Hi....as anyone who's spoken to me on the circuit about knives knows.....I'm always going to recommend only three people....if you want hand-forged, see Sir Dave Budd.....for shineys see Sir Mark/Hillbill and/or Emberleaf Workshops....(actually, Tim, Greenman knives....lovely!)
Firstly because I like them as people and became friends with them....got to know their senses of humour, ethos, opinions, pedigree etc.
That's not enough though....just because I like someone does not mean I'm going to tell my customers to buy from them...even if my Dad was a knifemaker I wouldnt put people on to him if he was carp.
I like all of these dudes for many reasons....they have a massively deep education and knowlege of their products and unquestionable background....they treat and cut their own blades.....all of them do THE LOT! they are all innovative and capable of thinking outside of the box....etc etc....their knives are beautiful and practical! They all also do some pretty good leatherwork.
Both Dave and Mark need no introduction on here and I've been privileged to do work with them both before so I wanted to introduce you guys to Emberleaf Workshops...Dean (don't call him Dean....it's Boydie.....and Joel). Many of you won't know who they are unless youve met them at a show. They are very involved with the hunting/game fraternity and dont tend to be involved on the forums.
So....a few weeks ago Boydie contacted me. A customer of theirs had ordered several knives/sheaths but had seen my belts online and wanted that from me. The sheaths had already been made and as Emberleaf use Eco-Flow products and I use Fiebings we were going to have a problem colour-matching. So the un-dyed sheaths were posted to me along with necessary buckle and away we went.
Now this is the first time I've ever stepped in half-way and finished off someone elses leatherwork and not wanting to mess this up for them....well you can imagine how much I've been flapping....especially with my bushcraft show prep near on killing me anyway.
I was concerned for many reasons....once leathers been wetformed it will take dye differently. Also....the leather they used was not the same hide as I had here which again can lead to differences.....etc etc.
Anyway....it's all done....phew! And I'm about as happy as I could be....and I hope Emberleaf, and more importantly their customer, are too. Pictures were taken about ten minutes ago so I've not heard back yet.....
hope y'all like!
regards
Sonni
PS.....aint that a clever little double-sheath Mr Boydie has made there.....
1....dyed....i was told a 'mid-brown'....so I started off real light and worked my way up....as mentioned above, because there couldve been issues I did the sheaths first (unfamiliar territory), knowing that I could then do my belt (familiar territory) to match....I noticed the smaller sheath was actually slightly off and Boydie said that due to the nature of the knife-shape that this sheath had required a lot more 'forming/abuse' hence why its surface maybe took the dye slightly differently. It also had a small blemish/defect in the bottom part on the front which refused to take dye.....if you see the last picture its now gone/dark instead....I managed to 'force it'....little tricks always help lolol! Another thing....I always dye and polish my sheaths before assembly, when the template is still flat....its sooooooooooooooo much easier....I have now idea why sheathmakers dye at the end, its a right messy, fiddly, pain in the nostril!
2...polished...looking snazz and now darkened to what I hope is a mid-brown....
3...my belt, done....
4....the lot together....not bad....theyll now all be posted back and Boydie will be finishing off the edges.....jobs a good'un!
Firstly because I like them as people and became friends with them....got to know their senses of humour, ethos, opinions, pedigree etc.
That's not enough though....just because I like someone does not mean I'm going to tell my customers to buy from them...even if my Dad was a knifemaker I wouldnt put people on to him if he was carp.
I like all of these dudes for many reasons....they have a massively deep education and knowlege of their products and unquestionable background....they treat and cut their own blades.....all of them do THE LOT! they are all innovative and capable of thinking outside of the box....etc etc....their knives are beautiful and practical! They all also do some pretty good leatherwork.
Both Dave and Mark need no introduction on here and I've been privileged to do work with them both before so I wanted to introduce you guys to Emberleaf Workshops...Dean (don't call him Dean....it's Boydie.....and Joel). Many of you won't know who they are unless youve met them at a show. They are very involved with the hunting/game fraternity and dont tend to be involved on the forums.
So....a few weeks ago Boydie contacted me. A customer of theirs had ordered several knives/sheaths but had seen my belts online and wanted that from me. The sheaths had already been made and as Emberleaf use Eco-Flow products and I use Fiebings we were going to have a problem colour-matching. So the un-dyed sheaths were posted to me along with necessary buckle and away we went.
Now this is the first time I've ever stepped in half-way and finished off someone elses leatherwork and not wanting to mess this up for them....well you can imagine how much I've been flapping....especially with my bushcraft show prep near on killing me anyway.
I was concerned for many reasons....once leathers been wetformed it will take dye differently. Also....the leather they used was not the same hide as I had here which again can lead to differences.....etc etc.
Anyway....it's all done....phew! And I'm about as happy as I could be....and I hope Emberleaf, and more importantly their customer, are too. Pictures were taken about ten minutes ago so I've not heard back yet.....
hope y'all like!
regards
Sonni
PS.....aint that a clever little double-sheath Mr Boydie has made there.....
1....dyed....i was told a 'mid-brown'....so I started off real light and worked my way up....as mentioned above, because there couldve been issues I did the sheaths first (unfamiliar territory), knowing that I could then do my belt (familiar territory) to match....I noticed the smaller sheath was actually slightly off and Boydie said that due to the nature of the knife-shape that this sheath had required a lot more 'forming/abuse' hence why its surface maybe took the dye slightly differently. It also had a small blemish/defect in the bottom part on the front which refused to take dye.....if you see the last picture its now gone/dark instead....I managed to 'force it'....little tricks always help lolol! Another thing....I always dye and polish my sheaths before assembly, when the template is still flat....its sooooooooooooooo much easier....I have now idea why sheathmakers dye at the end, its a right messy, fiddly, pain in the nostril!
2...polished...looking snazz and now darkened to what I hope is a mid-brown....
3...my belt, done....
4....the lot together....not bad....theyll now all be posted back and Boydie will be finishing off the edges.....jobs a good'un!
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