News from the Forge

Hi Folks

I just noticed how long it has been since I last wrote a blog and thought it was about time I put pen to paper, ( well finger to keyboard).

I am lucky enough to have been busy with all sorts of knife and knifemaking projects over the last 18 months or so since my last blog.

My (makeshift) workshop, a largish but very old garden shed was partly blown down in a nasty storm this February so some hasty rebuilding was required before all tools and machinery got damaged by the elements. As always when you start a job it always throws up more jobs required 🙄

I will soon be building a much more suitable workshop sometime in 2025

Last winter I was in discussion with a local butcher. He runs a superb shop in Lavenham, Suffolk, and as it turns out, does plenty of hunting to be able to offer his customers some excellent wild meat products.

So of course we started talking knives. The results of this discussion are a couple of new designs that will be on my website as soon as I’ve decided what sort of sheath to make for them. So let me know in the comments the way you carry your knife when out on a hunt.

I have changed my traditional coke forge for a gas forge as this suits the way I work much better. It’s still not quite right as the burners are naturally aspirated meaning they are noisy and use loads of gas. After Yule I’ll start work building a forced air gas forge that addresses these issues very well; no suppliers here in the UK so it will have to be all self made. I’ll let you know how I get on.

Enough of my ramblings. Hopefully I won’t leave it for another year before I write again!

Have a fabulous Yule 🌲

Summer Pudding

The early year shows are well behind us and already Lithia, (summer solstice), has been and gone.

Back in the workshop I have been making new stock and completing commissions taken at the early shows.

The folding knife above was commissioned to celebrate a graduation and has the details engraved on the obverse of the blade.

Black & Yellow - New colour combinations added to my range

Coming Soon

I'm off to light the forge now and to develop my new range of hook knives and carving knives so watch this space!

So don't forget to check out my EVENTS page to find out where you can have a look at my work and meet me should you want to chat about a special project.

If you can't make the shows then just drop me a line.

Seasons Blessings

Let Yuletide Begin

The last show is over and the final orders are on the bench. Nearly time to put my feet up and eat, drink and be merry. We have a had a busy year so stock levels are low, however look out for some new designs in the New Year. For now, we would like to say a big thank you to all our customers and social media followers and to wish you all a merry Yule from us at Green Man Knives

Folding Knives in Stock

Classic Spring Folders

I have made several folding knives in the past and they are never in my stock for long. Consequently I never have them for sale at the shows and fairs that we attend and we are always asked for them.

These have blades made from RWL34 a super-hard wearing knife steel that is also stainless.

I have put flat ground cutting edges on these knives (Scandi Grind) for ease of sharpening and great performance when wood carving.

Knot My Usual Work (Sorry, I'll get my coat)

This is the second marlin spike I have made and the first one was a bit of a surprise commission for a bladesmith. 

But this one isn't for a sailor but a wilderness adventurer; a bushcrafter! 

This one I forged from 410 stainless steel and it has a shackle key, too; all hardened to cope with the stresses and strains of its working life.  

A moulded, hand made leather sheath to keep it in completes the package.

All finished with the usual Green Man Knives finesse.  

Ready Steady Cook

Two knives went out today to begin their new lives in two busy commercial kitchens

This one is a santoku from my Seiyo range. Knives in this range have a full tang blade but Japanese style blade. 'Seiyo' means East-West fusion. 

This particular knife is made in a stainless blade steel that takes a superb edge but is tough enough to take the punishment of a commercial western kitchen. The handle is of yew and there is a matching saya (wooden sheath). The knife handle is fully stabilised and fixed with my unique 'hallmark' mosaic pins. The African Blackwood peg keeps the knife secure in the saya.

240mm gyuto from my Seiyo range in the same stainless knife steel with a Pink Ivory handle.

Be not outraged, dear reader, no paciderms were harmed in the making of this knife; Pink Ivory is a very hard wood from South Africa that used to be reserved for use by Zulu royalty alone, such are its exquisite properties of strength and beauty. 

A Commission Just Completed

8" blade 3/16" thick with full tang and made of RWL-34. Mammoth tooth and buffalo horn handle with stainless steel fingerguard and pommel. 

Detailing includes my own unique mosaic pins that fix the handle and textured surfaces to complement the high polish. 

Of course the sheath must equal the knife. Full grain, vegetable tanned 8oz tooling leather hand dyed and hand saddle-stitched with a press-stud keeper.

If you have a dream project then I can help bring it to fruition. Please contact me and we can get the ball rolling.

Lighting the Forge at Green Man Knives

A peaceful time of mental preparation

How a winter's day often starts at Green Man Knives.
It's a great time to collect your thoughts and mentally prepare for forging blades.
Just staring into the flames is calming but the sulphurous smell of the fuel is also special to me

On the Bench Today

I have been ploughing through the order book today to catch up on the commissions I have stacking up. 

From a little 2" carving knife through sets of chef's knives to another of my big 'Marines Hunter'. 

All these knives are in RWL-34, a steel which I've been using for quite a few years now. Made in Sweden, it is stainless, takes a superb cutting edge and is extremely hard and wear resistant without being too brittle. 

"What's the down side" you maybe thinking. Well for me it is quite a fight to get a fine finish on. Many heroic polishing belts met their doom today to get these blades ready for the polishing mop. 

For my customers, however, there is no downside. It's just about as perfect a knife steel as one could get! 

'The Bushcraft Journal' Articles

Some time ago I was asked by it's editor, Danny Reid, to write some articles for The Bushcraft Journal - an online, bi-monthly magazine that is just about to celebrate issue 12 and two years of publishing.

Having written several articles on making a full tang bushcraft knife, my next article is going to be making a leather sheath in which to carry it.

As I have lots of sheathes to make this coming week I have dragged the camera into the workshop to take photos for the article.

The next issue of The Bushcraft Journal is out on February 1; that's Imbolc or Brigid to my pagan friends 😊

A Chilly Workshop

I hope all my readers had a great festive season as indeed did I; perhaps too much food and wine but there can never be enough 'gathering of the clan'!

8" Hunter in RWL-34 and Walnut

Back into the workshop this morning and crumbs it's cold, even with background heatig on. 

I have been impatient to get back to this project. I glued it up before the break and today is the exciting bit of cleaning it up and shaping the handle. Finished shots soon 😊