Model A

Kirkman Knives come with a choice between two metal types for the blade; high carbon steel and stainless steel.  There are pros and cons to each metal and different care instructions will need to be applied to each knife. It ultimately comes down to a personal preference as to which steel blade will work best for you.  

 

Stainless Steel

Pros

• It is  a slightly harder metal, therefore it will hold its sharp edge  longer
• As it is stainless, the blade will not rust
• It will maintain it's great looks for a lot longer than other metals
• The blade does not require any oils to be applied 

Cons

• As it is slightly harder metal you might find it will take more time to sharpen

 

 

High Carbon Steel

Pros

• It is made out of a recycled metal-cutting bandsaw blade which means that it is easy to sharpen and will hold its edge well.

• It has an ability to form a patina over time, giving your knife even more character.

Cons

• Will has the potential to rust if it is not cared for and therefore equires more maintenance
• As it is recycled it may have small imperfections in the blade 

 

For all you metal buffs, the high carbon steel we use is a recycled, metal-cutting, bandsaw blade and the stainless steel is Sandvik 12c27.

Huon Pine

Huon Pine (Lagarostrobos franklinii) is an iconic Tasmanian Timber. Huon Pine is very slow growing and as a result has a very tight grain structure. This gives the timber character and makes for a superb looking knife handle. The black spots that you may see on your knife handle are called Birdseye and are a premium feature of the timber that is highly sought after.

 

Blackheart Sassafras

Blackheart Sassafras (Atherosperma moschatum) is an iconic Tasmanian timber which is highly sought after due to its unique and dynamic colouring. The overall darker colour and black lines appearing in the timber is a result of the tree becoming infected with a staining fungus.

 

Blackwood

Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) is an Australian timber native to Victoria and Tasmania. Your individually sourced Tasmanian Blackwood handle comes in a variety of different grain structures. This darker timber is prized by furniture makers and it is not hard to see why a Blackwood knife handle is truly unique. It is a harder timber making it slightly more durable to impacts.

 

Tiger Myrtle

Tiger Myrtle (Nothofagus cunninghamii) is the rarest Tasmanian timber. The 'tiger stripe' of contrasting dark brown and black colourings that you may see on your knife handle is caused by a fungus reacting with the timber. It is not until a Myrtle tree is cut down that you can tell whether it contains Tiger Myrtle.

 

Fiddleback Tasmanian Oak

Fiddleback Tasmanian Oak is a premium Australian hardwood timber encompassing three species that grow in the mountainous areas of Tasmania. It is a versatile timber perfect for both construction and interior applications. The name fiddleback refers to the lines running through the timber. This is caused by certain growing conditions and it is quite rare. Tasmanian Oak is quite a hard timber therefore it is more resistant to denting.

 

Disclaimer: The handle on your knife will vary slightly from the picture as each piece of wood is unique.