Hand engravers have long offered products beyond firearms. However, a recent flurry of activity by the UK’s most skilled craftsmen have attracted our attention. Think Ken Hunt’s jewelry, such as his sterling-silver money clip, or the Tallett family’s belt buckles, marketed under the Ferrum & Hide label.
Now British artisanal knifemaker Salient Knives is introducing into the US a collection of knives designed for the hunting, shooting and outdoor markets with scrollwork not dissimilar to that found on fine London guns.
The knives are by company co-founders Marc Engall, who studied with UK knifemaker Stephen Wade Cox, and engineering and manufacturing expert Cameron McIntosh. The engraving is by Greg Goodwillie, who has worked for some of Britain’s leading gunmakers. Goodwillie apprenticed and then worked at James Purdey & Sons before going solo. He has since worked for Rigby & Co., William & Son and Watson Brothers.
Salient’s Cambridge and Canterbury models are entry-level knives starting at £400 ($510). The Cambridge has a standard, or straight-back, stainless blade with a hollow-ground bevel, while the Canterbury is a drop-point hunting knife. Both are available with a choice of hand-finished grips in either English walnut or 6,000-year-old English bog oak with brass bolts and can have their blades laser engraved with either the Salient logo or filigree scrollwork.
Knives in the Master Collection (shown) feature “bespoke elements,” such as hand engraving and checkering. Each takes 120 days to make and can be personalized with gold or silver ovals or engraved in the style of a favorite gun. Prices start at £3,300 ($4,200).
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