A working pair specified slightly longer than previously built similar models having cutting edges of around 130mm and 115mm.

Handle scales in this instance are Cracked Ice Kirinite fitted over 0.4mm black liners, all then fixed atop tapering tangs by means of stainless fixings and fittings.

Kydex sheaths complete the outfit.

Back in the days of my parents and Pat Mitchell (Cutlers) we had a model called the P1, it was a standard in our range and was by far and away the best selling knife in our portfolio.

From an old catalogue back then; P1, Compact Hunter, 2.75” blade and 6.25” overall, an extremely compact practical knife suitable for a wide variety of tasks from skinning to stick dressing and carving, Produced from 1/8" stock steel making it also a lightweight backpackers tool.

I was intrigued and delighted in equal measure when I received this message; A recent post of yours got me thinking, I wondered if you would care to re-imagine the ‘P1’ that I’ve carried with me for the last 30 years, and make me your version for the next. I would like similar dimensions and as I spend many an hour in uncomfortable high seats I’d like a horizontal sheath.

The Portland Series to which the P1 belonged signalled a change of approach for us, the significant difference to the other knives we were making at this time being that it had no metal bolsters, it was designed and made this way to reduce costs, not so much material costs but more labour, saving workshop hours and so saving our customers, the end users, money.

I was heavily involved in it's concept and design and if I were designing it today this new version knife would very likely be it. The slight problem with that is that the new version unticks a few boxes, the design and shaping of the handle makes it a more complicated thing to make, that adds a bit of time back on and so adding to the cost, a very anti Portland Series ethic.

The profile is exactly the same as an original, the new one in fact was scribed on to the 1/8” thick Silver Fox steel using the same template as my clients 30 year old example, that is pretty cool.

Omitting the large sharpening nick in favour of a much more discreet version allows more blade edge from the same size blade.

The new one gets fully stabilised Walnut for the scales, offcuts supplied by a very well known gun maker, old version would predominantly have been Rosewood or Cocobolo, those scales are fitted over red liners and a tapering tang this time too, again very un Portland Series, but hey ho, we live in different days.

I only have one P1 in the workshop and it is an unfinished version which has great sentimental value to me as is so I will never finish it, it is also the 'hook' version which although very Marmite was still an extremely popular knife, the side by side shot will give an idea of the main differences though.

What a pleasure this project has been.

A special hunter project undertaken for a good friend, the particular section of red deer antler used for the handle scales was provided by him and it holds a special significance for him.

Prices for similar knives would start at around £550.

A utility/hunter based upon the legendary design of the Loveless 4” (100mm) drop point hunter, the DPH, 5mm stock SF100 blade steel with a deep hollow grind and a substantially tapering tang.

Liners are 1mm orange G10, those clad with green canvas grade Micarta, all secured by adhesive and a brace of stainless steel bolts, the lanyard tube lined in stainless steel to complement.

Fine satin polish throughout giving it a hard use, hard wearing sheen.

A custom build based upon what is widely thought to be the original Nessmuk design.

Nessmuk was the pen name of a Mr. George Washington Sears who was a sportswriter for Forest and Stream magazine in the 1880s and an early conservationist. Nessmuk’s views towards knives were those the classic outdoorsmen; thinner steel with keen edges at a useable length. He recognized that a hatchet or small axe was the tool of choice for chopping, for cutting work a smaller knife designed for efficiency was his tool of choice.

This Nessmuk gets a 125mm blade of 3mm stock SF100 steel with a full width grind and tapering tang.

Cocobolo scales with red liners sit atop that tang.

This and slicey, I think Mr Sears would approve.

A classic hunter and gralloching bladed set, both get 3mm stock SF100 steel, blade lengths are around 120mm.

The very noticeable thing about this pair is the Crazy Fibre, Berry Crush handle material, a type of Micarta which is hand stacked before the resin added, a very high quality material indeed, it was chosen due to it’s striking resemblance to fingerprints potentially left behind at crime scenes. Those scales are fitted over 1.5mm blue G10 liners, the liners too an important part of the knife design and build in this instance.

A side by side style sheath completes in rich brown leather with accentuating blue stitching.

Designed by and made for a friend of mine, the Pocket Bowie is only 150mm in length, that split fifty-fifty between handle and blade.

Steel utilised is Rose pattern Damasteel, 4mm stock with a deep hollow grind and severe tapering tang.

Handle scales are some of the last ‘old stock’ laminated timber that I possess, amazing gear and it was a pleasure to use it on this project.

This fine pair of knives feature 3mm stock SF100 blade steel, both are around 240mm in length overall, the hunter has a cutting edge of 110mm,the grallocher more like 95mm.

Handle scales are bookmatched Cocobolo, both knives cut from the same block, not only are the scales on each knife bookmatched but the two knives are matched together too.

Scales are fitted over thin, 0.4mm bright red vulcanised liners, they are fixed to their tapering tangs by means of a brace of stainless steel Corby style bolts and a wipe of epoxy.

Hakkapella Damasteel with Desert Ironwood.

The blade steel of this one is Bjorkmann Twist Damasteel, that with a deep hollow grind.

The handle is very special on this one too, the scales are of some of the finest quality blue mammoth ivory that I have ever seen or worked with, beautiful colouration and solid as a rock.

The bolsters, pins and lanyard hole are of 925 Sterling Silver, unable to locate any silver in a large enough or suitable section to form the bolsters I opted to cast them myself, I did a little sand casting in my youth and that experience came in very handy, to perfectly complete the build I also registered my own sponsor mark with the Sheffield Assay Office, that being the portion of a hallmark that denotes the maker of the work.

View the GREEN X2 for more information.

A brace of hunters, differing sizes but built as a matched pair with consecutive serial numbers.

Both get 3.2mm stock Outokumpu Group SF100 steel with stainless bolsters and green canvas Micarta over tapering tangs, the scales fixed by stainless fixings.

The longer knife has a blade of around 115mm, the smaller only 70mm.

There is also the MAROON X2.

The classic hunter blade profile with Cocobolo scales.

Three very nice things for three fine fellows.

Two of the clients for these visited me in the workshop a few months ago where we had a chat, worked on a design, fettled and refashioned it and arrived at the profile you see here.

All three in 3mm stock SF100 steel and all three get Ultrex Composites SureTouch™ handle scales.

SureTouch™ is the result of a revolutionary new process that combines layers of G-10 and rubber, it has the toughness and durability of that G-10 with the grip and anti-slip properties of the rubber.

Similar builds would be priced at are £395 each.