This week’s interview takes us to the UK, and it is a story that really shows that great beauty comes from perseverance and adaptability. This young maker has quickly gained my attention, and it is an absolute pleasure to share this interview.
To start off, please tell us a little about yourself.
I’m Em, a bladesmith hailing from Scotland, now found just outside sunny Brighton at Beggs Forgeworks.
I spent most of my life working in high end restaurants and deviated into bladesmithing after living in Japan.
I love all things food and drink, art, bunnies, and very loud music.
What sparked your interest in knives?
Food and drink have always been a large part of me. Being a very hands-on person all my life I sought to look after my knives properly quite early on due to working in high end culinary
establishments. Later on in life I was living in Osaka, I was already in a knee deep in a dive, learning about many different crafts in my spare time (from ceramics to watchmaking). So, I strolled down to Sakai and met many amazing bladesmiths down there. I was hooked.
What inspired you to do this and how did you learn?
Desperation and determination.
While living in Japan, my visa was due a renewal… just as covid unfolded.
I was advised to go back home by the officials (and no other choice given really).
Having built my career in food and beverage and sent packing back to the UK, I was coming back to no job, no furlough, no support.
I had a long last few weeks in Japan deliberating and deciding upon learning to forge.
I’m entirely self-taught, though reading, YouTube and often asking lots of questions and feedback from some amazing makers such as Orion Knifeworks or Sonia though a knifemaking Discord.
When did you start making knives?
I started “learning” during lockdown.
Making knives worth looking at is more a recent development for me, haha.
What did you make your first knife with?
I forged my first knife out of an old farrier’s rasp. I actually had an accident the first few strikes as I didn’t hold it correctly with the tongs and hammered the wrong spot, pinging the rasp out the
tongs and bursting my bottom lip wide open, haha.
Do you have a favorite knife you made, tell me about it?
I’m plagued with the mind of someone who is their worst critic. Every knife I make I always nitpick it apart saying I could have done it better or differently. So, if I did have one it would most likely change the next time I make a batch of knives, haha.
What is the most important aspect of a well-made knife?
I’m going to cheat with this one and say it’s all three, Material, Heat Treatment and Geometry. With one weak link in this chain, you will have subpar cutlery.
What keeps you going?
Seeing the work and processes of my inspirations (all fields not just knifemaking) always pushes me to better myself. Find more ways to express myself through my work or learn improvements
on techniques and results.
What kinds of knives do you make?
Luxury kitchen knives, using materials with provenance.
How did your background affect your approach to knives?
Working in kitchens for a long time definitely lead me down this path.
Who are your influences/inspirations?
Orion Knifeworks, The Artificery, and Karol Karys are the big three for knifemaking. I also take a lot of inspiration from the materials I find and use, architecture/interior design, local geology, and even the odd snippets of sci-fi/fantasy literature.
How do you think that inspiration (those inspirations) translates into your work?
They inspired me to pursue the beautiful and artistic side of knifemaking with more intent and purpose, without sacrificing function.
What is the perfect knife?
The right knife for the job. I wouldn’t use a deba to trim strawberries.
How do you approach knife testing?
Each edge is tested after heat treatment using the usual methods, brass rod rolling, cutting, hardness files. One day I’ll get the rockwell tester, but there’s other things higher on the priority
list!
How do you develop a design, select a steel, and fine-tune a heat treatment?
If I’ve not used a steel, I always make coupons and heat treat them differently using charts as a reference.
Selecting a steel depends on what job it will be made for, who will be using it, if it fits with the other materials in the finished product.
How has the knife world changed since you started?
I’d say I came in during one of the booms of knifemaking, but things have gotten quieter on the makers front since then, which applies to all fields of independent makers/businesses; many
have struggled to stay open. Some people and places that I never saw going under have closed up shop due to real struggles all over the world and it’s heart-wrenching to see.
What’s up next for you? Any exciting new projects to tell us about?
Wootz, Other kitchen tools and Lessons. All in due time. Need to give myself a proper paycheque first, haha!
To keep up with what Em is working on check out the website https://www.beggsforgeworks.co.uk/ and follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/beggsforgeworks/
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