The Blade

Shark Knives are hand crafted knives made from recycled L6 steel (saw steel) recovered from the sawmills (and back sheds) of the Far North of New Zealand.

When a mill has run a saw long enough, it's teeth begin to harden. Modern benches require a fixed diameter saw blade so the blade can't be re-cut and are discarded.

L6 is a wonderful material. It is alloyed to possess a variety of qualities such as evenness of temper, heat resistance, impact resilience and edge holding. It will last a lifetime and we give a lifetime's guarentee on workmanship and materials.

The Handle

The handles are made from a range of timbers. Pohutukawa (Metrosides Excelsia) has an interlocking grain and great durability which ensures long life with an absolutely minimal chance of splitting.

When you receive the knife the handle will have been oil finished, so the grain will stand up on contact with water. This is a only a temporary thing and Pohutukawa is a water resistant wood. Smooth it back down with 3M Scotch Brite and oil.

Maintaining the knife

While L6 does oxidise it is very easily cleaned with a scouring pad such as 3M Skotch Brite. Scrub off any staining (blade or wood), dry and store.