This is where our products take shape. The essential pieces of equipment we use are our hands. In this building we continue all the experience gained from our centuries-old traditions. Our small shops were once located on the ground floor of houses in the historic town centre, such as on Via Solferino, where we were also born and raised. When you enter our workshop for the first time, you may notice the overbearing old scent of the horn, the olive wood and the tools. You can touch the raw materials, such as the cow horn, or watch the entire crafting process, from the rough materials right up to the finishing touches. Like a childhood memory, we bring a tangible human aspect back to work, rediscovering our ability to create and invent new objects, maybe this is why our ancient trade is so fascinating.
Our blades
Many other blades that you find on the market have already been tempered and, as such, they can only be marked using surface techniques, such as laser engraving. Consequently, our stamped hallmark is a sign of authenticity which sets our products apart from the others that you may find on the market. It is another guarantee for our customers.
We are very selective in our choice of steel since we mainly just use high-quality tempered stainless steel with a high or 100% carbon content.
We work the steel blades using two main processes: blanking and forging.
Blanking is used for the blades of clasp knives, cigar cutters and for a certain line of our table knives. These blades are cut from sheets of steel which have a certain thickness that dictates their use.
However, forged blades undergo a more complicated and even more effective process than blanking. We use these blades for table and kitchen knives, and sometimes even for special collectable knives where the forging requires skilled craftsmanship using a hammer and anvil. During this process the steel is compacted, which gives it its excellent hardness and resistance. Furthermore, forging already helps to create the shape of the blade, including the bolster and the tang which will then be inserted into the handle.
Once they have been hallmarked, sharpened and ground, both types of blades undergo tempering and annealing heat treatments which, depending on the composition of the steel, determine its correct degree of hardness for the optimum cutting edge.
The tempering processes have also evolved based on the properties of new steels and today cryogenic treatments are used which, thanks to the very low temperature of the liquid nitrogen (- 196° C), are able to bestow a better microstructural stability to the steel and consequently better hardness and resistance to wear and corrosion.
These special processes allow us to create exclusive shapes that can be designed or personalised upon request, providing a unique, recognisable style just for you.