High end bespoke projects: The Copper Coast set
The copper coast set was a wedding gift. The concept was to create a visual of a coastline or river. The ragged live edge of the wood and the contours and lighter colours of the wood in the bulk of the sayas make them look almost like a satellite picture of a coastline. The handles like islands and swirls of ocean currents. The copper used throughout the set goes well with the blue and browns of the handles and sayas. The copper spacer helps line the sayas up and creates a unique feature that I have not seen anywhere else, before or since.
All about the details
Steel
The steel is custom hand forged feather pattern damascus by Mick Maxen, perhaps the UKs leading maker of pattern welded steel. these are wonderful billets, with high contrast, beautiful consistent swept lines, and just a hint of a silver line at the joint between blocks in the material that adds a nice touch. A brassed ricasso and rainbow of temper colours at the shoulder adds a final touch.
Design
Each knife has a different purpose, and thus a different design. I love and respect the traditional Japanese knife forms that most high end knives use, but there is nothing wrong with being origional and adapting blade forms for purpose and doing things a little differently. At The top is a cake knife. long, thick, drop nosed. perfect for poking into the wedding cake and pushing down, not slicing. In the middle a chef’s knife. curved, thin and flexible, broad, with a wicked upturned tip for precise cuts. At the bottom a petty knife, stout, inflexible, with cut out features in the spine for better control and more comfort with a finger on top for fiddly cutting. Traditional principles, but unique design.
Sayas
Patterned steel and brassed ricassos are prone to scratching and rust. Sayas both look good and protect the surface. Often they will have a saya pin to retain the knife, but if you are very careful, you can form a snug fit without one, and hold the knives in place in a soft inner lining that will not damage the blade surface. keeping your knives safe, clean and well presented.
The gift of a lifetime - A bespoke art knife commission
I am looking for people who want to make something truly exceptional, people who have an idea or even just a blank canvas, to me create a bespoke bladesmithing project that is artistically pure, and completely unique. Projects like these, like the copper coast set, do not have to follow the rules of knife design. these are not knives for everyday, these are knives for the day.
For these projects I can work with you to get something totally unique and personal to you. not with just a special handle material, or a monogram, but an entire encompassing concept. A cake knife set for a wedding, a display set for a restaurant opening, a gift for a business partner or significant wedding anniversary. Those big events where something exceptional is needed.
For a big bespoke project you will be invited to my workshop to discuss concepts and examine materials. We can sit down and make sketches and get your idea outlined before you commit anything. During the project you will get updates, photos of your knife being made.
With the right tools and a little imagination, almost anything is possible
