Knife Grinder course

The knife grinder is an artisan craft dedicated to the grinding or sharpening of blades. Decades ago, these craftsmen also repaired umbrellas, opening and closing mechanisms and more. The main work of the knife grinder consists in grinding and sharpening the blades. The tool they use is the grinder, which is a machine tool with multiple shapes that can grind, cut, deburr or sharpen. In the past, the knife grinders also carried out the activity of umbrella makers: they were specialized in repairing umbrellas, in particular in the opening and closing mechanisms of the same. Such craftsmen also often engaged in the repair of small and medium leaks of gas cookers: currently this activity is prohibited by law as it can only be carried out by specialized plumbing and heating technicians. Despite being an ancient profession, today that of the knife grinder is back in vogue so much that it is increasingly common to see these artisans at city markets or in front of butchers. It is a profession that has become increasingly specialized in that, to perform a good job, it is necessary to have knowledge of metallurgy, knowledge of steels and heat treatments, notions of abrasive materials. In Italy there are about five hundred knife grinders, so much so that a trade movement called the “National Association of knife grinders and cutlery” was born. Craftsmen have to spend a lot of time in the profession to achieve a decent income: