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I thought I’d share a bit of the story of how we ended up designing truffle tools, and why it means so much to me.

It probably starts back when I was a kid, going through my nan’s drawers in her front room. I used to find old Zippo lighters, metal pens, tools, and all sorts of bits and pieces, along with brass dog ornaments. I was obsessed with them, the smell, the weight, the way they were made. There was something about their beauty, their uniqueness, and especially their durability. These were things that had already lived a life, yet still worked perfectly and could be passed down again.

Looking back, I think that is where it started, this appreciation for things that are both functional and beautiful.

As I got older, and after years of working with my hands, I naturally built up a collection of tools, work tools, garden tools, all sorts. I have always liked tools that not only do the job well but look the part too. Japanese garden tools, in particular, are a big favourite of mine.

Then came truffle hunting.

When Winnie and I first started, I went looking for tools and found loads online. Some were beautiful, but they were either nearly impossible to get hold of or ridiculously expensive to ship over here. Even the simplest ones came at a cost that just did not make sense.

More than that, a lot of them just were not suited to the UK. We are not digging deep for white truffles here, and I am not about to walk through the woods carrying something that looks out of place or draws attention. Even some of the smaller tools felt too obvious for the kind of hunting I like to do.

I have always preferred to stay discreet when I am out. The smaller tools I design are not just about convenience, they allow us truffle hunters to go about what we are doing without being obvious, keeping things quiet and a bit more secretive, which is often part of the appeal.

At the same time, I knew how important the right tool is. You want to minimise damage to the truffle, and more importantly, to the mycelium network beneath the soil. Some situations call for gently popping a truffle out, others need careful excavation. And yes, sometimes you just use your hands, but that does not always end well. I have had my fair share of cuts to prove it.

So I decided to design my own.

From the start, I knew they had to be practical, small enough to fit in a large pocket or a small bag, and strong enough to handle years of digging without failing. They also had to be designed for the kind of truffle hunting we actually do here, careful, low impact, and respectful of the ground.

But just as importantly, they had to mean something.

I have always believed tools carry memories. One of mine, the blue truffle tool, is the one we used to dig up mine and Winnie’s first truffle. That is something I will never forget, and it is exactly the kind of connection I want people to have with the tools they use.

As far as I am aware, I am the only person in the country designing truffle tools like this, and they are entirely my own British design. The double ended tools, especially, are something I have not seen anywhere else. It has been great seeing people use them out in the field and hearing how well they work for them.

Every part of each tool is made in the UK and hand forged, which means no two are ever exactly the same. I have used all sorts of materials for handles, from blackthorn to 1,000 year old bog wood, as well as recycled pieces with their own stories. Some of the strongest tools I have designed came from a 1940s pickaxe handle, and one of the most popular came from an old ladder rung.

That is the part I enjoy most, knowing these tools are going out into the world and becoming part of other people’s stories. Finding truffles, making memories, and hopefully being passed on.