the art relentlessly. The steel I use is high quality pattern welded or mono-steel billets made specifically as knife steel, heat treated in a top of the line electric furnace for consistency and optimum material properties, and carefully hand finished so that the blades are hard, tough and durable. I use carbon steels and stainless steels depending on preference.
I use a mixture of tried and tested modern and traditional handle and fixture making techniques and make my own sayas to fit each blade if one is required.
I make blades I want people to use. I use mine all the time, here they are, these are not just wall hangers, these are tools made to be used.
Pricing, availability and time
So how do you get your paws on one of these knives? how long will it take, and of course… how much will it cost.
Project book and ordering:
I will take on only a handful of paid projects a year. If you are interested, just go to my contact page and send me an email. we can discuss your needs. I’m happy to have prospective buyers around to my workshop to discuss it further, look at materials and techniques, and sketch concepts and ideas. In fact I prefer that a workshop visit happens, as you always get better discussions in person. From first discussion to completion will entirely depend on the project, but minimum 3 months. Good work isn’t quick, and I don’t rush.
Cost:
My pricing is not fixed but is extremely simple. It is the cost of the materials that are used in the project, plus the time I expect to spend on the project for which I charge £15 an hour. If I over-run, that’s my problem not yours, prices are final. If I have to get specialist outside services, like engraving etc. then that will be extra.
So how much will a project actually cost!!! anything from £300 for a straightforward single chef’s knife without saya to £3000+ for a complex multi piece set with sayas and very fancy steel and expensive materials/precious metals. here is a page with some examples for reference