Italian Knives

onojoe · Jun 26, 2015

Going to Italy with the family for vacation. Thinking about picking up a knife. Has anyone done this? and is it worth it.

Brands I would consider off the top of my head are Lionsteel and Fox are there any others worth considering? especially ones that may be difficult to get here in the good old USA

austonh · Jun 26, 2015

Viper/Tecnocut

RamZar · Jun 26, 2015

The Italian knives we find most here in the U.S. are LionSteel, Fox, Viper, Maserin and Extrema Ratio. There are a lot of other Italian knives that are not imported and are of a more traditional variety from various regions of Italy. Your best bet is a local knife store there. Some have long narrow blades.

Jdreg · Jun 26, 2015

If you'll be in the north, Maniago is the knife making centre.

RamZar · Jun 27, 2015

LionSteel, Fox, Viper, Maserin, Antonini, Mercury and Fantoni are all based in the small town of Maniago, Italy (70 miles northeast of Venice) which has been a center for knife and sword making going back to the 15th century.

Bob W · Jun 27, 2015

3/4 of the Maserin knives I own are very good quality. Excellent in fact. And beautiful. The 4th has a bit of a problem with blade wobble.

abbydaddy · Jun 27, 2015

Fantoni makes fabulous knives

BluegrassBrian · Jun 27, 2015

My only Italian knife is a Viper Odino but I love it. It gets carried often. Seems the Italians have a fondness for N690co.

subdude · Jun 27, 2015

In terms of cost it won't make much of a difference, you might find models not readily available in the US though.

Kevin Wilkins · Jun 27, 2015

If you will be in the Toscana be sure and make a day trip to Scarperia. There are a number of knife making companies and shops in the small town. They all make traditional folders, fixed blades and kitchen knives. Just be aware that many will be closed in August.

Insipid Moniker · Jun 27, 2015

I'd do it. It will be a fun and useful souvenir of your time there and all of my Italian knives are quite well made.

onojoe · Jun 27, 2015

Kevin Wilkins said:
If you will be in the Toscana be sure and make a day trip to Scarperia. There are a number of knife making companies and shops in the small town. They all make traditional folders, fixed blades and kitchen knives. Just be aware that many will be closed in August.

Thanks Kevin, we will be going in December. The trip is not planned yet, but I know we will be picking up my daughter who is studying in Florence. We will be visiting many other areas. I will have to Scarperia on the list

onojoe · Jun 27, 2015

RamZar said:
LionSteel, Fox, Viper, Maserin, Antonini, Mercury and Fantoni are all based in the small town of Maniago, Italy (70 miles northeast of Venice) which has been a center for knife and sword making going back to the 15th century.

Thanks Ramzar and Jdreg, we plan on visiting Venice, so Maniago may work out well. That would be a really cool side trip.

Insipid Moniker · Jun 27, 2015

onojoe said:
Thanks Ramzar and Jdreg, we plan on visiting Venice, so Maniago may work out well. That would be a really cool side trip.

If you can make it to Maniago you might call ahead of time and make sure they have storefronts there and ask if they offer shop tours.

Kevin Wilkins · Jun 28, 2015

onojoe said:
Thanks Kevin, we will be going in December. The trip is not planned yet, but I know we will be picking up my daughter who is studying in Florence. We will be visiting many other areas. I will have to Scarperia on the list

It's an short, easy drive from Florence and Scarperia is a charming small town so your family should enjoy it too.

GatorFlash1 · Jun 28, 2015

onojoe said:
Going to Italy with the family for vacation. Thinking about picking up a knife. Has anyone done this? and is it worth it.

Brands I would consider off the top of my head are Lionsteel and Fox are there any others worth considering? especially ones that may be difficult to get here in the good old USA

Check out the kitchen knives. They are practical knives that your daughter can use while in Italy and then bring home to her folks when her studies are finished.

http://www.agrussell.com/ag-russell-forged-10-professional-chefs-knife-pakkawood/p/AGKK-10/

http://www.distinctive-decor.com/berti-italian-kitchen-knives.html

If you can find a CRKT Hi Jinx, buy it. It was the BLADE Overall Knife of the Year for 2014. Designed by Ken Onion and made by Lionsteel it is a beauty.