The Lion, Lioness and Cub, Kitchen Set

Product Description for The Lion, Lioness and Cub, Kitchen Set

Maker: Kevin Harvey, M.S. (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 105667
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade: Hand forged, differentially heat treated 52100 carbon steel for the small and medium knife, 5160 spring steel for the large knife
Handle: Stabilized hairy vitex burl
Sheath: Brown leather piggybak style sheath
Description: When I recently visited Mastersmiths Kevin and Heather Harvey in South Africa, I was very pleased to see they had some of their knives available. Kevin and Heather teach bladesmithing courses, with students travelling from all over the world to learn their techniques. Kevin uses the Heavin Forge mark on his knives when he creates a knife while demonstrating for his classes. This is one such knife.
This set was inspired by the knife used by the Kruger National park's first game ranger, Harry Wolhuter. The knife Wolhuter carried was a utility knife from Sheffield, England. At the time, this knife came in many sizes. Wolhuter used the knife in 1903 to kill a lion that attacked him while on patrol in the park. His memories of this event (along with others) can be read in his autobiography, Memories of a Game Ranger. Wolhuter's parents are buried in a cemetery in the Harvey's home town, Belfast, Mpumalanga.
This set includes three knives -- all true to the original Sheffield design: Lion (chef's knife), Lioness (utility knife), and Cub (paring knife). These knives cover most of the basic tasks you will need to do in the kitchen, from chopping and dicing, to slicing, and paring. The knives measure:
Lion: 15.6 inches overall, 10.6" blade length with a 10.2" cutting edge. The blade is 1.6" at the heel.
Lionness: 10.3 inches overall, 5.7" blade length with a 5.5" cutting edge. The blade is 1" at the heel.
Cub: 7.1 inches overall, 3.6" blade length with a 3.5" cutting edge. The blade is .6" at the heel.
The small and medium knives are hand forged 52100 carbon steel. The large knife is hand forged 5160 carbon steel. They were forged closely to shape, ensuring a keen, long lasting edge.
The handles are stabilized hairy vitex burl (Vitex obovata). This African wood has a warm brown tone and a tremendous grain pattern reminiscent of thuya burl. Handle scales are set on the distal tapered full tangs using stainless pins.
The knives are accompanied by a hand stitched cowhide custom piggyback sheath.


Availability: Not currently available