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Bespoke short runs of high quality and effective tools for Leatherworkers.

Workshop Legends

Across centuries of leathercraft, 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.

Knives in this collection:

The Master

The Master is a straight cut general purpose knife.
A perfect choice for standard straight cutting with a rule.

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The Master – £145

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The Journeyman

The Journeyman is a forward angled knife with a high spine.
This is designed for very long cuts.

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The Journeyman – £145

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The Companion

The Companion has a shallow Birds Beak Blade similar to the clicker. An ideal choice for sweeping curves.

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The Companion – £145

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The Steward

The has a deeper curve than the Companion, this is to allow for much sharper or smaller curve cutting.

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The Steward -£145

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These knives are not mass produced, rather each is hand made by Shing Chan exclusively for Armitage Leather Tools.
The are made in small batches, sometimes one set at a time and on occasion, we may change the wood of the handles.
Quite simply, when a batch has been made, they will be available for sale here.

This will be on a first come, first served basis. No pre-orders will be taken.
If you wish to be kept informed of batch releases, please subscribe to the Armitage Leather Ltd Newsletter here.

The Trammel Bar

For Circles

For Curves

Cutting curves in leatherwork has usually been assisted by following a form or template.
The problem arises when the curves required exceed those forms, we have available to us.
The Trammel is a tool that has been available for many years, but limited to marking only.
The Trammel Bar, or as it affectionally labelled, the Armitage Leather Curve Cutting Thing was designed by Nigel to be used twice without any change to the tool being required, It can used for marking, and then whilst set in the same position, used for cutting.
No posts have been used bringing the tool down to a flat position, so there is no wobble or variation to the tool when used.

Ther tool can be used to produce a curve in radius form from 100mm to 1600mm.
In diameter form, that is 200mm to 3200mm.

Measurements are set in 10mm increments with an optional +5 hole to give options of a 5mm variation.
This tool, in three parts allows you to cut over 300 curve options at 5mm increments.

Design Registered with the IPO. Design Number: 6479505

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Trammel Bar – £84

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Additional Tools

In addition to the above tools, Nigel is responsible for the design and development of a number of others.
He was worked with a number of long established tool makers to bring you tools that are fit for purpose.

These tools can be purchased directly from the Suppliers and the links will take you to their websites.

Click on an image to be taken to the suppliers shop.