FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q. What types of steel do you use in your knives?
A. I mostly use 440C Stainless as this is very high quality steel developed for knife making. It will hold a durable, sharp edge comparable to that of the high carbon steels. 440C steel is imported from America as hot rolled and annealed bars.

I can also make knives using:
ATS 34 Stainless, 154 CM Stainless,
CPMS30V, RWL34,
D2 Tool Steel, O1 Tool Steel, A2 Tool Steel
Damasteel Stainless Damascus
Delbert Early Damascus
Mike Norris Stainless Damascus

I have a selection of Damascus forged by Garry Wood (see pictures) in various patterns. As this is hand forged each billet will produce a unique pattern. Garry owns a dairy farm about three and a half hours drive from Albany. Every few months I travel to the farm to spend a couple of days on the forge with Garry. I always bring home a few nice billets, each one individual with the pattern not emerging until the final etching. It always gives me a sense of excitement wondering how each blade will turn out.

Q. How do you finish your blades?
A. I can either flat or hollow grind the blades and I use a Bader grinder. Most of my blades are mirror finished and I use eight grades of wet and dry working down to 2000 grit by hand. The final mirror finish is achieved with a loose cloth buff and a fine compound. On the hollow ground blades I satin finish the flats giving a nice contrast and accentuating the grind lines.

Q. What timbers can I have in my knife?
A. I tend to use many West Australian timbers for my handles and scabbards, some of which can be seen in the knife galleries. They include Western Myall, Jarrah, Gimlet, Marri, Beefwood, Banksia, She-Oak, Lace She-Oak, Ribfruited Mallee Burl, York Gum Burl and Red Morrel Burl. These are the most popular but there are numerous other timbers I have access to. I can also get man made composite materials such as Micarta at short notice; such handles are very popular for fishing or kitchen knives, where the handle can be immersed in water if required. I can also use imported woods such as African Ebony and Coco Bolo in addition to the Western Australian hardwoods, which are chosen for their high natural oil content and robust quality. Lately, I have been using Zebra Stone and Jade from Marble Bar in Western Australia.

Q. What other handle materials do you use?
A. Other materials I use include, deer antler, buffalo horn, ivory, bronze, nickel silver, opals, sterling silver, brass, pearls and cut gemstones. The list is endless really.

Q. How do you finish your handles?
A. The handles are finished with a two-part polymer coating renowned for chip proof and heat resistant qualities.
Note: They are not made to be put in a dishwasher or to be left covered in salt water or fish scales.

Q. What kind of guarantee do you give with your knives?
A. All of my knives are built to last a lifetime if they are treated with care. I have no control over natural handle materials; they can be subject to movement in certain climatic conditions. In such a case return the knife to me and I will repair the handle at little or no cost. I have however been able to source stabilised timber when available and have found it to be a popular choice of handle material.

Q. Do you supply cases or sheaths for your knives?
A. Most of the art knives and some of the utility knives are presented in a Jarrah, Lace She-Oak or French Oak timber case. My knives do not come with a sheath and unfortunately we are not presently able to have one made for you. However, I am able to make matching timber sheathes for some of my knives.

Q. What methods of payment do you use?
A. Our international customers may prefer to pay us via Paypal. We also accept payments using Direct Debit. Please contact us for our account information should you prefer to pay using this method. We can also accept International Money Transfers via Western Union.
We DO NOT accept any cheques in international currencies. We can only accept bank drafts in $AUD. In Australia only, we accept postal notes or cheques. Please note, there is a 3-day waiting period for cheques to be cleared before delivery of your knife.

Q. How much do your knives cost?
A. My knives are priced to sell. My utility knives are priced from $260 AUD, My Bowies start at $350 AUD, Swords start at around $1000 AUD, Fantasy Axes begin at $1000 AUD and Daggers are $400 AUD upwards. These are strictly my starting prices only and will change according to materials used, artwork and design.

Q. Can you send the knife to me in the U.S./England/Japan/Botswana/etc.?
A. We can ship to most countries providing local laws and customs allow. If you are unsure please check with your appropriate authorities before ordering. We post by Courier International (E.C.I.) and include insurance. Other methods of post are available by request. You will be notified when the knife is completed and ready to post. We require full payment at this stage, and as soon as the transaction is cleared, the order is posted and you will be notified of approximate delivery date. On request, we can photograph and email you a copy of the finished knife before posting.

Q. Do you make Automatic or Flick knives?
A. No

Q. Where can I learn to build knives?
A. There are many places to learn how to build knives on the internet. I have made a knifemaking video DVD titled "The Beginners Guide to the Custom-Made Knife" that can be purchased through the A.K.C. email-
Another good place to start would be the The Knife Network Workshop Tutorials.

Q. How long will my knife take to build and send?
A. The total time taken to build and send a knife is approximately six weeks. But as this can change, I will keep you posted should this occur.

Q. Where can we view your knives that are currently for sale?
A. The knives we have currently in stock are displayed in the Knives In Stock gallery. Alternatively, you can see my knives at a number of knife and craft show that Gail and I try to regularly attend. If you happen to find yourself in Albany, Western Australia, contact us prior to your arrival and we can arrange a visit at our home to see the current collection. You are more than welcome.

Q. I have seen your 'Sunken Treasure' knife available on the internet for $12.99 - what gives?
A. Yes, we are aware of these Chinese-produced imitations of our 'Sunken Treasure' knife that are being sold cheaply on the internet. These are not produced by us, nor are they authorised by us. If you are willing to pay $12.99 for a custom knife, you will get $12.99 worth of knife. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, but in this case I'd steer well clear.