Historical knives

We endeavour to stock knives for our customers that have not only a personality but also a kindred soul. In order to fuse such a spirit into it we take inspiration from the old ways and usually adhere to traditional methods of manufacture. The cutler (artisan of knives) is very important, as well as the production techniques in ensuring that the piece will both serve and provide pleasure in its use. Try one and you will see.

We use several types of steel: spring steel, which is renowned for its outstanding hardness and flexibility, the carbon content of about 0.6 % and tool steel alloy with a carbon content around 0.8% provides great cutting power and resistance to wear.

Knives make up the greater part of our smithy’s production, but we also make Viking long knives with bone handles (called Seax or scramasax). These knives were so important to the Germanic peoples in the period of migration that they actually lent their name to the Saxon peoples and, by extension, some of the lands they once ruled over (Essex, Wessex, Middlesex…).

Forged knives, medieval seax knives. The majority of the knives we carry are forged and quite a few of them are replicas of historic knives inspired by findings at different archaeological digs (especially our Slavic, Viking, and Celtic knives).

Knife is as old as humanity itself. The first specimens of knives were made from knapped flint or obsidian way back in the Palaeolithic Period. Since this time knives have become such a part of our daily lives that we almost always take them for granted. Still, these small and very useful objects have won their way into our affections, especially among those who still consider themselves “hunters and gatherers” in some sense. In the Czech Republic we say that “every real man has to have a knife with him,” though of course the ladies also find many uses for this most versatile tool and weapon. Which one from our collection will you choose?