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Behind the filleting knife design, tested on Rakiura Stewart Island
In November 2024 we took three of these knives on our annual ten-day hunting, fishing and diving trip to the bottom of Rakiura Stewart Island, a part of the island you can only reach by boat. They were passed around a crew of experienced fishermen and hunters, people who already had knives they liked. Almost everyone commented on the same three things: the little extra stiffness in the tip, the fine sharp blade that slides along the bones, and how the handles felt in the hand.
That stiffness comes from the distal taper. The blade is 2.5 mm thick at the handle and thins steadily to 1.3 mm at the tip, so it is firm where you need control and flexes where you need it to. In Bruce's words: I love the distal taper on the blade which gives it just the right amount of flex to easily fillet a fish.
The pleasure of this knife is the feedback. You feel the tip ride across the bones, and when you need to go through one, it goes through cleanly.
It belongs to our Heirloom Range: the designs we like so much that we make them again and again, refined over many iterations and a lot of experimentation. Each one is made to last and to be handed down.
Filleting knife specifications
| Steel | AEB-L stainless, hardened to 60 HRC |
|---|---|
| Blade length | 190 mm |
| Overall length | 310 mm |
| Blade height at the heel | 21 mm |
| Spine thickness | 2.5 mm at the handle, tapering to 1.3 mm at the tip |
| Weight | 175 g, knife only |
| Tang | Full tang construction: the steel runs the whole length of the handle |
| Handle | Micarta, or a timber of your choice |
| Lanyard | Lanyard hole in the handle; a paracord loop fitted free on request |
| Sheath | Custom Kydex in black, blue or army green, included; or upgrade to leather (+$120) |
| Belt clip | None, as these knives are never worn on the belt; one can be added on request |
| Made in | Ness Valley, Clevedon, New Zealand |
Handle materials
Choose micarta or timber. Micarta is layers of cloth set hard in resin, and it is virtually bulletproof to water and chemicals. It holds a sure grip in a wet hand, so if the knife will live on the boat, it is the one to have.
Much of our timber is recycled: offcuts from boat builders' and furniture makers' scrap bins, just the right size for a knife handle, and old rimu floorboards salvaged from old houses. Timber has that natural, classic character, and no two handles are the same.
Sheath materials
Choose Kydex or leather. Both are made by hand in our workshop to fit your knife. The Kydex sheath comes with the knife. Bruce moulds it around your blade so it clicks in and holds, and after a day on salt water a rinse under the tap is all it needs. The leather upgrade is hand-stitched, with that more luxury feel and classic look, and it softens and darkens with use, ageing beautifully alongside the knife.
Ordering a filleting knife
- Choose the handle material and sheath type, and whether you want engraving. Engraving is $25 for about ten characters. An engraved knife can't be swapped, so check the spelling.
- Bruce makes your knife. We'll email you to agree the handle. He grinds the blade, fits the handle and makes the sheath to suit it.
- We wrap it in kraft paper, seal it with wax, box it and send it to you tracked, usually two to three working days once it's dispatched. To send it straight to someone, put their address and a message in the order notes. For overseas orders, get in touch for a quote.
Filleting knife questions
Why AEB-L steel?
AEB-L is a Swedish stainless steel first made for razor blades. Its grain is very fine, so it takes a keen edge and comes back with a few strokes on a stone. We harden it to 60 HRC, hard enough to hold that edge and soft enough that sharpening it isn't a chore.
Will it rust?
It is stainless, but salt water left on any steel will mark it in time. After a day on the boat, rinse it in fresh water and dry it before it goes back in the sheath.
Which fish is it for?
Snapper, kingfish, blue cod, trumpeter: any New Zealand fish you're likely to bring home. For monster-sized fish, a longer blade is a custom commission.
Is there a warranty?
Yes, a lifetime warranty. If something goes wrong that's our fault, we fix it free. If it's misused or damaged by accident, we repair it for a fee.
What if it isn't right for my hand?
Send it back unused and we'll find you another. Return shipping is at your cost and the swap is free.
How much is shipping?
$12.50, tracked, anywhere in New Zealand.
Got questions or looking to get a custom knife made? Email Bruce at bruce@lostarts.co.nz.
Rather make your own fishing knife? Bruce teaches a two-day Stainless Filleting Knife Course. Or see all of Bruce's handmade knives.