Knives

All young boys are fascinated by knives. When going to scout camp most of the kids had a knife of some sort, supposedly for whittling twigs to use on the camp fire, but probably just for playing "knifee" - you stand facing your opponent and through the knife a couple of feet away (it must stick blade-first in the ground) then your opponent has to move a foot there before taking his throw. When you can't move a foot to the knife thrown by your opponent you lose. There was always a danger of getting a knife in your foot...

Basque Country

But this was maybe my first knife with character:

It's not terribly practical as it does not lock in place and you need to swivel the small hook in order to get the blade out.

It may have been the same holiday in the Pyrenees when we came across a young lad who had just setup his own workshop in a small picturesque village. This was the first hand-made knife that I purchased from its maker:

Sardinia

On a holiday in Sardinia in 2005 I bought a beautiful Pattadese knife. I think it said "Pietro" and had a sun logo on the blade. However, my brother left it in his hand luggage while bringing it from Scotland for me and that was the end of that. I purchased on a later holiday a cheapo version. It's very light and I believe the handle is resin rather than bone. I can't make out what is written on this, even with a magnifying glass:

In Concarneau I saw a knife called Le London in a tourist shop. I didn't buy it on the spot but looked up the significance later: pointed knives were banned in the British navy in order to stop stabbings, only this snub-nosed style was allowed and the French baptised it "Le London". I ended up finding this one on-line.

At the same time on the same website (I think) I found this pretty one but know nothing of the maker or the style.

Here's a couple of very practical items I bought somewhere in France. Every shop in France stocks Laguiole and Le Thiers knives.

Patmos

This is the first non-folding knife I bought since my scout days. Made by a chap on the Greek island of Patmos where we stayed in 2019. The brass bits are made from ground down 50 cent pieces. The colourful bit is string set into resin. The engraving on the blade is "by Damiano". We bought Leo a kitchen knife from the same man.

Austria

I came across a knife maker in Nußdorf am Attersee and bought one below. Only the end cap on the handle spoils it a bit - looks like a cheap bottle top to me. He also runs courses which I had every intention of doing until Covid hit and all was cancelled for 2 years.

Südtirol

This next one is a masterpiece! Found it in a shop in Bolzano/Sud Tirol. There is some documentation here, including the explanation of the inscription on the blade. The first page is in old German script so hard to read!

Chinon

While cycling through Chinon in France I discovered a small shop with two guys selling their homemade knives. They started using the wood from wine casks thus giving the red tinge on the handles, then branched into other woods. The blades were purchased ready-made by Thiers, so they only designed and made the handles and the decoration on the spine (guillochage). Unfortunately last time I was in Chinon I discovered they had gone their separate ways and no longer made knives. A non-folding knife in France is called a "scandinave", no idea why.

France / Corsica

I can't remember where I picked up the L'Alpin, but it appears that the coutellerie "Au Sabot" is based in Thiers and makes a whole range of regional knives.

The Vendetta was picked up in Bonifacio while on a day-trip there from Sardinia. Definitely a tourist item and quite ugly and heavy due to the massive steel block.

Firenze

Came across a whole street of fantastic craft and fashion shops across the river in Florence last year, amongst them a shop selling hand-made knives. I bought this one which came complete with certificate, presentation box, lengthy booklet on the history and philosophy of the company and photos of the makers. It certainly oozes quality.

Beaune

While looking at wine in Beaune on our usual lunch stop when driving to Montbazon I found a beautiful knife. Also the most expensive one I have purchased at over €400. Lovely heavy bone handle.

Bretagne

This one was made by a lady in a small craft shop in the Golfe du Morbihan. Very nice to be served by the maker herself.

Alsace

Another regional knife from a tourist shop in Riquewihr. I guess it is the stork that makes it Alsacien.

Other

Here are some other basic knives that I have accumulated over the years.

So I guess I really have enough knives to for every occasion and to last more than my lifetime. I will not buy any more... unless there is a beauty and I get it from the artisan.

Update 2025

Well, I just happened to be in the same village of Logeo with its beautiful peaceful harbour and picked up another knife from the craft shop. The maker wasn't there but I need to get in touch with her to ask if she'll make me a sheath like the one above. The handle is quite bare wood so I will need to oil it. A very useful kitchen knife.

And then, merveille de merveille, on the way back from Brittany we stopped in the village of La Roche-Bernard where there just happened to be a bagpipe band parade, and a craft shop with this wonderful knife.

Surely that's enough now?