Sharp Art Exhibition: artistic knives from around the World on show in Opicina

From July 6 to 13, the conference room of the Zkb bank in Opicina near Trieste, Italy, played host to the first Sharp Art Exhibition: an event comprising almost thirty knives signed by several of the world's most renowned knife-makers, alongside some equally talented emerging artists, as well as some important works of art.

A contribution from Tommaso Rumici
An image showing some of the knives on display at the Sharp Art exhibition, made by Italian and international knife makers.

Video: Sharp Art Exhibition

Given the very high level of the exhibits, we wanted to visit it and make a photo gallery, which would allow those who were not able to appreciate them in person to admire the masterpieces on display.

But the real good news is that Sharp Art was not born, as usual, to be a permanent exhibition with an annual frequency: the plan is to make it an itinerant event with educational and popularising purposes, which will bring around Europe the knowledge of the knife in its double soul of fundamental tool and extraordinary work of art, in open contrast to the prohibitionist ignorance that is rampant lately.

We took the opportunity to interview Ruggero Amá, the enthusiast who conceived and realised this amazing project, managing to bring together a large number of knives of the highest interest to any enthusiast.

To stay informed about upcoming Sharp Art events, please visit the Sharp Art Facebook page or the Isitaknife Instagram channel .

Fucina Fogonero (Italy): Takedown Bowie, overall length 53 cm, with Damascus composite blade (15n20 + 1095) and mammoth ivory handle. Guard and pommel are blued steel, with silver wire inlays made by the always excellent Carlo Cavedon.
Wroan Custom Knives (Poland): Inspired by the designs of Samuel Lurquin, the Viper is a mighty sub-hilt with an 80CrV2 steel blade and blackwashed finish. The handle is made of antiqued mild steel and swamp oak, with full tang construction.
Pavel Pelikan (Czech Republic): Momo is an aggressive reinterpretation of the classic Nepalese kukri in forged damascus (K720 + 75Ni8 + K600) with 100 plies per side and K720 core. Handle is G10, bronze, stabilised ash, while the guard and pommel are K720. Sheath made of cowhide and reticulated python leather.
Oliver Goldschmidt (Italy): Terra is a 52100 steel fixed blade knife, with a hollow handle to make it lighter, which impresses with its clean lines and the perfect break between surfaces. The particular shades of grey are the result of controlled steel oxidation, with the exception of the main bevels.
Bruno Bruna "Graciut" (Italy): The Geometer IX is the ninth model in the series of geometric knives invented by Graciut in 1984, all different and therefore unique. The steel is 154CM, while the handle is made of carbon fiber. The craftsmanship is what has made the craftsman from Maniago famous.
Alfredo Faccipieri (Italy): The only kitchen knife in the exhibition, Faccipieri's knife is a masterpiece of rare elegance, Japanese style. The cutting edge is made of stainless Damasteel Sparse Twist, combined with a grey stabilised maple handle.
Josh Scott (United States): This Mosaic Micro is a small, forged Mosaic Damascus with a high-contrast finish. The scabbard is made of Guster Leather, designed for pocket carry and display, embellished with ostrich inlays and fitted with magnetic fasteners.
Jacco Van de Bruinhorst (Canada): Griffin, full twisted Damascus mosaic, with strong contrasts, softened by fine 24k gold arabesques. The special magnetic support with which it is displayed makes it appear as light as a feather.
Erik Markman (Netherlands): Bowie in 02 + 15n20 Damascus. The guard is made of the same material, while the rest of the handle is stabilised and stained maple, with bronze details. Awarded Best Fighter Knife at the Dutch Knife Exhibition 2024.
Random Knives (Argentina): Flor Azul, "Rivers of Steel" Damascus fighting knife. Stainless steel guard, blue coloured through heat treatment. The handle is made of Palma Negra wood with bronze spacer. The display stand features the same materials, colours and textures as the knife.
Pasquale De Bartolomeo (Italy): Elegant Fighter in S90V steel, with stabilised maple handle and AISI 416 guards, separated by black and yellow spacers. The knife is even more extraordinary considering that the author can only use one hand to make his knives.
Bertie Rietveld (South Africa): Mantis is a full-face in Rietveld's unmistakable style, made in his typical Dragonskin Damascus and inspired by the praying mantis in its shape. It is completed by a black jade insert, while the cutter's logo is concealed inside the customary pinhole lens.
Rodrigo Sfreddo (Brazil): Ruggero is the name of this modern gaucho knife, made of 125Cr1 + 15N20 forged Damascus with a random pattern. The African ebony handle is assembled in Keyhole style. The sheath is leather, with sharkskin inlays.
Cas Brothers (Argentina): The Patagonia is a full-integral knife made from mosaic Damascus (1095 + 15N20) with surprisingly dense and complex weaves, achieved thanks to Claudio Sobral's great skill in forging steel, combined with the skill of his brothers Ariel and Marcelo. Ironwood handle.
La Mano del Diablo (Italy): Kitchen knife/cleaver. Handle made of brass, water buffalo horn, gazelle and zebu. The cutting edge is made of K720 with two raindrop Damascus plates on either side, all forged into the desired shape.
Cas Brothers (Argentina): Another work by the three brothers from Argentina. This time it is their first attempt at Keyhole, in which carbon fiber is masterfully blended with Damascus steel. After this, they have made even more impressive knives, which we recommend you view on their website.
Guilherme Camargo (Brazil): "Isabella" boot dagger, inspired by 16th century originals. San San Mai blade with Turkish Damascus spiral core and stainless steel sides, with multi-colored finish. Guard and spacer are made of titanium, while the wood is Turkish walnut.
Emiliano Fetel (Italy): A folding dagger with liner-lock system. The blade is in twisted, strongly contrasting mosaic Damascus, while for the handle the knife maker has chosen carbon fiber, embellished with pairs of mother-of-pearl inlays and hand-engraved steel bolsters.
Henning Wilkinson (South Africa): Impressive symmetrical dagger with an 80CrV2 steel blade, featuring a long central groove. The handle, with full tang, has an antiqued mild steel core, complemented by elements of marsh oak, mother-of-pearl and gold details.
Michal Komorovsky (Slovakia): Called Princess, this hunting dagger is made of Sleipner steel at 61 HRC, finished with DLC coating, also applied to the guard and end of the handle. The wooden part is made of twisted wenge. It is completed by a cowhide sheath.
Tom Ward - Tempestcraft (United States): Caucus Zulifqar is a sword whose shape derives from a cross between the Caucasian Kindjal and the Zulfigar, a blade sacred to the Islamic religion. The handle is made of wrought iron and sandblasted ironwood, while none other than the mythical Wootz Damascus was used for the blade.
Tom Ward - Tempestcraft (United States): Bowie masterpiece, with particularly tapered damascus clip point and a 150-year-old wrought iron guard, with the lower branch curved backwards. The wooden handle is one piece, secured by a brass pin, like the spacers.
Kiku Matsuda (Japan): An extraordinary katana revisited in a modern key by Kiku Matsuda. The blade is in OU-31, with aesthetics that closely recall the great classics of Japanese tradition. The handle is in modern black G10, while the sheath is Kydex.
Kiku Matsuda (Japan) Ryuga is a full-tang in OU-31, with black G10 handle. Its extremely modern design is reminiscent of a kukri, albeit revised in the very personal style of the Japanese knife maker. At the end of the handle, a section of the tang remains uncovered, to act as a breaker.
Francesco Piccinin (Italy): Ash Hunter in RWL34 steel at 60 HRC. The handle starts with a carbon fiber spacer, followed by a 416 steel spacer and a block of stabilised ash briar; in the hand it surprises with its lightness. The sheath is made of vegetable-tanned leather.
Claudio Mondo Ercoli (Italy): Slim linerlock with blade and bolster in self-made "explosion" Damascus steel. Handle sides made of titanium, file-machined and covered with antique ivory scales. The small Torx screws create a pleasant contrast to the classic folding design.
Also on display at the exhibition were cutting tools of African origin, dating back to the beginning of the 20th century, there to symbolise the millennial history of the knife, which in its various evolutions has accompanied mankind since the dawn of time.
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