Emberleaf Cael vs Ventari

[SussexSteve]

Having owned or own a lot of knives by all the top blacksmiths I recommend you have look at Marc Zabroski knives. A great product at a reasonable price. Ive had a few knives through my hands and these are exceptionally well finished and perfectly balanced . Ive now commissioned 4 more Im that impressed by his work. Knifes are made in house from a bar of Sandvik steel through to his exceptional hand stitched leatherwork. Lovely to watch progress. These blacksmiths earn their corn in my opinion

 

[Mr B]

Alan Wood. Stuart Mitchell. Harry Boden (2nd hand as now dead) Danum

I was on the waiting list for an Alan Wood RM Woodlore. Waited about 8 years only to get to number 26 on the waiting list (as advised by woodlore) and be told in Jan 18 that Alan had decided to end his contract with them. Whilst I understand the monotony of him having to build the same knife every day for ten years or so, there is also the obligation to follow through with the commitment he made. As a result, one customer lost for good, regardless of how good I believe his knives are.

 

[Uncle f]

I have visited the factory several times. I have bought 4 knives, of which I sold 3.

Emberleaf sell a lot of knives through the trade, just what sort of discount do you think they offer them, "IF" there is only £90.00 profit in the knives ?

When were you last there ?

April delivering some stuff for them

 

[JEH]

Thank you for all of the replies, appreciated.

 

[cervusguide]

We process a lot of deer each year, I’ve purchased a cael, a Stuart Mitchell knife and a Tom Weldon knife, plus all the normal victorinox larder knives. I don’t believe some of what’s been written previously about the costs of making a Cael, yes if you have a fancy handle, but not the standard stuff. They’re OK, they stay sharp for a while, in my opinion-which is just an opinion, they’re not that great, they’re flash, they look different, it’s a luxury. One that annoys me that you can’t sharpen it yourself if you lose the edge(yes you can strip if not too bad), you have to send it back-pretty useless in my opinion.
There are cheaper, more practical and personal knives out there, Emberleaf call them custom but I’m yet to see anything else custom that’s bashed out like they do, the handle may be custom but the knife isn’t.
Shop around, maybe have a look on custom UK knives for ideas.

 

[tusker]

This question of paying £000,s of pounds for a knife seems to be very devisive and a lot of you chaps cant see the sense of paying for a hand made knife made from quality materials I can only assume that you all shoot Baikal shotguns and Parker Hale rifles because if you use the same logic "they all work". and are very much cheaper than a Blazer.
Now to get back to the original question I think the Cael is a very good design and very well made, I do not own one but a few of my friends do and they would not change for anything. I used one for a while then tried to make my own version of it and I love it but many of you may not. If you like it and can afford it then you will have value for money. For what its worth most of my knives have Desert Ironwood handles and a good bit of Ironwood can cost from £50 to £80 add on bolts or mosaic, steel consumables like wet and dry paper, belts, epoxy and a nice leather sheath plus the time (it takes me 11 to 15 hours to make a knife). And I am just working from my shed. Emberleaf have a buisness unit and wages to pay plus lots of other overheads so I think to be honest if you like it and you want it and you can afford it buy it.
Tusker

 

[tusker]

We process a lot of deer each year, I’ve purchased a cael, a Stuart Mitchell knife and a Tom Weldon knife, plus all the normal victorinox larder knives. I don’t believe some of what’s been written previously about the costs of making a Cael, yes if you have a fancy handle, but not the standard stuff. They’re OK, they stay sharp for a while, in my opinion-which is just an opinion, they’re not that great, they’re flash, they look different, it’s a luxury. One that annoys me that you can’t sharpen it yourself if you lose the edge(yes you can strip if not too bad), you have to send it back-pretty useless in my opinion.
There are cheaper, more practical and personal knives out there, Emberleaf call them custom but I’m yet to see anything else custom that’s bashed out like they do, the handle may be custom but the knife isn’t.
Shop around, maybe have a look on custom UK knives for ideas.

The Cael could be described as custom as they did design and develope it them selves with the input of local deerstalkers, it is now being copied by a few knife makers.
Tusker

 

[cervusguide]

The Cael could be described as custom as they did design and develope it them selves with the input of local deerstalkers, it is now being copied by a few knife makers.
Tusker

English Language Learners Definition of custom-made. : made to fit the needs or requirements of a particular person. See the full definition for custom-made in the English Language Learners Dictionary.
-Not every person that buys one

 

[tusker]

English Language Learners Definition of custom-made. : made to fit the needs or requirements of a particular person. See the full definition for custom-made in the English Language Learners Dictionary.
-Not every person that buys one

what do you want 100 f£cking lines or detention, cock.
Tusker

 

[Overlay]

I’ve got the cael V2 And a garron - all are really good work blades, keep a good stropped edge forever - nothing not to like
I use the cael for internal & soft tissue and the more beefy garron on the neck, legs and breast bone - they do the job admirably. Used on fallow And Boar, At the end of the day I’ve still got at least one razor sharp blade

The two Alan wood blades I have - got to say they are faultless, keep a sharp edge, handle is good to hold, these are my go to knives for anything, I love these blades they do what you want them to do and don’t blunt easy, use them on Roe and Muntie - just the right size for The species

Danum blades my stalking buddy uses, he swears by them and having used it myself - they really are very good as any out there

if I had to choose I think it would be The Alan wood Blades to keep

Emberleaf are pretty easy to obtain, A wood - Waiting time can be lengthy

look to what species you are going use them on, making sure it fits youI wouldn’t get a garron for Roe or Muntie, the blade is toooooo long and using it to release internal organs, would Be like slasher bills been let loose inside you’ll cut and mark the rib cage as it’s Too long for internal and too wide for the dirty end, the cael v2 is just right for roe and munties
Also there’s the cost to consider, look around to buy secondhand at worst it may just need a proper sharp

lets not forget all the lesser known bladesmiths out there, all the joy of getting the blade you want and it’s character and the way it fits is the best part, finding and getting the One ( s) you want is crucial to you wanting to use it

good luck

phil

 

[cervusguide]

what do you want 100 f£cking lines or detention, cock.
Tusker

Now now, just because you don’t agree with another opinion, that’s why it’s called an opinion

 

[hignet]

Just a thought isn't 10 to12 hours labour @£20 an hour counted as wages

 

[Uncle f]

Just a thought isn't 10 to12 hours labour @£20 an hour counted as wages

Of course there wages but they still have to be considered as part of the cost of the product. Otherwise your not make any money not even wages

 

[Cawdor118]

I think the best knife i ever had was a Stuart Mitchell. Have a look at his stuff.

 

[delta wolf]

I’ve got the cael V2 And a garron - all are really good work blades, keep a good stropped edge forever - nothing not to like
I use the cael for internal & soft tissue and the more beefy garron on the neck, legs and breast bone - they do the job admirably. Used on fallow And Boar, At the end of the day I’ve still got at least one razor sharp blade

The two Alan wood blades I have - got to say they are faultless, keep a sharp edge, handle is good to hold, these are my go to knives for anything, I love these blades they do what you want them to do and don’t blunt easy, use them on Roe and Muntie - just the right size for The species

Danum blades my stalking buddy uses, he swears by them and having used it myself - they really are very good as any out there

if I had to choose I think it would be The Alan wood Blades to keep

Emberleaf are pretty easy to obtain, A wood - Waiting time can be lengthy

look to what species you are going use them on, making sure it fits youI wouldn’t get a garron for Roe or Muntie, the blade is toooooo long and using it to release internal organs, would Be like slasher bills been let loose inside you’ll cut and mark the rib cage as it’s Too long for internal and too wide for the dirty end, the cael v2 is just right for roe and munties
Also there’s the cost to consider, look around to buy secondhand at worst it may just need a proper sharp

lets not forget all the lesser known bladesmiths out there, all the joy of getting the blade you want and it’s character and the way it fits is the best part, finding and getting the One ( s) you want is crucial to you wanting to use it

good luck

phil

Totally agree on Alan wood knives, I love my cael but am also waiting for AW number 3 to be delivered!

 

[Jim@DGVM]

Another vote for Marc Zebroski knives.
He made these for me and my guys, first class knife maker.

 

[tusker]

I ful

Now now, just because you don’t agree with another opinion, that’s why it’s called an opinion

l fully respect your opinion mate but object to having the effing dictionary quoted at me.
Tusker

 

[Overlay]

Another vote for Marc Zebroski knives.
He made these for me and my guys, first class knife maker.

View attachment 166031

View attachment 166030

Very nice

Another vote for Marc Zebroski knives.
He made these for me and my guys, first class knife maker.

View attachment 166031

View attachment 166030

They look superb Jim

What steel are they

 

[RM100]

Of course there wages but they still have to be considered as part of the cost of the product. Otherwise your not make any money not even wages

So, if. Understand this correctly.....there is £20/hour wages as well as profit on top.

How many other ways can one stick the buyer? ’Admin costs’, ‘Sourcing fee’ etc etc

 

[FGYT]

Well. I’ve got two Caels, a garron, Artemis and now a ventari. The ventari comes out more often than not. For £500 for the knife let’s look at the maths.
Dean at Emberleaf has told me that on a standard (not special handle etc) Cael,garron ventari etc there is approx £130 worth or materials to include blade, rivets, sheath material leather/kydex. Then it’s about 10-12 hours work start to finish.

Price charged is what the maker wants and what the buyer will pay so can be any number they both agree on

however £130 for materials on a basic knife is Rubbish they use AEB-L for their main stainless which is a great choice but its a basic stainless and not that expensive. I use Elmax as Gen 3 powder steel and a laser cut heat treated with computer cryogenic quench etc blank is £20ish G10 a great choice for food use is 5quids worth in small qty another £5 to £10 for handle pins and Kydex (depending on if you want black or expensive custom print )

The scandi grind is the quickest to grind with minimal material to remove (and completely the wrong grind for 1 Basic stainless and 2 for use on food especially nr bone as it will chip out ) should be 2 to 3 hrs with a reasonable kitted Knifeworkshop to grind fit a handle and make a Kydex sheath.

yes I do know I've been making knives for 13yrs now and remember when Emberleaf started up in the bushcraft knife world