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©Alexander O'Neill
©Alexander O'Neill
©Alexander O'Neill
©Alexander O'Neill
©Alexander O'Neill

Alexander O'Neill

  • Gorse Knives
  • Knife maker
  • London, United Kingdom
  • Rising Star
Alexander O'Neill Knife maker
Contact
English
Hours:
By appointment only
Phone:
+44 7969499823
©Alexander O'Neill

My blue steel blades

  • • Alexander crafts carbon steel kitchen knives
  • • He has a modern utilitarian aesthetic
  • • His knives acquire unique patinas over time

Alexander O'Neill is a knife maker based in London who creates handmade kitchen knives in his workshop called Gorse Knives. He started his knife making business in 2016, though his background is in jewellery. He studied Jewellery and Silversmithing at The John Cass School for Architecture and Design. His jewellery creations were experimental and required him to create a lot of his own tools, which eventually led him to discover the craft of knife making. Alexander initially made knives from his home, until he started working at his craft full-time. Throughout his life, Alexander always created things, and now enjoys how knife making requires his full attention when he forges, with its mix of design, heat, precision, and danger.

Read the full interview

Works

  • ©Alexander O’Neill
  • ©Alexander O’Neill
  • ©Alexander O’Neill
  • ©Alexander O’Neill
  • ©Alexander O’Neill
Photo: ©Alexander O’Neill
Gyuto knife with buffalo horn handle

This Gyuto knife’s blade measures 20 cm in length and is hand forged from cladded blue paper steel. The forging process reveals the marble-like layers of the metal, showing glimpses of the dark blue paper steel beneath and giving the knife its unique signature. The blade has a fine, pointed tip and the handle is hand crafted from polished buffalo horn.

Photo: ©Alexander O’Neill
Petty knife with tulip wood handle

This Petty knife has a short, fine blade for delicate kitchen work. The tulip wood handle displays hues of rose, striated with deep chestnut brown and fiery orange. The folded steel in both the blade and bolster gives the knife its distinctive marble-like pattern. This knife has been meticulously hand forged, giving the blade its precise, black edge.

Photo: ©Alexander O’Neill
Petty knife with buffalo horn handle

The Petty knife is a smaller knife used for delicate kitchen work. This knife has polished buffalo horn and brass pins for the handle. The horn displays a rich black glossiness that contrasts with the gold of the brass. The blade is made of hand forged blue paper steel with layered steel cladding resembling marble and a sharp, black edge.

Photo: ©Alexander O’Neill
Santoku knife with walnut wood handle

This Santoku knife has a shorter, wider blade for tougher kitchen work. The walnut in the handle shows intermingling shades of brown and muted gold, and the blade of hand forged blue paper steel with layered steel cladding displays distinctive layers. The blade has a slight curve in its belly and a pointed tip.

Photo: ©Alexander O’Neill
Santoku knife with elm wood handle

The Santoku knife is short and thick, with a slight curve to its belly and a pointed tip. By hand forging layered steel-clad blue paper steel, the blade is laminated, revealing its layers in a gentle, marble-like pattern and showing glimpses of the dark grey beneath. The elm wood handle, a sandy golden colour, is striped and flecked with darker hues of amber and chestnut.

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