Shepherd Classic

The Shepherd Classic is the original expression of the Shepherd: a compact high-carbon steel working knife with a story rooted in food, fire, work and memory.

Its first name was neither polished nor romantic. One of the first people to use the knife called it “SkaapKop (SheepsHead)”, because it worked so well around traditional lamb, sheep-head and tripe meals. It was a rough little nickname, but an honest one. It came from use, not from a catalogue.

That story reaches back to the hard years of the 1930s and 1940s, when many families knew what it meant to waste nothing. Meat was respected. Tools were looked after. A knife was kept because it worked. Around farm kitchens, wood fires, sheep kraals, camp tables and enamel plates, a dependable blade was simply part of everyday life.

The Shepherd Classic carries that idea forward.

Its hand-forged 5160 high-carbon steel blade keeps the knife deliberately close to its working roots. It is tough, straightforward and made to be used rather than protected from use. The compact 100 mm blade gives excellent control for food preparation, camp work and general utility cutting, while the shaped Walnut handle brings warmth and traditional character.

It is not stainless. It will mark, age and gradually develop a patina. That is part of the character of a carbon-steel working knife.

From SkaapKop (SheepsHead) to Shepherd, the knife keeps its roots: practical steel, natural timber and the old idea that a good tool should earn its place.

Specifications

• 5160 Springsteel
• Blade length: 100 mm
• Blade height: 21 mm
• Overall length: 220 mm
• Handle: Wild Olive/ Walnut/ Camelthorn/ SnakeBean/ Ebony/ Haakdoring/ Knysna Ironwood

Care

5160 is a non-stainless carbon steel. Wipe the blade clean and dry after use, particularly after contact with food or moisture. Over time the blade may develop a natural patina.

A light application of SharpWax will help protect the steel against fingerprints, humidity and storage moisture.

Natural variation notice: SharpThings knives are handmade using natural hardwoods. No two pieces are identical — handle grain, colour and character will vary from the images shown. Photos are taken in a lightbox without post-processing to represent the knife accurately, but your piece will be uniquely its own.