My On The Bench Today Thread

[Brizzlebush]

Maybe not the correct forum for this one?

A gent on another forum has a knife in his possession, a knife he has a long history with and one with great sentimental value to him. However, it is Scandi ground, and he cannot get along with that aspect of it. So I told him to send it to me.

It is a nice knife, nicely made and finished, etc, and you will all know the maker (is Lance still making?). The grind just doesn't suit the fella and what he wants to do with it.

Well, it didn't.

That's a really nice job Stu. Interesting to see the grind stages too.
It looks way more practical actually.

 

[Nice65]

Maybe not the correct forum for this one?

A gent on another forum has a knife in his possession, a knife he has a long history with and one with great sentimental value to him. However, it is Scandi ground, and he cannot get along with that aspect of it. So I told him to send it to me.

It is a nice knife, nicely made and finished, etc, and you will all know the maker (is Lance still making?). The grind just doesn't suit the fella and what he wants to do with it.

Well, it didn't.

Not sure about Driftwoodwalker, he hasn't been about here in a while. Possibly the most distinctive knives ever, you only have to glance at one to know whose it is.

 

[Stuart Mitchell Knives]

That's a really nice job Stu. Interesting to see the grind stages too.
It looks way more practical actually.

Thank you.

I got the WIP photos for the other forum, so shared a few here. The grinding was a steady plod, really, took about an hour I suspect, which is a long time to grind that blade, with the handle being in place though I didn't want to put any heat at all through the blade/tang.

The owner is primarily a hunter/deer stalker so much more practical for his needs IMO.

 

[HillBill]

Maybe not the correct forum for this one?

A gent on another forum has a knife in his possession, a knife he has a long history with and one with great sentimental value to him. However, it is Scandi ground, and he cannot get along with that aspect of it. So I told him to send it to me.

It is a nice knife, nicely made and finished, etc, and you will all know the maker (is Lance still making?). The grind just doesn't suit the fella and what he wants to do with it.

Well, it didn't.

A much needed facelift. As you say, wrong shape (handle mainly) for

 

[Stuart Mitchell Knives]

That weekend just gone saw me grinding a few kitchen/chef's knife blades.

All 2mm stock SF100.

I always find that when grinding large, flat surfaces the job is made easier by grinding an initial, hollow bevel.

This is hollow at this stage.



As the first pass over the flat platen shows.



Now flat, and thin

 

[HillBill]

Strange thing is it not... People see the pics a maker posts on a forum... they see the quality work displayed....They think... i could do that. I could be a knifemaker... Yet miss the words that matter... 'This weekend saw me grinding..." Aye, you could be a great maker mate.... At the expense of....(insert what you did on a weekend prior... here) Tortured artists are what pro makers are. No life of their own.... Just bouncing about at the whim of others, chasing that money and reputation.. Cant be ill, cant need a day off.... Everytime you go online... you have 23 missed messages.....no wonder so many rise and fall... To remain fallen with debts and kit to sell...

Keep it up mate. One of the chosen few...

 

[HorseGuy]

On another forum, I have the same thread running, and I thought there might be interest here as well.

This thread is a fascinating read. You're obviously very talented and knowledgeable. I know nothing about making knives but would be interested in reading more. Would you mind letting me know where your thread on another forum is so I could read that one too? Thanks.

 

[Stuart Mitchell Knives]

This thread is a fascinating read. You're obviously very talented and knowledgeable. I know nothing about making knives but would be interested in reading more. Would you mind letting me know where your thread on another forum is so I could read that one too? Thanks.

Hello @HorseGuy, I can but it is essentially the same as this one so it might get a little repetitive?

And thank you for the kind words.

 

[Stuart Mitchell Knives]

Kicking off 2026!

A few months ago, I was contacted by new clients after they had visited restaurant JÖRO here in Sheffield and used the knives that I supplied to there.

A few years previous a Sweet Chestnut tree in their garden lost the battle with a storm. If they brought a chunk in, might I be able to make them a carving set handled in their timber?

They brought a chunk, alright, it was a good 20" x 20" and maybe 10" thick (photo shows it after I had started cutting it).

P120 for scale, the section standing upright on top is the section I cut out to use.

The set was completed a couple of weeks ago, just in time for Christmas dinner.

 

[ijohnson]

Lovely carving set that.

Today saw two 13" blade length 'Bowies' finally ready for handles,

Got any finished pics of the Bowies?

 

[Foogs]

Kicking off 2026!

A few months ago, I was contacted by new clients after they had visited restaurant JÖRO here in Sheffield and used the knives that I supplied to there.

A few years previous a Sweet Chestnut tree in their garden lost the battle with a storm. If they brought a chunk in, might I be able to make them a carving set handled in their timber?

They brought a chunk, alright, it was a good 20" x 20" and maybe 10" thick (photo shows it after I had started cutting it).

P120 for scale, the section standing upright on top is the section I cut out to use.

The set was completed a couple of weeks ago, just in time for Christmas dinner.

That is something special

 

[Broch]

They look brilliant SM - could have done with that on Christmas Day

 

[bobnewboy]

Kicking off 2026!

A few months ago, I was contacted by new clients after they had visited restaurant JÖRO here in Sheffield and used the knives that I supplied to there.

A few years previous a Sweet Chestnut tree in their garden lost the battle with a storm. If they brought a chunk in, might I be able to make them a carving set handled in their timber?

They brought a chunk, alright, it was a good 20" x 20" and maybe 10" thick (photo shows it after I had started cutting it).

P120 for scale, the section standing upright on top is the section I cut out to use.

The set was completed a couple of weeks ago, just in time for Christmas dinner.

Very nice. Did you use anything extra to bring up the colour/grain in the wood, for example red oil, before a final finish? Or do you have a good food-safe final finish that does it all? I only ask because I like to make a few cutting boards etc.

 

[plastic-ninja]

Beautiful work as always. I’m sure those will be treasured.
We ate in JORO many years ago when they were not long open. Very interesting meal & im looking forward to returning. I will keep an eye out for your knives.
Happy New Year.

 

[Nice65]

Really lovely set, hard to find a carving knife slim enough and long enough in shops, that one is wonderful.

I often wonder why Chestnut isn't used more for furniture and indoor applications, it's fast growing and has great colouring.

 

[Stuart Mitchell Knives]

Lovely carving set that.



Got any finished pics of the Bowies?

Not yet @ijohnson , just on with forming a couple of stainless cross guards from 25x25 bar stock

 

[Stuart Mitchell Knives]

Very nice. Did you use anything extra to bring up the colour/grain in the wood, for example red oil, before a final finish? Or do you have a good food-safe final finish that does it all? I only ask because I like to make a few cutting boards etc.

Just pure Tung Oil, that would be perfect for your boards.

 

[Stuart Mitchell Knives]

Really lovely set, hard to find a carving knife slim enough and long enough in shops, that one is wonderful.

I often wonder why Chestnut isn't used more for furniture and indoor applications, it's fast growing and has great colouring.

Too stiff, aren't they. I think you would be a fan of this one, it has a lovely flex to the blade.

 

[Stuart Mitchell Knives]

Beautiful work as always. I’m sure those will be treasured.
We ate in JORO many years ago when they were not long open. Very interesting meal & im looking forward to returning. I will keep an eye out for your knives.
Happy New Year.

Thank you and happy new year!

That will have been when they were in the shipping containers then? They have now moved to a much swankier place on the outskirts of Sheffield in Oughtibridge. I can't see one of those coveted being distant in their future at all.

These are the knives that I put into there.

 

[Nice65]

Too stiff, aren't they. I think you would be a fan of this one, it has a lovely flex to the blade.

Nice. I was wondering if the buyer had a kebab van?