Slovakia was once known as a country of tinkers who traveled throughout Austria-Hungary and, thanks to their skill, repaired many damaged things. However, times have moved on, most products are no longer made by hand and are almost never repaired. Perhaps that is why handwork is increasingly disappearing, but at the same time being appreciated. This time we have chosen a "sharp" craft area dominated by weapons. Or rather - knives and swords.
Despite the fact that there are so many experienced masters in this field in Slovakia that one could count them on the fingers of one hand, this ancient and beautiful knife and sword craft is experiencing its renaissance. And when someone is a master par excellence in any craft, we cannot help but mention it in our Journal.
However, the world-famous success did not come as a bolt from the blue, but was the result of many years of work, into which Lasky puts his best. His knives with the typical "L" sign are made of the best materials. To give you a better idea, a blacksmith can make a forging from ordinary strip steel in about twenty minutes. It takes ten hours to make a Damascus steel, and the total production of a knife takes 250 to 300 hours. His hunting Damascus knives without engravings can be purchased from 300 euros. However, the better pieces start at 3000 euros.
Pavel also invested a lot of money in the material for blades, sheaths and handles. He is currently engaged in the production of knives from so-called powder steels or semi-finished Damascus steels. He then forges and grinds them into the desired shape. Pavel tests the quality of the blades by dropping them from a height of 2 meters onto concrete with the tip.
Samurai sword master from Slovakia
The production of samurai swords has always been a matter of prestige and honor. At the same time, it was a demonstration of the highest craftsmanship. It is extremely difficult to make such a high-quality sword. The Japanese place enormous emphasis on every detail. No wonder, because samurai had the right and obligation to carry two swords. They were symbols of their soul.
In Slovakia, we do not have sufficient quality iron sands, which are the main raw material for sword production. Juraj Kubinec , master blacksmith and swordsmithThe Japanese use tamahagane steel or recycled oroshigane steel to make samurai swords – katanas – which are melted in a blacksmith’s workshop. Juraj says that in Slovakia we do not have high-quality iron sands, which are the main raw material for making swords, and therefore he has to recycle old iron. This so-called carburizes and partially compacts it. By subsequent annealing, he obtains steel suitable for making high-quality weapons. The steel heats up for a few minutes. He uses pine charcoal of his own production for heating. When the steel is at the right temperature, the most creative part of his work begins – shaping it. Sparks fly around the blacksmith's workshop, as do pieces of steel, and fire blazes wildly behind him. The new sword has a long journey of birth ahead of it. Juraj's unique and extremely valued samurai swords are bought not only by entrepreneurs but also by collectors. Interest in them is constantly growing. The most expensive sword he made cost 10 thousand euros. The price of a regular katana ranges from 2000 to 5000 euros. Although Juraj is no longer involved in sword making, his craftsmanship is so strong that not including him in this selection would be a mistake and a sin.
Lasky and his difficult path to global success
No, we are not talking about the frontman of the excellent Slovak band Para. We are in Hrochot, a village near Banská Bystrica. There you will find the workshop of another Bratislava resident who “emigrated” from there to this place in 1994. However, Ladislav “ Lasky ” Šánta became world-famous here too. He was made famous by the Pteryx L2 knife, which experts have described as the fourth best knife in the world. Prince Charles also received it as a gift during his visit to Slovakia. He even thanked Lasky in a special letter.
Photo source: photo archive of Ladislav Šánta
I am mainly engaged in the production of high-quality knives from Damascus steel and the search for its ideal composition and processing. However, as a professional knife maker, I also devote myself to a wider range of products of this craft. Ladislav "Lasky" Šánta , master blacksmith and knife makerLasky has had a rough time. In 2005, he was terrorized by a neighbor. Flat tires, matches in locks, damage to property, harassment and stalking culminated in a tragic incident when the 29-year-old man attacked him with a knife in his hand. Lasky fought back and the assailant died. Despite the fact that Lasky acted in self-defense, which was ultimately clearly confirmed by the court, Lasky spent two months behind bars during the trial. It wasn't easy for him, nor for his family. But now he's back and in full form. This bard of Slovak blacksmithing and cutlery, who has trained many other top blacksmiths, knifemakers and swordsmiths, is once again dedicating himself to his beloved craft, to which he gives all his life force and joy, alongside his family.
Damascus steel artwork
Dušan Klimo has been engaged in his artistic craft for more than ten years. This skilled young man learned from the best Slovak masters, for example from the aforementioned Ladislav "Lasky" Šánta. You can find his blacksmith workshop Perunis in Štítnik near Rožňava. He does not work there alone, the status of a protected workshop gives work to several blacksmiths. By the way, Štítnik is a small village, but with an exceptionally rich blacksmithing and ironworking tradition.
I am fulfilling my craft dream. Dušan Klimo , master blacksmith and knife makerThe workshop has been dedicated to shaped blacksmithing and cutlery for a long time. Beautifully shaped decorative and utility objects are suitable for both interior and exterior use. Did you know that the method of making knives and swords from Damascus steel has a tradition of more than a thousand years? It consists of welding in a fire heated to 1110°C and at least two types of steel. In this workshop, they use high-quality certified steel. Almost all available and suitable materials are used to make knives, such as horn and antler, but also classic stabilized wood or various exotic woods. It all depends on the customer, because each knife is made to order. The most expensive knife Dušan has ever made contained 1016 layers of Damascus steel and had a handle made of ebony wood combined with mahogany. However, more common knives can be purchased from him starting at around 350 euros. The Perunis blacksmith shop also organizes blacksmithing courses, where interested parties can learn about this craft from the basics to the final steps. In this blacksmith shop, you will find a forge, anvil, mechanical hammer, as well as a huge number of different types of hammers and pliers, most of which Dušan made himself, of course.
A blacksmith whose job has been pending for two years
In the past, five to six men were involved in making a sword. One forged the blade, another hardened it, a third sharpened it, a fourth made the handle and scabbard, and others decorated them. Róbert Móc can do all this himself. Today, forging a sword from steel strip takes him two hours.
Photo source: photo archive of Róbert Móc
When I first started, I worked out for almost two days. I laugh about it now, but back then I had incredible muscle mass. Róbert Móc , master blacksmith and swordsmithRóbert is one of the few people in Europe who can make swords, as well as other cold weapons, using ancient technologies and of the highest quality. He also studied with Ladislav "Lasky" Šánta. He worked for him for five years before going independent in 1998 and starting to make his first sword. His work begins by melting iron in a furnace. Since he works with ancient techniques, he collects old iron – handcuffs, chains or shackles from the 18th and 19th centuries. However, this iron is carbon-free. To obtain the hardness needed for a sword or knife blade, Róbert must enrich it with it. This is done at a temperature of around 1400°C. At that time, the hot iron resembles dough in consistency more than metal. It must be mixed to obtain a material that already resembles the original steel. Róbert has a lot of work to do, but he still does all the work himself. He can make the simplest type of sword in three weeks. He already had an order for a specimen, on which he worked for a year. The lightest one-handed sword weighs about one kilogram, and a two-handed one weighs three and a half kilograms. The vast majority of his weapons go to customers abroad. However, the blacksmith tradition and history permeates the entire Róbert family . His wife Henrieta is dedicated to the production of historical jewelry. In her hands, beautiful jewelry inspired by design, but also by filigree or granulation techniques and materials used from the times of Great Moravia is created.
The Lone Wolf from the Village of Vlky
Pavel Varšányi got into knife making in a prosaic way. He needed a quality knife for his favorite fishing and since he didn't have one, he decided to make one. He literally made it on his knees. He learned as he went from books and the Internet. He made his first three knives on a log with a file. However, this initial hobby really captured his heart. So he invested in an electric oven, which, unlike a furnace, maintains a stable temperature.
Photo source: Miro Miklas
I'm a lone wolf, it's my life philosophy and I'm fine with it. Pavel Varšányi , master blacksmith and knife makerHe makes handles mainly from wood. He uses chestnut, Australian holm oak, but also goldfield and ebony. He also sews his own knife sheaths. As he says, he is a lone wolf. He is not even in the Slovak Knife Association, but his knives have been presented, for example, in Switzerland. Colorful, rounded shapes are typical for him, because he does not like austerity and cold lines.
