“You spend hours and hours bent over the steel grinding and polishing but I’ve got arthritis in my neck that now makes it too painful,” he says.

“I’ve loved making knives, but that’s probably the end of that.”

Hugh had already retired from his Muriwai farm when, a decade ago, he dropped in to visit an artisan knife-maker in Coromandel.

The art was not new to him – as a kid he’d make knives from crosscut saw blades – but he was fascinated by the technical skills required to take it to the next level.

He looked to Finland to source the high-quality El Max knife steel he imported in the bars from which he formed resilient, sharply-honed blades.

The handles were originally fashioned from polished hardwood but he has more recently used a Micarta resin composite he says is indestructible.

“It’s not quite as pretty but in terms of longevity, you can’t beat it,” says Hugh, himself a keen hunter.

“The aim is to make a knife that will last a very, very long time.”

Over the years he has made more than 100 mainly hunting and chef’s knives that have made their way to users all over the world.

And while hand-crafted pieces sell for hundreds of dollars, he’s happy with whatever the gifted piece raises at the Charity Auction.

“I’ve never had to go in the rescue helicopter myself,” he says, “but you never know when you might need it.”

Hugh Trafford’s hand-made knife is up for silent auction at the 2024 Charity Auction alongside more than 30 other items including a vintage Moroccan rug (donated by The Workshop), life-saving safety packs (funded by Westpac’s regional board) and a six-pack of tickets to the Longline Classic (gifted by the organisers).

But this year’s there’s a bit of a twist.

From 9am on Friday, September 6 they can be viewed via on-line bidding site Galabid, with bidding itself opening at the same time.

And anyone can bid, whether they are going to the event or not.

“Tickets to this event sell out very quickly and we are eternally grateful for that support, but EHRT wanted everyone to be able to connect in some way,” says event organiser Sara McNaught.

“So while the live auction of incredible items remains exclusive to those in the room, on-line bidding for the silent auction means anyone can get behind the trust and the incredible Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter team.”

Bidding for both silent and live auctions — and last-minute purchases of tickets in EHRT’s raffle to win the Gisborne Motors-sponsored Ford Ranger – ends at 10pm on September 13.

“There’s certainly a lot of work involved in pulling it all together,” says Sara. “But it’s so exciting to see it all come together with a great party, and a fantastic fundraising event to support the team’s critical, life-saving work.”

— To view items and or/bid on the EHRT silent auction, look on-line at https://app.galabid.com/ehrt24/items#skip

CAPTION: SHARP-SHOOTER: His days as an artisan maker may be over but Hugh Trafford says he’s pleased one of his coveted hunting knives will help raise much-needed funds for the Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust.