Crafted for Adventure
Ben & Lois Orford have been handcrafting knives, tools and leatherwork for over 25 years. From their workshop in Herefordshire, UK, they produce and supply premium kit for bushcraft, survival, craft, camping and the outdoors. The Orford Range of knives, axes and carving tools strives for heirloom quality and are crafted for adventure.
For over 25 years our tools have travelled in the hands of bushcrafters, craftspeople and explorers - tested across tundra, jungle, desert, woodland and sea. Their tools have appeared on film and television in the hands of professional survivalists including Chris Backshall, Ed Stafford, Megan Hine, and many others, and is tested by those whose safety relies on high-quality equipment in the most extreme conditions.
A History of the Craft Lab
‘For us, beauty and practicality are one and the same - using the perfect tool for the task is an experience of great pleasure. That’s what we seek to create.’
Orford Knives started with a love of the outdoors. Beginning as woodworkers within the chairmaking traditions of Clissett Wood and the Chilterns, we have always had a passion for green woodwork, bushcraft, nature and heritage crafts. Ben trained under chairmaker Mike Abbott and woodworker Gudrun Leitz, and after meeting Lois, they built their first workshop together from an old wooden school chemistry lab, which we nicknamed the Craft Lab. Our craft and outdoor experience informed our early blades, tools and sheaths, always with our goal - to create functional, durable and beautiful items that were a joy to use.
Across the years, our tools have travelled to every continent, appeared on television, in print and in the hands of people whose work depends on reliable equipment. That breadth of use shapes the way we design: materials, geometry and detail informed by real-world use and rigorous testing.
Today, the Orford workshop remains a family company. Every knife and tool made in-house is shaped, ground, heat-treated and finished with close attention to detail. As the workshop has grown, so has the community around it - through shows, open days, workshops, talks, courses and shared knowledge.
The Orford Range includes tools for bushcraft, woodwork, heritage craft and survival. Our classic Woodlander has been with us from the beginning, joined over time by knives designed for camping, hunting, fishing, outdoor cooking, shelter building and carving. We also make larger cutting tools including parangs, kukris and axes. With craft at the centre of our history, we produce a full selection of carving tools and ready-to-go kits. Our leatherwork provides complementary sheaths for our knives and tools, alongside a wider range of everyday leather goods. Through the General Store, we stock quality outdoor kit, from tools and tool care, to blankets and hats.
Orford knives and tools are made from carefully chosen materials, including premium steels, hardwoods and quality component parts. Developed and refined over decades, our making processes include shaping, grinding, heat and cryogenic treatments, etching and marking. Across our leatherwork and equipment, we prioritise the local, ethical, and durable. We are committed to making tools that hold their edge — and to supporting their maintenance for years to come.
Quality tools should last and feel good in the hand. They should be a companion for all environments. They should last a lifetime and be passed on. That’s what we mean by heirloom quality. As the saying goes ‘the best knife is the one you’ve got with you’ – and that should always be a knife you trust.
