Armitage Leather Handmade Knives
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In leatherwork, the first cut is the most important, the Workshop Legends were created to enable that cut to be true.
Four blades, one shared handle, each shaped for a distinct style of work.
Though they are not ornaments, the are beautifully made and are tools to be guided, not forced.
Steady in the hand, honest at the edge, and made to earn their place on a craftsman’s bench.
There are plenty of leatherworking knives on the market, many built for tasks that have faded from use. These aren’t. Each blade has a clear job. The shared handle sets your grip, and you get straight to work with confidence.
No guesswork, no gimmicks—four blade shapes with one handle that sets your grip and clarifies the cut.
Handmade Knives
Shing Chan and Nigel have for a number of years been talking of a collaboration. Chance’s meetings hear and there, showing up at the same shows and conversations on unrelated topics.
Chance threw them together too frequently to ignore so the collaboration began.
The result is before you.
A combination of a complete understanding of cutting leather and an exquisite attention to detain in knife making.
Nigel, with his decades of making and teaching, an intimate understanding of the skill in cutting has designed these knives by allowing the task of cutting to dictate the designs.
Shing with his years of professional knife making experience and significant track record had brought those designs to life.
The Shape of the Handle
The handle of all my knives is of the same design, this is very intentional.
The swell to the rear is meant to bring the hand to the back of the knife, when done so, it fits the hand perfectly.
If your hand is too far forward, choaking the knife, you will feel the difference, it had been designed this way to prevent you applying too much force to the cut. Power is not your friend!
In addition to this, if you become familiar with any one of the knives, you are immediately familiar with then all.
It is not your job to cut, that is the job of the knife, your job is to guide it.
With the correct grip, this knife becomes an extension of the hand, you do not require force to achieve your goal.
Deep Birds Beak
For hundreds of years, the birds beak blade has the preferred shape of blade for pattern cutters and has been found on many a craftsman’s bench due to this.
Most significantly it was used by the pattern cutters of the shoe industry in Northampton.
This is where the pattern cutters knife gained its nickname, the ‘clicker knife’
The function of this type of curved blade in leatherwork is to reduce the amount of steel in the leather when cutting curves.
Less steel allows the blade to turn quite freely in the leather allowing the user to make much tighter turns.
It is by no means limited to cutting curves, it is also an excellent choice for straight cuts.
The deeper aspect of this knife is to allow greater visibility when cutting freehand.
The deep arch gives the craftsman greater visual access to the task at hand.
This type of blade lends itself well to medium thickness and above leathers.
If used high in the hand, the hook aspect of the blade acts more in a chopping fashion than cutting and softer leather can distort under this pressure.
Here you will find a selection of downloadable PDF files, some for purchase and some for free.
Some even have accompanying videos which can be found on the Armitage Leather YouTube Channel.
Once bought, you will be provided a link to follow to download the file, be sure to save or print the file as once downloaded as the link will expire after 30 days.
Work Packs for Purchase
Below are the packs as described in the Armitage Leather YouTube work-along videos. To purchase, click on the desired pack to complete your order and follow the instructions to download.
Work Packs for Free
These are the free downloads.
Just add them to basket and as with the packs, you will get a link to download them.
If you intend to print those that have templates in, ensure you set your printer to A4 first.
Here you will find the specification sheets to the YouTube review videos for Pricking Irons and Edge Bevelers.
Also the Cartridge Slider worksheet and the Tub Stitching Chart
The Thread Length Calculator is now an APP!!!
In addition the calculator being downloadable.
It is now available as an app for both IOS and Android phones.
Just scan the QR Code below that suits your device.
IOS
Android
