Coutellerie Nontronnaise

Coutellerie Nontronnaise occupies a singular place in French artisan heritage as the sole manufacturer of the Nontron knife, whose tradition stretches back to 1653 — making it the oldest knife in France and one of the oldest continuously produced artisan objects in the world. Located in the town of Nontron at the heart of the Périgord Vert in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the workshop employs around twenty skilled cutler artisans who hand-craft each knife through a rigorous process of approximately forty individual steps, from forging the blade to shaping and finishing the handle. The Nontron knife is instantly recognizable for its distinctive curved handle in Périgord boxwood — a local wood dried for a minimum of four years before use — decorated with the workshop’s iconic pyrographic motifs, including the famous fly symbol burned into the wood using a heated stylus, a technique unchanged for generations. Blades are available in stainless steel, carbon steel, and Damascus steel, offering a range from everyday folding pocket knives to exceptional collector’s pieces and professional kitchen knives. Since 2000, the workshop has operated from a contemporary factory featuring a glazed observation gallery where visitors can watch artisans at work. Educational workshops in pyrography and knife assembly are offered to the public. Design collaborations with internationally recognized designers — including Olivier Gagnère and Christian Ghion — have produced celebrated contemporary models. Coutellerie Nontronnaise holds the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label and ships worldwide via its online shop.