A design classic reimagined as hand-cast handles that each take a week to make.
A design classic reimagined as hand-cast handles that each take a week to make.
Price range: £1,140 through £1,395
This quartet brings together four very different blades, each with its own character, yet together they cover every manoeuvre a kitchen can throw at you. Light, sharp, precise and guaranteed for life.
The Union Jack is one of the world’s great pieces of design. Not because of any national connotations, but because it’s bold, balanced and impossible to mistake for anything else. That’s why it’s been borrowed, twisted and celebrated by everyone from Peter Blake to Alexander McQueen, The Who to the Sex Pistols, Geri Halliwell to Damien Hirst. It’s geometry at its best – and that’s something we understand.
The handles are cast in our workshop in a process that takes well over a week to achieve – during which time the handle base can’t move even a fraction of a millimetre. But when they’re done, they’re striking, durable and comfortable; everything we look for in a handle.
We’re not here to wave flags. We’re here to admire them. Just as we admire any design that gets the fundamentals right: proportion, line, balance, detail. Exactly what we’ve built into these knives.
Because in the end, whether it’s a national emblem, an album cover, or a kitchen essential, good design speaks for itself.
Available either individually or as a set with one of our distinctive British Oak stands.
Knives Included
CATRA – the global authority on cutlery performance – rank our knives in the top 2.5% of all blades ever assessed for initial sharpness and edge retention. Each blade in the The Union Quad is hardened in-house to 60 HRC using a nitrogen atmosphere process, taking the steel from 1080°C to -75°C in a controlled cycle that maximises carbide formation, edge stability and corrosion resistance. The blades are ground to a unique concave profile – a geometry that reduces drag and improves slicing performance without sacrificing rigidity. Each knife is sharpened to 15 degrees per side.
Washing
Wash by hand and dry immediately. The steel handles dishwashers, but the handle materials don’t, and the blade will dull faster regardless. Ten seconds at the sink is the right habit.
Day-to-day maintenance
A honing steel realigns the edge between sharpenings. Two or three passes per side before heavy use is enough. You don’t need to do this every time – just when the blade starts to feel less certain.
Sharpening
We offer complimentary workshop sharpening once a year for the first three years. After that we sharpen at cost. If you prefer to sharpen at home, our blades are ground to a 15-degree bevel – specify this if you use a third-party service, as most sharpen to 20 or 22 degrees as a default.
Storage
A magnetic strip or knife roll is ideal. Loose in a drawer accelerates dulling and risks chipping the edge. If a drawer is the only option, a blade guard solves both problems.
Handle care
Timber handles benefit from a light application of food-safe cutting board oil once or twice a year. Composite handles need nothing beyond normal washing.
Yourself
“To thine own self be true.”
– William Shakespeare
Essentials & Maker's Choice — Default Handle
Each knife has a default handle that is held in stock and available for next working day despatch.
Essentials & Maker's Choice — Alternative Handle
If you'd prefer a different handle from our standard range, we'll despatch within 7 working days.
Knife Builder & Sets and Collections
All knives designed through our Knife Builder, or ordered from Sets and Collections, are despatched within 3-4 weeks. If you have a particular date in mind, get in touch — we're often able to help.
All orders are delivered by Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed in specially-designed tubular Savernake packaging. A signature and age verification will be required on delivery.
International Delivery
We charge a £40 flat rate for delivery worldwide.
Lifetime Guarantee
With proper care, our knives are guaranteed for a lifetime of use
Unique Concave Geometry
Our signature blade profile. A cutting edge with only the thinnest sliver of near-parallel steel to follow through.
CATRA Top 2.5% Worldwide
Independently ranked in the top 2.5% of all knives ever assessed for sharpness and edge retention
60 HRC Hardness
Hardened in-house to 60 HRC using a nitrogen atmosphere and cryogenic treatment to -75°C
Individually Crafted
Every knife is made by hand in our Wiltshire workshop, from steel selection through to final edge
Like some more options?
Our configurator lets you choose from 18 blade designs, with full control over handle material, shape, spine pattern and accent colour.Â
