Spalted Red Maple English Trade Knife #478

Discover the Spalted Red Maple English Trade Knife #478, a handcrafted knife that blends the heritage of 18th-century English trade knives with the versatility today’s cooks and outdoorsmen appreciate.

Part of Greg’s Florida Wood Series, this 10 1/8″ knife features a 6″ slightly trailing-point blade forged from 3/32″ US-sourced 1095 high carbon steel. Its antiqued finish and finely honed convex grind make it a versatile cutting tool, equally at home slicing vegetables, trimming meats, or handling everyday tasks in the kitchen, chuck wagon, or camp.

A Modern Knife with Historic Roots

English trade knives were once indispensable household tools, valued for their toughness, simplicity, and versatility. Styled after the knives carried to the New World during the 17th and 18th centuries, this knife carries that tradition forward with a design suited to today’s needs.

The handle is crafted from stabilized Florida Spalted Red Maple, showcasing the dramatic figuring and flowing lines created by natural spalting. No two pieces of spalted maple are alike, making each handle distinctly individual. The wood is stabilized for added durability and finished with three peened D10 Bright finishing nails for a mechanical connection.

At just 4.65 oz, this knife offers a lightweight, balanced feel without sacrificing the solid construction expected of a hardworking tool.

These English Trade Knives have consistently been popular at our markets, often selling quickly when first displayed. Their usefulness, balance, and timeless design make them a favorite among customers looking for a dependable, versatile knife.

As part of our Florida Wood Series, this knife also includes two collectible custom business cards featuring photographs and specifications of your exact knife. These unique keepsakes are exclusive to GreBec Knives and preserve a little piece of the story behind the knife you’ll own.

Optional Handcrafted Leather Sheath

Complete your knife with an optional, handcrafted leather sheath.

Each sheath is cut from vegetable-tanned leather, dyed using homemade dyes brewed in Greg’s shop, then hand-stitched with heavy linen thread and sealed with beeswax for water resistance.

Choose between two distinctive finishes:

• Vinegaroon Black: A deep, iron-black finish created with Greg’s homemade vinegaroon dye.
• Oak Bark Brown: A warm, earthy brown produced using oak bark extract.

Learn more about Greg’s homemade dye process in our Historic Leather Dyes blog series.

Specifications

• Overall Length: 10 1/8″
• Knife Weight: 4.65 oz
• Blade Length: 6″
• Blade Width: 1″
• Blade Thickness: 3/32″
• Blade Material: US-sourced 1095 High Carbon Steel
• Blade Style: Slight Trailing Point, Full Tang
• Blade Finish: Antiqued
• Grind: Convex
• Handle Material: Stabilized Florida Spalted Red Maple
• Handle Fasteners: Three peened D10 Bright finishing nails
• Sheath (Optional): Handcrafted vegetable-tanned leather
• Hand-stitched with heavy linen thread
• Sealed with beeswax for water resistance
• Available in Vinegaroon Black or Oak Bark Brown