Knife makers similar to Citadel?

[el gigantor]

I've recently come across Citadel knives, a small Cambodian maker building hand-forged traditional folding and fixed blades, and I'm awestruck by their beauty and craftsmanship. I'm about to pull the trigger on one (or two), but was wondering if the wise sages of this forum could point me in the direction of other bladesmiths who operate in a similar vein so I can compare and contrast before I buy.

My gold membership ran out so I can't post images, but I will say KnifeCenter has a great Citadel selection if you'd like to familiarize yourself with the line.

 

[Jolipapa]

I've recently come across Citadel knives, a small Cambodian maker building hand-forged traditional folding and fixed blades, and I'm awestruck by their beauty and craftsmanship. I'm about to pull the trigger on one (or two), but was wondering if the wise sages of this forum could point me in the direction of other bladesmiths who operate in a similar vein so I can compare and contrast before I buy.

My gold membership ran out so I can't post images, but I will say KnifeCenter has a great Citadel selection if you'd like to familiarize yourself with the line.

Citadel has been founded by a French expat (still managing) and the Cambodian employees have been formed by cutlers from Thiers.
Knives are handmade friction folders and liner locks, sturdy but fairly heavy and bulky, well made with good quality components (at the begining from France, today, I can't say) and an " intenational" price tag.

 

[screened porch]

Of course there would be a French connection!

 

[afishhunter]

.wrong thread.

 

[el gigantor]

Citadel has been founded by a French expat (still managing) and the Cambodian employees have been formed by cutlers from Thiers.
Knives are handmade friction folders and liner locks, sturdy but fairly heavy and bulky, well made with good quality components (at the begining from France, today, I can't say) and an " intenational" price tag.

Ah. Gotcha. I really like the designs. Would you recommend I stay away from the brand though? It sounds like you're suggesting they're not really authentic.

 

[Jolipapa]

Ah. Gotcha. I really like the designs. Would you recommend I stay away from the brand though? It sounds like you're suggesting they're not really authentic.

In no way, I know a few people who are very happy with them.
They are not traditional patterns though.

 

[el gigantor]

In no way, I know a few people who are very happy with them.
They are not traditional patterns though.

Thanks for your input. I think I'll go for it.

I've always been curious about what constitutes "traditional". As in traditional American patterns? I mean, I'm not American. And as far as I know, Cambodia has been producing designs similar to what Citadel is doing for years and years, which would make them traditional to that country.

I'm sure I'll find my answers if I search the annals of Blade Forums. Down the rabbit hole I go!

 

[Jolipapa]

I've always been curious about what constitutes "traditional".

Traditional does not apply only to US knives.
If you can read French, see Christian Lemasson's book. He explain how a knife is adapted to and by the men depending of the place they're living in, the work they do, etc. to achieve a true traditional knife.
In the case of US patterns, the spey blade is typical of that...

And as far as I know, Cambodia has been producing designs similar to what Citadel is doing for years and years, which would make them traditional to that country.

I would be very curious to see any.
Cambodia was part of French Indochina and if there were traditional knives, we would have at least a hint of them... Most C pattern names don't sound not very asiatic : Occitan, Stavanger, Narvik or without link to Cambodia : Danang, Phan Thiet.

 

[Michel Droz]

Hello! Citadel does make nice knives. Hand forged, natural materials, interesting designs. But for ethic reasons I avoid this brand. They are made in Cambodia. The minimum wage there is like $30-40 per month. I don´t know how much Bruno and Dominique Eluere pay their employees but I do see the prices that Citadel knives sell for. In the $200-300 range? I have seen pictures of their " factory ". An open shed, a few fans, no protective equipment ( gloves,eye and ear protection, air filters, etc...) Okay, at least they have a job and can feed their families. Just like all those chinese knifemakers that a lot of people on this forum b*tch about....One last remark, as far as ethics go: do you want to own a knife where the blade is made from iron that was recycled from the millions of bombs dropped on Cambodia by B-52s 50 years ago?????

 

[el gigantor]

Hello! Citadel does make nice knives. Hand forged, natural materials, interesting designs. But for ethic reasons I avoid this brand. They are made in Cambodia. The minimum wage there is like $30-40 per month. I don´t know how much Bruno and Dominique Eluere pay their employees but I do see the prices that Citadel knives sell for. In the $200-300 range? I have seen pictures of their " factory ". An open shed, a few fans, no protective equipment ( gloves,eye and ear protection, air filters, etc...) Okay, at least they have a job and can feed their families. Just like all those chinese knifemakers that a lot of people on this forum b*tch about....One last remark, as far as ethics go: do you want to own a knife where the blade is made from iron that was recycled from the millions of bombs dropped on Cambodia by B-52s 50 years ago?????

Alright. That's extremely intense. Thank you for your input, I appreciate it.

Do you know of any other companies who offer similar designs in a more ethical way? I'm quite taken with their "Roman" model, but I'm having second thoughts for obvious reasons..

 

[Michel Droz]

Hello! I can´t think of any specific brand at this time, but I will look around and let you know. While waiting, check out traditional knives from Corsica or Sardaigne. Nice tradtional knives, with history, local materials, hand made, and if they sell and ship the money is for their pocket. Sometimes Google is a blessing. Bonne chasse.....