Cities of Blades: Maniago, Italy 

This is the first in a series of articles entitled "Cities of Blades." In this series, I’ll tell you all about some of the greatest knife cities in the world. Every city we’ll talk about has a rich cutlery history and a diverse knife community to this day. These cities are must-see destinations for true knife nerds. 

The first city on the list, and likely the oldest, is Maniago, Italy. It’s small but played a major role in creating what we now know as the knife industry. For centuries, this city has equipped workers, artists, armies, and navies with the tools they needed to write history, and they’re still doing it today. 

Behind Every Shining City 

A gondola gliding under Rialto Bridge, a cool breeze drifting through Piazza San Marco, arias emanating from Teatro La Fenice. The whole city of Venice is a global icon of romance, art, and architecture. It’s a cultural time capsule and a must-visit destination for world travelers. But this city didn’t just appear. Hundreds of years ago as the city took shape, craftsmen laid a foundation in the water of millions of wooden piles which hold the city up to this day. Boatmakers meticulously carved the city’s gondolas by hand. Skilled craftsmen hand-cut every stone that makes up the now iconic buildings. Everything that makes Venice Venice was built by industrious folks with quality tools. 

And while I can’t prove it with historical records, I’d bet the farm that many of the tools in the hands of these pioneering Venetians were born just up the river in the city of Maniago. Maniago has supplied much of the region with cutting tools for centuries. What started as blacksmiths earning their nut making knives, swords, and other sharp things eventually grew into full-fledged knife companies, and one of the earliest forms of a "knife industry" like we have today. I would argue that at least part of Venice’s greatness was aided by quality tools from their neighbor to the North, and that’s a pattern we’ll see more of… 

An Ace Up a Sleeve 

The land Maniago sits on has changed hands many times over the centuries. And every time it has, the government in question has eagerly requisitioned the blade-making excellence of Maniago to equip their armies. When Napoleon’s army needed blades, they put Maniago to work. When Axis powers needed bayonets, they did the same. And when the Allies recaptured Northern Italy, Maniago returned to making quality cutting tools for everyday users – a tradition still alive today! 

Over the years, many of the small knifemaking operations conglomerated into larger knife companies, but knives are still a major part of Maniago society. In fact, if you buy an old house in Maniago right now, there’s a good chance it will have a blacksmithing workshop on the property. 

Maniago Today 

Today, Maniago is home to about 11,000 people, and is slowly shrinking. Like much of rural Europe, people are gradually moving to bigger cities, leaving the countryside behind. But Maniago’s knifemaking culture and industry are alive and well! For example, LionSteel knives continue to push the envelope of knife technology with integral handles (a machining marvel), modern materials, and innovative mechanisms. Fox Knives has become a tactical knife powerhouse, collaborating with some of the greatest custom makers in the world to bring optimized designs into production. Other companies like Mercury, Maserin, Frank Beltrame and more continue to carry the banner. And MKM, or Maniago Knife Makers, is a collaborative company that builds knives with companies all over town! 

Over the years, a lot of other knife companies all over the world have copied Maniago’s homework. It’s clear that Maniago had a major impact on the world’s knife industry and continues doing it to this day. And if you haven’t tried out a knife from Maniago, you should add one to your collection!