Eisenerz knife exhibition

Eisenerz in Austria is mostly known for its immense reserves of iron ore, and the annual motocross. But it also has a very nice knife show.

Text Andreas Behrend. Pictures Robert Sommer

Only to those with ore in their bones and gasoline in their blood will the location: ‘Eisenerz - Styria - Austria’ ring a bell. The blacksmiths and speculators know that three million tons of the best ore is mined here annually at the Erzberg. The fans of the international Enduro Motocross make Eisenerz their ‘navel of the world’ once a year to face and fight: THE MOUNTAIN at the Erzberg-rodeo. A big pop manufacturer has turned this into an international mega-event and calls it the ‘Hare Scramble’.

A view of the Eisenerz exhibition room.

The annual knife exhibition in Eisenerz is by no means a major event, but the date is reserved in the agenda of quite a few international knife friends. Organizer Alois Hammer managed to gather 47 exhibitors for the 14th time from five nations at the Innerberger Gewerkschaftshaus on the 9th of June this year. Blacksmiths, knife makers, industrial knife producers and material traders on an international top level like to return every year to attend this traditional event.
The organiser manages to keep a balance between the big names of the scene and the young rising knife makers very well. This ensures a very refreshing mix during the exhibition. The traditionally held raffle of two handmade knives is considered the highlight for the visitors of the knife exhibition.

Next year, the Eisenerz knife exhibition will we held again. The date has not been set yet, but it will be at the end of May or in early June. So, a warm call to all knife-loving motocross fans: the next time you dive to the dust and drink pop in Styria, stay a few days longer, enjoy the hospitality and visit the Eisenerz knife exhibition.

Alois Hammer lives in Eisenerz and is the organizer of the show. He is also a bladesmith. This Italian

stiletto has a blade made of K720 / CK45 steel and a handle from bone and copper.

An elegant fixed blade Italian knife maker Franco Bonassi (known as Frank). The blade is M390, the handle

is made of Ivory with a Carbon Fibre inlay and mosaic pins.

A knife by German maker Johann Birchner. The blade is 1.2842, the fittings are mosaic Damascus and

the handle is Ostrich bone.

A nice example of the work by the German knife maker and engraver René Funk. The blade is made of

RWL34, the engraved bolster is from D2 and the handle material is Desert Ironwood.

Slovenian Toni Kancilja made this elegant knife with a K460 blade and Amaranth wood handle.

This knife, by Austrian Karl Schmidt, has a blade of 180 layers 1.2842 / 75Ni8 Damascus. The handle

materials are (beginning at the side of the blade) bronze, buffalo, warthog, buffalo and deer antler.

An ostentatious knife by Manfred Nadlinger. The blade is RWL34, the handle is stabilised wood and Marlan.

Austrian knife maker Alois Reiterer made this fixed blade with a N690 blade and tang, and a handle of

combined Oryx antelope (black) and stabilised Willow.

A folding knife by Austrian maker Hans Weinmueller. The blade is CPM154, de bolsters are Devin Thomas

Barbed Wire Damascus, and the handle materials are Mammoth and Turquoise.

An elegant folding knife by Noriaki Narushima. The blade is 440 steel and the handle is made of SUS 42032,

Shakudo Copper & Gold, Shibuichi Copper & Silver, Copper and Gold.

A one-piece knife by Austrian knife maker Stefan Gobec. The Damascus grip has inlays of Malachite.