Fingal Ferguson

Knife maker

©Joleen Cronin

©John Dolan

©Joleen Cronin

Force and finesse

Fingal makes beautiful culinary knives
Material choice is a core concern for him
He sees his craft as a key step in enjoying good food

Fingal Ferguson makes knives on Gubbeen Farm, where four generations before him have lived and worked the family farm. His workshop is a hub for repairs needed on food production and farming tools. From this multifunctional space, he creates his stunning chef knives. It is a dusty, rustic room with antlers hanging from the ceiling. Knives at different stages of production lie in wait to be finished, depending on the mood of the maker each day. Mostly self-taught, Fingal has amassed his skills over years of practice and with the support of fellow knife makers. His craft is age-old and though he is creating objects for use, each one is crafted with extreme care and creativity. Aesthetically beautiful, his finished works are also perfectly balanced precision tools.

Interview

©Joleen Cronin

©Joleen Cronin

How did you learn your craft?: I started as a hobby, training with local knife maker Rory Connor. I am mostly self-taught, and took short courses or sought advice from fellow makers. I started selling knives about 15 years ago, and now I have a waiting list for my knives!
What is it about making knives that attracted you?: It is the knife that makes food that brings people together. I grew up in a family that makes artisan food and many of our friends are food lovers. By making culinary knives I opened another door of connection to peers and fellow food lovers.
How would you describe your connection with materials?: Collecting the unique materials for a handle is one of my favourite parts of the process. Burl wood and fossils, as well as specialist knife steels are a passion for most knife makers. The knife is such a personal implement – I want to make something that is definitively singular.
How do you approach function within your craft?: I feel that the process of creating beautiful blades comes from a combination of understanding the materials, and skills built up through experience. A working and perfectly formed blade is a balance between brute force and finishing with finesse.

Fingal Ferguson is a master artisan: he began his career in 2005 and he started teaching in 2015