TB Groupe cutlery

The city of Thiers: The cradle and jewel of French knife manufacturing

For the past 6 centuries the French cutlery tradition has underpinned the reputation of Thiers, a city located in the Auvergne region. To this day Thiers bears visible signs left by this trade. The first industrial forges in the valley, street names, shop signs, a museum dedicated to retracing the history and evolution of authentic French knives, a watermill on the banks of the Durolle river. Everything or almost everything in Thiers evokes its history and that of the cutlery trade.

The city of Thiers: Interwoven with the French cutlery trade

The Auvergne region’s beautiful brand image

Thiers is a city located in the Puy-de-Dôme department in the French region of Auvergne. This municipality is comprised of 13,000 inhabitants and is one of the department’s four sub-prefectures.

The city is geographically situated in the Livradois-Forez National Park in the east of the department between the Limagne plains and the foothills of the Forez mountain range.

The Durolle river runs along the city’s border and is one of the Dore river’s tributaries.

The knife: The city of Thiers’ symbol

This city’s image is synonymous with the image of cutlery. Thiers is rightly considered to be the French knife manufacturing capital. Hundreds of regional enterprises work in this knife manufacturing territory. There is even a museum dedicated to knives.

Cutlery has cradled life in Thiers for the past six centuries. 70-80% of all pocket, kitchen and table knives “Made in France” are created by enterprises which are located in this city. These enterprises form the solid base of this region’s industry.

A majority of these enterprises are comprised of only ten employees, facilitating the conservation of their specific artisanal heritage. The Thiernois cutlers’ knowledge, which is rooted in a secular tradition, has underpinned the city’s reputation not only in France but worldwide.

The veritable history of French knives

The era of Louis XIV: Catalyst

If the knife was really invented during Roman times, it did not really make an appearance in daily life until the 17^th century. Developments on the invention of the pocketknife can be correlated with society’s evolution.

The incorporation of pockets into men’s suits at the end of Louis XIV’s reign and the evolution of table manners resulted in the popularity of pocketknives.

Since the 19^th century, Thiers, cradle of French cutlery, was home to a multitude of forges which exhibited the earliest form of industrialization. As the reputation of the diverse and uniquely formed Theirnois knives grew both regionally and internationally the town of their origin, Thiers, grew along with them.

The French knife today

Today Thiers has confirmed its position as leader of the French knife manufacturing market by increasing its industry’s professionalism while working towards its development. Various products leave its factories and workshops yearly:

Folding knives
Professional knives
Table knives
Bread, steak, cheese or butter knives
Utility knives
Blades for kitchen appliances

Knife manufacturing in Thiers

Thousands of articles are produced every year. The methods for fabricating these genuine French knives are founded on the knowledge and mastery of numerous generations of cutlers.

Coutellia, the international knife fair in Thiers, is a famous event which permits cutlers from the four corners of the world to show their work. Impassioned collectors, prestigious companies and hotels consider Coutellia to be an event that should not to be missed.