You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs

June 2025

Or, things will look worse before they look better.

Green Man Knives is now in limbo. Somehow, we moved all the existing equipment and tools out of the old workshop and surroundings. Workbenches, lathe, belt-grinder, pillar drill, forge, anvil… plus all the stuff on shelves, in drawers and in boxes. All now sits under tarps and awnings elsewhere in the garden. Mounds are piled head-high in the garden room, and we brace ourselves to live in chaos until the works are complete.

A small sample of workshop contents

Next, the demolition of the old workshop, levelling of the site, and creation of concrete bases. Not only is the space an extremely awkward shape, but our garden also has no vehicle access. We are very lucky to look out onto a field at the back, but we’re mid-terrace, down a country track, and the only access is via narrow footpaths round the neighbouring houses, or through the house itself.

After much negotiation, the landowner agreed for field access via his farm… but only for a limited time, as the field was earmarked for new usage. Permission granted, Tim cut down trees and removed the fence on the boundary. But then we had to find a groundworks company whose contractors were happy to bring their vehicles and equipment through a farm and over a field.

But now the old building has gone, flattened like so much matchwood. The strangely sunken area where it stood was filled with hardcore. The guys uprooted old hedge stumps, scraped off a large weed-covered gravel area, and built up a drain inspection hole to the right level. Then they took several days to create the weirdly shaped reinforced concrete base.

Farewell, old shed

Main workshop bases done

So the workshop will be up and running soon, right? Well, no. Tim has been frustrated by some companies who can’t make anything that doesn’t fit within their rigid interpretation of ‘a workshop’. They can’t produce one without a wooden floor… they can’t read a carefully drawn building plan… they don’t know what a ‘stable door’ is, and when he tells them, they can’t provide one. The upshot is that it was quite a while before a suitable company was found, and of course, there’s a waiting list. So it’ll be October before we get delivery of the buildings themselves, and in the meantime, Tim can’t make knives. What on earth will he find to do? 😉

We have a cunning plan...

May 2025

The time has finally come to get serious about new workshop space. Yes, it’s been on the cards since last year, but one or two things have happened since then… like getting married in May! We picked the wettest day for months, but that didn’t stop us smiling. 😊

It’s Mrs Tim here (Catherine), helping out with some blog-writing while Tim scratches his head over workshop plans. The current Green Man Knives headquarters is a shed that’s too small, too leaky, and gradually ‘returning to nature’ as it seems to sink further each week. He needs bigger and better. The idea is to have TWO new workshops - one for the actual knifemaking (and other things) and a smaller, cleaner space for leatherwork, photography and packaging - plus an outside covered work space. The old shed has served well and faithfully to the best of its abilities, but it’s time to go.

We have the most awkward garden shape in the known universe, so planning has not been straightforward (NOTHING is straight – that’s the problem!). Then there are drains, trees and several different ground levels. Anyway, here’s the final plan, and we’re pretty excited about it. Now all that needs doing before the ground clearance is to move several tons of equipment and store it somewhere else in the house and garden…

Tim’s Plan

Something for the Hunter

I have been working for a little while now on the design and manufacture of these knives for deer and larger game hunters.

Named Tuxl, (old English for tooth or tusk), these knives have come about from consultations I have had with both professional hunters, butchers and hunting enthusiasts. As in most cases when one talks to different individuals it becomes clear that options are required rather than a single design so I have produced these three.

Hand made, (as always), from stainless blade steels with hardwood handles, they come complete with a full grain, hand stitched leather sheath for when they are not being used which can be hung from a belt loop or on a lanyard around the neck.

You can see more about them here.

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 😊