Journées du Couteau - Fête de la Coutellerie

Nogent, historic capital of French cutlery

Since the 18th century, the city of Nogent and its surrounding basin have established themselves as one of the major centers of cutlery in France. The name "Nogent" alone is enough to identify a superior quality production, recognized worldwide for its knives, scissors, surgical instruments, and hand tools. The Journées du Couteau - Fête de la Coutellerie perpetuate this tradition of excellence by offering the public a unique immersion into the world of cutlers from the Nogent basin.

The Musée de la Coutellerie, the event's showcase

Inaugurated in 1991 and located at 17 place Charles-de-Gaulle, the Musée de la Coutellerie de Nogent is the beating heart of the event. This unique museum in France, housed in a former cutlery workshop, preserves over 8,000 objects divided into seven major categories: folding knives, table cutlery, professional cutlery, shears, hand tools, medical-surgical instrumentation, and toiletries. During the Journées du Couteau, the museum's esplanade transforms into a true open-air artisan village, where chalets and marquees host exhibitors and demonstration workshops.

Demonstrations and workshops for everyone

The highlight of the event lies in the live demonstrations by professional cutlers. Among them are Meilleurs Ouvriers de France like Fabrice Liiri, MOF 2007, and one of the last engravers-shearmen of Haute-Marne, who still makes his scissors entirely by hand using traditional methods. Visitors can observe each step of knife making: blade forging, handle shaping, assembly, and sharpening. Participatory workshops allow both children and adults to learn knife assembly and leather keychain creation, guided by passionate artisans.

A fair of art and traditional cutlery

The Journées du Couteau also host a mini-cutlery fair where cutlers from all over France present and sell their creations: pocket knives, kitchen knives, art pieces, exceptional scissors, and forged tools. It's an opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts to discover the diversity of contemporary cutlery styles and techniques, from traditional folding knives to unique art pieces signed by a master cutler. Specialized publications and books on the history of cutlery are also available for purchase.

A living heritage to preserve

By highlighting the ancestral know-how of Nogent cutlers, the Journées du Couteau contribute to the preservation and transmission of a threatened artisanal heritage. The Confrérie du bassin coutelier nogentais, founded to promote and defend this art profession, actively participates in the event. The event reminds us that Nogent cutlery, far from being a relic of the past, is a living craft carried by passionate artisans who perpetuate and renew a centuries-old tradition, while embracing contemporary techniques and materials.