Madrid Knife Show 2019
Madrid Knife Show 2019
The Madrid Knife Show is a ‘work in progress’. Three years ago, the show made a new start, almost from scratch. The third edition, on March 23 and 24, again doubled the number of tables. European Blades Mag went to have a look.
Text and pictures Bas Martens
Text and pictures Bas Martens
Right: Carlos Merino is one of the organisers of the Madrid Knife Show, an occasional knife
maker, and also a jewelry maker. He made this silver pin on the occasion of the third edition
of the show.
Three years ago, the ‘Feria de Cuchillería de Madrid’ (Madrid Knife Show) made a fresh start, under the guidance of three enthusiastic knife makers: César Bozal Germán, Carlos Merino and José M. Galocha. It was a modest start, with some 20 tables. However, the word spread and the number of exhibitors doubled every year to 35 in 2018, and 70 this year, which made the exhibition space crowded at times. But that is a luxury problem.
Three years ago, the ‘Feria de Cuchillería de Madrid’ (Madrid Knife Show) made a fresh start, under the guidance of three enthusiastic knife makers: César Bozal Germán, Carlos Merino and José M. Galocha. It was a modest start, with some 20 tables. However, the word spread and the number of exhibitors doubled every year to 35 in 2018, and 70 this year, which made the exhibition space crowded at times. But that is a luxury problem.
The organisers of the ‘Feria de Cuchillería de Madrid’. From left to right: Carlos Merino, José M. Galocha
and César Bozal Germán.
The present Madrid Knife Show was, in a sense, borne out of frustration. Spain has a wonderful blade history, and used to be one of the world centres of blade making. But much of that heritage is lost, and strict laws, which generally regard knives as weapons rather than useful tools or pieces of art, do not help much either. The organisers’ dream is to have a show like the one in Thiers, France; a combination of all the different aspects of knives and knife making.
To achieve something like that, there is still a long way to go, but the beginning is there. The Madrid show already features a combination of industrial and artisan knives, dealers in steel, knife-making tools and materials, and forging demonstrations. As for the artisan knife makers – they show a varied style, ranging from traditional Spanish Navajas, to modern razor blades. The pictures will give you an idea.
The present Madrid Knife Show was, in a sense, borne out of frustration. Spain has a wonderful blade history, and used to be one of the world centres of blade making. But much of that heritage is lost, and strict laws, which generally regard knives as weapons rather than useful tools or pieces of art, do not help much either. The organisers’ dream is to have a show like the one in Thiers, France; a combination of all the different aspects of knives and knife making.
To achieve something like that, there is still a long way to go, but the beginning is there. The Madrid show already features a combination of industrial and artisan knives, dealers in steel, knife-making tools and materials, and forging demonstrations. As for the artisan knife makers – they show a varied style, ranging from traditional Spanish Navajas, to modern razor blades. The pictures will give you an idea.
A part of the show floor, which was crowded at times.
The end of March is an excellent time to visit Madrid, which, in my opinion, is a very pleasant city to visit even without a knife show. The temperature is agreeable, before the summer heat sets in, and Madrid has an excellent system of public transportation. Next year’s edition of the ‘Feria de Cuchillería de Madrid’ will be in the third week of March again – an exact date has not been set yet, and the location is not sure. But European Blades Mag. will keep you informed, and you can always have a look at www.feriadecuchilleriademadrid.com.
The end of March is an excellent time to visit Madrid, which, in my opinion, is a very pleasant city to visit even without a knife show. The temperature is agreeable, before the summer heat sets in, and Madrid has an excellent system of public transportation. Next year’s edition of the ‘Feria de Cuchillería de Madrid’ will be in the third week of March again – an exact date has not been set yet, and the location is not sure. But European Blades Mag. will keep you informed, and you can always have a look at www.feriadecuchilleriademadrid.com.
Left: Mother and son Castanier from the French Mercorne company were present in Madrid with their knife
making materials.
Right: For the lovers of exclusive materials, Mercorne had this piece of resin with fragments of meteorite.
The price was € 1800.00.
Visitors could test their skills on the decoration of leather, organised by Tandy Leather.
César Bozal Germán, one of the organisers of the Madrid knife show, made this ‘Hoja de Arce’ (Maple leaf).
The linerlock folding knife has a 9 cm blade from CPM9V steel, titanium liners, hand-engraved nickel silver
bolsters and Maple scales.
A Gyuto (chef knife) and a mini Santoku by Alberto Castro. The big Gyuto has a blade from San Mai 420
and 1095 steel, and a handle from Sumatra and brass. The Mini Santoku is made from San Mai Suminagashi
and cryogenically treated D2. The handle is Mulberry burl and brass.
The ‘Campero’ (which can be translated as ‘Outdoor’) by PSG Knives. The 4 mm thick blade is made from cryogenically treated N690Co. The handle is Ironwood with Ebony liners.
Unai Zabala made this ‘Ataúd ‘(Coffin), named after the shape of the handle. The 14 cm blade is made
from N690Co, the handle is titanium and hippopotamus ivory.
The ‘Luxury’ by Portuguese knife maker Gilberto Ferreira. The blade is O2 steel, the handle is deer antler.
The blade measures 9 cm.
The ‘Raven skull’ by Russian blacksmith Vlad Matveev. The mosaic Damascus blade is a combination of
high carbon M76T, mx15 and nickel. The handle is a synthetic material. The knife measurers 193 mm.
Juan Luis Vergara Gallego made this Sevillan-style Navaja called ‘Isabellina’. The 15 cm blade is made
from XC 75 steel, etched with floral and animal motives. The buffalo horn handle is inlaid with four silver
coins, called ‘Isabellinos’. It has silver ornaments and a nickel silver ring. The opened knifes measures 27 cm.
Xulio FX (XC Bushcraft knives) made this ‘Viesca’. The 105 mm scandi-grind blade is made from Böhler
steel. The handle (shaped like a Coca-Cola bottle) is birch.
The ‘Hunter’, by Oliver Suárez. The 11 cm blade is Böhler N690 the handle is stabilised Maple wood.
The knife has a tapered tang.
A Puukko by Ernesto Sánchez González. The 7 cm blade is laminated steel, the handle is Ebony and
deer antler with scrimshaw of a whale.
A kukri by Antonio Riofrío. The blade is 5160 steel, the handle is made from deer antler. The kukri
measures 315 mm.
Pedro Moreno García made this ‘Navaja Punta Espada’ (Navaja with a sword-shaped blade). The 15 cm
blade is made from Vanadium steel, the handle is brass and synthetic material.
Ramón González Carlos (Alfa Cuchillería) made this ‘Egara’. The 75 mm blade is made from D2 steel,
the handle is a synthetic material.
The ‘Hunter’ by Raúl Torres Calzas. The knife has an 11 cm blade from N690Co and a handle made of
mammoth tooth.
A kitchen knife by Vicente Climent Montrull. The 320 mm blade is based on 440 steel with a special alloy
on the cutting edge, hardened to 60 HRC. The handle is Redwood.
Italian knife maker Nino Nista made this fish knife. The blade is Inox 440 steel, the handle is from Zebu horn.
The ‘New York Special’ by J. Román Cabrero. The blade is RWL34 and the handle scales are mammoth
ivory with Inox bolsters and pins.