Knives!!

Kitchen Knives!

Can anyone recommend me a UK based (ideally a small business) that make sets of good kitchen / chefs knives?

After many sharpening sessions over the years mine are about to give up.

Would like something decent, UK made, but where i don’t have to sell the shirt off my back to get a set!

…..or is that the price of knives these days?? I am 20+ years out of touch purchasing wise!!

David Mellor make some beautiful kitchen knives, not terribly cheap but you get what you pay for.

There are a few good makers out there, but you might have to go topless…

In the spirit of recommending what you have – Blok – I bought a chef quite some years ago (old shape and only paid £250 for it at the time). Very nice, each is unique, very well balanced and a joy to use, Ben is a sound Derby lad, free sharpening if you need it and he’s offered to put new scales on mine if I want them because someone put it in the dishwasher. If you have the cash, worth it, in my opinion.

Then you’ve got Michael May up there in Sheff. Not as spendy as Blok. Less fancy pants and easier to get hold of, but damn good knives from the home of knives.

Blenheim Forge – Hand forged rather than sharpened and shaped stock. Very nice.

I think you just used the word “only” in a way I’ve not seen before.

I think you’ll understand when you see how much they cost nowadays.

David Mellor make some beautiful kitchen knives,

If you’re anywhere near the Penines his shop / factory / design museum is worth a visit

https://www.davidmellordesign.com/design-museum

The most famous British designer that nobody has ever heard of 🙂

easier to get hold of,

You mean they have handles on? 🙂

@Russian Bob – Blenheim Forge, crikey they’re a nice bit of kit! £1200 though…..Hmmmmmmm!! I could pay it off a month at a time!! 😉

I knew who David Mellor was when I was a child in the 90s, he had a penchant for Chelsea strips didn’t he?

I bought some Blok for my brother years ago

very nice indeed

Michael May up there in Sheff

Ooo, not heard of him before and like the idea of some proper local knives. Have you a link to a website or is he on Facebook etc?

David Mellor

I have some of his Walker and Hall of Sheffield produced ‘Prestige’ range spoons and cake forks bought s/h recently – they are things of great beauty.

Any carbon steel knives will do. Think John Lewis got plenty of them made in Sheffield.

Something like this from John Lewis.

John Lewis & Partners Classic Cook’s Knife, 20cm (£26)

David Mellor set bought! They looks fabulous!

Cheers all!!

I bought a Chinese cleaver off Etsy a few months ago. It’s absolutely gorgeous and keeps extremely sharp.

From this seller

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AdurForge?ref=yr_purchases

UK based.
Smithfield knives of Sheffield.
https://www.smithfieldknives.co.uk/dymond-range

I’ve a cooks knife of theirs. 9″(no longer made) Had it for years and its very good at retaining an edge. My go to for most jobs. I’m fortunate to have picked up some high end steels when working in the meat trade, was pretty astounded to find out the cost of steels today, but better to hone on a steel than take it to a sharpening stone too of often.
So knives are one thing, but a good steel is also needed.
https://www.butchersequipment.co.uk/knives-sharpeners/knife-sharpeners-steels/knife-steels/butchers-steels

If you’re anywhere near the Penines his shop / factory / design museum is worth a visit

https://www.davidmellordesign.com/design-museum

The most famous British designer that nobody has ever heard of 🙂

Fantastic place and excellent cafe

The most famous British designer that nobody has ever heard of

Not to be confused with the rather plump ex-Tory minister for inappropriate sexual relations.

Not to be confused with the rather plump ex-Tory minister for inappropriate sexual relations.

Boris?