Mehriz Knife

Mehriz is a city in Yazd Province that has become famous as a garden city. This city is located in the south of Yazd Province, and due to its desert nature, a special form of architecture can be seen in the construction of its houses; the houses have high walls and are built against the direction of the sun. Windcatcher, cellar, thick walls, and semi-domed roofs are other features of houses in this area. In addition to its natural and historical features, Mehriz is famous for its special architecture, but its attractions are not limited to these, because the handicrafts of this city are also original and very impressive. Knife making is one of the best handicrafts of Mehriz; an art industry whose products are very durable and popular.

Mehriz Knife Making, Background, and Features

The people of Mehriz believe that the history of knife making in this city goes back to the pre-Islam era. According to some evidence, this statement has been confirmed by a number of experts. The status of knife making in Mehriz is in a way that traditionally, the knife makers of the city are respected by the people. Today, the predominance of industrial knives in the market has reduced the attention to the traditional art of knife making and the Mehriz knife has lost its popularity, although master craftsmen are still active in this city and make knives that are considered a work of art in addition to their efficiency and durability.

Products and Method of Making Mehriz Knife

Mehriz knife makers produce their products in the form of pocket, butcher, and kitchen knives. Raw materials such as steel sheet, fuel, and iron rod are used to produce knives. As in the past, Mehriz knife makers use traditional tools such as hammer, anvil, pliers, drill, and file to produce knives.

To make a knife, at first, the blade is produced. In the past, when there were no electric devices for cutting steel sheets, the sheet was first heated well and cut when it was completely red. This traditional method is still practiced in some Mehriz workshops. After cutting, the sliced pieces are hammered to form a suitable shape. The master knife maker may enter the sheet into the furnace several times in order to shape it properly. Despite its difficulty, this makes the blade stronger. Hammering the blade requires precision and skill because if a part of it is hammered too much, it will twist and break.

Mehriz knife makers engrave their name on the blade as a signature. This work is also a kind of guarantee of quality and after-sales service because if there is a problem in the making of the knife, the buyer can refer to the knife maker. After the blade is shaped, several steps are taken to polish, sharpen, and decorate the knife. Mehriz knife makers have found that if the well-heated blade is dipped in oil, its strength and smoothness will increase. For this reason, the blade is heated several times, immediately dipped in oil, and after 30 seconds, it is removed from the oil container and sanded to remove the impurities. When the blade turns a deep purple color during heating, the necessary flexibility is created in it and the sharpening stage begins. In modern times, the sharpening of knives is done with an electric machine, but in the past, craftsmen had special stones to sharpen the blade. Sharpening a knife properly also requires a lot of skill, because if the blade is sharpened too much, it becomes thin and brittle and the knife loses its effectiveness.

The final stage of making a knife is connecting the handle and the blade. Mehriz knife handles are wooden or metal. The handles of folding knives are made of metal. The handle is made in a way that fits well in the human hand. A skilled craftsman can produce five or six knives a day.

The art of knife making of Mehriz was inscribed on the list of Iran’s intangible national heritage in the year 2013 AD.

Knife making is one of the famous handicrafts of the historical city of Mehriz in Yazd Province and its products used to be sent all over Iran.