Question 1

How does your 10 day money-back guarantee on non-customised items work?

Accepted Answer

We offer a 10 day no questions right of return on all of our online standard stocked items as long as the knife is returned undamaged and has been trialled or used for the purpose for which it was designed.
 
Postage for the return of your knife and any subsequent freighted replacement will need to be paid by you.
 
This offer excludes any customised items as these knives will have been made according to your specific design instructions.

Question 2

What if I don't know what kind of knife I want?

Accepted Answer

Give me a call on 022 4646 7499 and I can help. I have years of experience as well as a library of photos that we can look at together to help you choose. Knowing what you want to use it for is the starting point.

Question 3

What kind of handle can I order for a customised knife?

Accepted Answer

We have a variety of options ranging from a wide range of different types of wood varieties or you might like to try one of our popular kirinite resin handles.
 
Kirinite is a hard wearing and almost indestructible material that makes your handles truly stand out from the rest. It is non-porous and highly hygenic; in that it cleans easily and doesn't absorb any fluids.

Question 4

Can I buy a knife if I am under 18 years of age?

Accepted Answer

No, you cannot.
Legal restrictions within New Zealand prohibit the sale of knives to anyone under the age of 18 years.

Question 5

Can I send a knife as a present to someone?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Absolutely. Knives make wonderful presents that can be treasured for a lifetime. If you give us the address and the name of the recipient we can send it.
 
We also have Gift Certificates that you can purchase online if you prefer that the present receiver choose their own knife from our store or customises their own.
 
Our Gift Certificates can be bought as physical items from our store. Once puchased, we can send you the physical copy which is individually numbered and coded. If you prefer to have the item sooner, we can scan your certificate and email you a pdf of the scan if you leave us your email details.

Question 6

How do your Gift Certificates work?

Accepted Answer

You can purchase a physical copy of our Gift Certificates through our online store. We will then send you a printed copy.
 
If you prefer to have an digital copy to email to someone special in a hurry, we can send you a custom coded scan of your physical voucher and email the scanned pdf to you if you leave us your email details.

Question 7

Do your knives come packaged?

Accepted Answer

Yes – we have printed boxes that we send our knives out in.

Question 8

Can I get my knife engraved?

Accepted Answer

Yes – all of our knives come with my personal authentic logo mark imprinted on the blade and we can also arrange your knife to have personalised engravings as well.

Question 9

How do I know my knife is authentically handcrafted?

Accepted Answer

Each of my knives is individually handcrafted by me and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Question 10

Is tax included in your online prices?

Accepted Answer

Yes – GST is included in New Zealand Dollars in our prices. We will send a separate official GST invoice to the person who places the order.

Question 11

How much does it cost to get my knife delivered?

Accepted Answer

Your purchased knife will arrive in one of our printed boxes. Shipping within New Zealand is free and we aim to have your knife arrive by courier within 3 – 5 business days. For rural areas, it may take up to 7 business days.
 
Delivery times and prices for overseas purchases are more varied and will be calculated on an individual basis. We can confirm the price of delivery at the time of your order.
 
If you make use of our individual knife sharpening service after purchase, or to get other knives sharpened in general, postage to and from our premises will need to be arranged and paid for by you directly.

Question 12

Do you sharpen knives and how much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

I will sharpen any knife. Give me a call or drop me an email.
 
If I have to re-profile the apex of your knife to get it back to its best, the cost will vary, so it depends on the condition of your knife.
 
A normal knife sharpening for a non-damaged knife will cost around NZD$15, however (and postage is to be paid by you).

Question 13

How long will it take before I receive my knife?

Accepted Answer

Postage times are listed above.
 
If you order a pre-crafted knife directly from our website, delivery will conform to these postage times.
 
For individually custom-crafted knives, the production time of the actual knife depends on your requirements and the availability of materials both within New Zealand and overseas. I will let you know.

Question 14

Do you buy all of your materials within New Zealand?

Accepted Answer

I only use high quality materials in my knives and as a result, I source my resources from international as well as local sources.
 
For example, depending on what kind of steel you want in your knife I may buy from Japan, the USA, Sweden, Germany, England, South Africa or New Zealand (amongst others).
 
Unfortunately, not every material I need is available in New Zealand.

Question 15

How do you come up with your designs?

Accepted Answer

I go for shapes that ‘flow’. My understanding of how materials perform influences my choice of design.
 
For custom-crafted knives, the shape and design of the knife is affected by what the customer wants and the way that they will use it.
 
I enjoy precision and balance so where possible I will measure a customer’s hand to ensure a good balance and a good comfortable fit for the customer.

Question 16

How does the shape of a knife affect its performance?

Accepted Answer

This is a complex subject. The angle of the apex of the blade is determined by the intended use of the knife.
 
For example, the angle required on an outdoor hunting knife will be different to the angle on a knife used to cut sashimi.
 
There are many sorts of profile grinds that will enable each individual process.

Question 17

How long does it take to make a knife?

Accepted Answer

From start to finish, once I have all of the materials, it usually takes up to 16 hours in total.
 
However, this cannot always be done in one slotted time period and can be spread over several days.
 
Each knife comes with its own Certificate of Authenticity.

Question 18

Can I order a custom crafted knife?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Absolutely. Ring me to discuss your needs.

Question 19

Do I need to put down a deposit for a customised order?

Accepted Answer

For custom-crafted knives we will need a 70% deposit before ordering materials. We will also need a mutually agreed upon email document confirming and specifying the details and design of your knife.
 
Brainstorming sessions are free :)

Question 20

How do I care for my knife?

Accepted Answer

Your knife is unique. All high carbon steel knives need to be looked after, as do stainless steel knives.
 
Every knife blade will rust if it is not looked after properly, even stainless steel blades.
 
In order to care for your knife, make sure you wash it by hand, dry it and store it safely in a knife block, knife rack or individually spaced drawer after each use. This will ensure your knife will stay in its best condition and reduce the need to sharpen it as often.
 
Use a wooden, Teflon, plastic or nylon cutting board every time and never cut on ceramic surfaces as this will damage your blade and blunt your knife.
 
Regularly rub vegetable oil (olive, avocado, canola or sunflower) on your knife if it is made from high carbon steel at least once a week to maintain it in peak condition.
 
Dishwashers can chip and blunt your knife so don’t throw your knife in with the rest of your dishes. Dishwasher soaps can also damage the apex of your blade. Wash by hand!
 
When storing your hunting knife do not store your knife in its sheath – especially if it is leather. Wash it and dry it after use. High carbon blades will also need oiling. If you forget and the blade does develop signs of rust, bring it to me and I will restore it to the best of my ability.
 
I can also professionally sharpen your knife blade when the need arises – just call or email me.

Question 21

How do I keep my knife sharp and where can I get it sharpened?

Accepted Answer

How often your knife needs sharpening depends on its use.
 
To keep your kitchen knife as sharp as possible for as long as possible, make sure you only use it on proper wood, Teflon, nylon or plastic cutting boards. Cutting on ceramic surfaces such as plates will damage your blade and blunt your knife.
 
Hand wash it and dry it after every use and store it in a knife block, knife rack or individually spaced drawer where it won’t collide with other implements.
 
High carbon steel blades will need to be oiled at least once a week to keep your knife in top condition.
 
For hunting knives, always wash and dry your knife after use and do not store it in its sheath – especially if it is leather. These knives will also need to be oiled if they are made of high carbon steel.
 
If you know how to sharpen your knife correctly, do it yourself. If you don’t, bring it to me and I will do it for you. I sharpen my knives with Japanese water stones only – to a 10,000 grit.

Question 22

What kind of steel goes into your handcrafted knives?

Accepted Answer

Basically, you have two types of steel – high carbon and stainless steel. Within each category you get many different combinations of steels with different characteristics. Each alloy has a different identity which gives it a different performance in different environments.
 
High carbon knives have to be hand washed and dried after every use. The blade also needs regular oiling to maintain its condition and to keep it from rusting. Stainless steel blades also need oiling occasionally.

Question 23

What kind of hardening processes do your blades go through?

Accepted Answer

There are four different types of hardening processes available, dependent on the different kinds of steel used.
 
Predominately, I use air hardening, water (brine) and oil hardening processes – although cryo is also an option.

Question 24

What is a full tang blade and why is it a good thing?

Accepted Answer

A full tang blade is where the steel that the knife is made from runs through the full length of the handle. It makes for a much stronger knife – as opposed to cheaper factory made knives which often do not come with a full tang embedded.
 
All of my knives have full tang blades.

Question 25

Why is balance important in a knife?

Accepted Answer

Balance is especially important in kitchen knives because you don’t want the point of the blade or the handle to be too heavy.
 
The balance point of the knife in most kitchen knives needs to be approximately where your index finger rests on the handle.
 
For cleavers, the balance point is 2/3rd up the blade.
 
It all depends on the use your knife is designed for.

Question 26

What is the difference between a highly polished finish and a satin finish?

Accepted Answer

A choice between the two is based on personal preference based on the appeal of the aesthetics.
 
A satin finish is not as shiny as a highly polished finish.
 
They take the same care to look after.

Question 27

Why is there a patina on my knife blade?

Accepted Answer

The high iron content in high carbon steel gives it a natural patina over time. The patina will slowly form a layer that will protect the steel blade from rust and environmental damage.
 
All high carbon knife blades need to be oiled with a vegetable oil such as olive, avocado, canola or sunflower to keep them in peak condition.

Question 28

Our Returns Policy

Accepted Answer

All of my knives come with a lifetime warranty for quality craftsmanship and materials.
 
If there is anything wrong with your knife, I want to know. If you have used it for what it was designed for and it doesn’t perform as it should, I will work with you until we find the right solution for your needs. I want you to love your knife.
 
I cannot replace your customised knife if you simply change your mind, however. That is why I am open to working with you so intensively in the initial design phases of production.
 
If you find you want to slightly modify your design, however, talk to me and I will see what I can do.
 
All knives need to be paid for in full in advance of shipping.
 
The beauty of your knife is that it is uniquely handcrafted, not machine made. The metallurgy processes are usually at a much higher quality than most factory-made knives.
 
For custom-crafted knives we will need a 70% deposit before ordering materials. We will also need a mutually agreed upon email document confirming and specifying the details and design of your knife.
 
Brainstorming sessions are free :)

Question 29

How do you look after my data?

Accepted Answer

We value your privacy. We won’t share your information or details with anyone (unless we are legally required to do so). This website is also encrypted.
 
And we won't add you to our email subscriber list unless you want us to.

Question 30

What kind of handle can I order?

Accepted Answer

You can order handles made of bone, leather, resin, acrylic, all types of woods from international tree varieties to New Zealand native woods to olive tree or fruit tree woods.
 
You can also order metallic handles in aluminium or brass - Or a combination of any of the above.
 
I can also do paua shell inlays.
 
Leather and kydex sheaths are also available for your knife at a separate cost.

Question 31

Can I order a separate sheath for my knife?

Accepted Answer

Yes. I can make you a sheath for your knife made from either leather or kydex.
 
Sheaths are especially recommended for hunting and general purpose knives if you are travelling with them.

Kiwi Blade Knives

Unique handcrafted knives for unique individuals

Frequently asked questions