Workshop Legends
Built on Tradition. Perfected by Experience
Welcome to the Knives
Across the centuries of leather working, the knife has been more than a tool — it has been an extension of the maker’s hand. Every Cut Has a Story.
Designed by Nigel Armitage of Armitage Leather Ltd, each knife in this collection reflects decades of hands-on experience at the bench.
The shared handle design, shaped for balance and guided control, connects them all, a hallmark of the maker’s understanding of how tools should feel in the hand.
Every knife in this collection shares the same handle, a deliberate choice born of experience. The gentle swell toward the rear draws the hand into position, so the grip sits exactly where it should. Held there, the knife is balanced and responsive; held too far forward, it reminds you that power is not your friend, control is. Learn the feel of one blade and you know them all: the handle guides the hand; the blade does the work.
The four blades, The Master, The Journeyman, The Steward, and The Companion, each express a different approach to the leather, yet all have the same ethos:
Precision, Patience, Confidence.
Together, they celebrate the craft, the craftsperson, and the lessons passed from one pair of hands to the next.
A collection inspired by the makers who came before us — and the ones still learning at the bench.
The Master
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One of the most functional shapes of blade in the leatherworker’s arsenal! This draw cut blade embodies both function and form.
Straight, in-line, and free of distraction, it offers a cutting experience defined by control and simplicity.
The short blade length keeps the work close — every motion, deliberate, every cut, precise.
For those who cut by rule or template, it proves the ideal choice: steady, responsive, and unerring.
Equally at ease with fine calf or firm bridle, it handles even the lightest, most pliable leathers with grace when guided by a careful hand.
The result is a knife that rewards finesse, not force — a tool shaped for craftsmen who value connection over convenience, and accuracy above all else.
The Strengths of this knife are in straight cuts against a rule within comfortable arms reach.
The Journeyman
For generations, the first cut across a new hide has marked the beginning of every leatherworker’s project.
Yet even the most skilled hand knows how easily a blade can wander and how a moment’s overreach or imbalance can turn the line astray.
From that understanding, this knife has been refined to allow unwavering accuracy and control.
Its high spine and straight, angled edge form a profile both purposeful and commanding, a shape that reveals every shift in angle, allowing the eye to guide the hand to a truer and steadier cut. It is when the cut extends beyond reach that lesser blades falter, but the Journeyman is ideal for long, straight cuts and is favoured by those who value accuracy above all else.
The strength of this knife is in overreach cutting, very long straight cuts.
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The Companion
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The Companion shares its lineage with the Steward, that of the clickers Knife of Northampton. A blade born of tradition and refined through generations of makers.
While it carries the same balance and poise, its shallow curve brings a difference in feel, one that favours broader, more generous lines and confident, sweeping cuts.
The softened angle at the tip ensures a smoother, more forgiving action when held high in the hand, reducing the tendency to chop while maintaining full control.
Adept at freehand work, its grace lies in the way it follows the natural rhythm of the maker’s movement.
Best suited to thinner yet firm leathers, the Companion offers precision without resistance, a blade that moves with you, not against you.
The Companion allows every craftsman to cut in their own way, guided by tradition and surety.
The companion is well suited to cutting broad curves.
The Steward
For generations, the bird’s beak blade has earned its place on the benches of master pattern cutters.
Favoured by the shoemakers of Northampton, the birthplace of the Clicker Knife, this timeless design remains a symbol of skill, balance, and control.
Its deep graceful curve reduces the amount of steel in contact with the leather, allowing the blade to glide freely and turn with remarkable ease. Every motion feels deliberate, every cut clean. Though famed for its mastery of curves, it performs straight work with the same confidence and authority.
The deeper arc of this blade is more than aesthetic. Opening the view of the work when cutting freehand, it grants clear sight of every line, following each line with the accuracy of a stylus on a record.
Ideal for medium to heavy leathers, the Deep Bird’s Beak reflects a deep understanding of the maker’s craft. When guided by experience, it delivers a rare combination of agility, visibility, and control, the hallmarks of true craftsmanship.
A knife shaped by generations of makers, for those who understand that mastery is found not in haste, but in the quiet command of the cut.
This knife is well suited to sharper and smaller curves.
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Guarantee
Our promise
Your knife carries a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. If, in normal workshop use, it breaks or stops working due to a fault in how it was made, we will repair or replace it at no charge. Postage to and from our workshop is not included.
Covered
- Defects in D2 steel, stabilised handle, brass bolster and pins
- Faults arising from heat treatment, assembly, or construction under normal use
Not covered
- Misuse or poor practice: prying, levering, striking, or excessive force; using the knife as a screwdriver, chisel, or punch
- Neglect or improper care: prolonged moisture, chemical exposure, storage in damp conditions
- Sharpening errors or modifications: over-grinding, re-profiling, disassembly, third-party alterations
- Normal wear and cosmetics: routine edge dulling, scratches, brass patina, small marks from honest use
- Accidental damage: drops, impacts, or heat damage
How to claim
- Contact us with your name, order details, a brief description, and clear photos of the issue.
- We’ll confirm next steps and where to send the knife. Please clean and safely wrap the tool before posting.
- After inspection, we’ll repair or replace if the fault is covered.
Care note (to avoid problems)
Wipe dry after use, oil the blade lightly if stored, and occasionally refresh the walnut with a drop of furniture oil. Brass will develop a natural patina over time.
This warranty does not affect, your statutory rights.