In Sardinia, the discovery of Nuragic bronzes representing figures of warriors with daggers means that the construction of edged weapons has very ancient origins. The 1st edged weapons were made using animal bones and flint. Later the obsidian of Monte Arci was used, this material was commercialized and used throughout the Mediterranean since the Neolithic period. With the mining, the 1st nuragic furnaces were born, which with the use of molds made the 1st cutting, working, and ornamental bronze weapons, also widespread throughout the Mediterranean. Romans, Phoenicians, Tunics and later around 1130-1140 the Templars returning from the crusades in the East imported new techniques and the production of edged weapons became even more specialized. Throughout the national territory a law was enacted that prohibited the carrying of knives with the blades exceeding 10cm that had locking systems. With the Giolotti decree of 1908 an attempt was made to limit the import of knives with blades no longer than 4cm, which was later increased to 6cm. It was in this historical context that the blacksmiths (sos frailarzos) had the idea of pivoting the blade into the handle in order to use it as a sort of case for easier concealment and portability of the knife, which depending on the geographical region of Sardegna, takes the name of the resolza in the north, lesorja in the Nuoro area, and arresoja in the south of the island.This knife had a rapid spread as it became an indispensable tool for the daily urges of shepherds, farmers, and miners and for this reason the anthropologist Bachisio Bandinu called it the “extension of the hand”. Even the miners during lunch breaks delighted in the construction of their knife which they used not only as a tool but also as a utensil to carry food to their mouth. It also became a symbol of virility, a friend who instilled security and can be trusted in. In various centers of Sardinia, the blacksmiths, in their shops specialized, thanks to strong demand, the forging of blades, affirming some types that soon became tradition. The Blacksmith and the Cutler was an art handed down from father to son.

TYPES OF SARDINIAN KNIVES:

Depending on the area of origin and its characteristics, the Sardinian knife can be divided into 2 types:

  • monolithic, with a handle made from a monobloc that is cut to house the blade as in the ancient corrina, in the arburesa and in the guspinesa;
  • animated, that is, with the shod handle as in the pattadesa, or the logudoresa

La corrina, a rather rustic and simple fixed blade knife (the 1st generation one). The so-called olive leaf blade was simply fixed in a goat or rams horn without the aid of a ring at its attatchment. This knife, due to its constructive simplicity, was often made by the shepherd himself. The arburesa, a knife with the blade forged in the shape of a “broad leaf”, can be defined as pot-bellied. The guspinesa is a knife present in 2 models: the 1st has a slightly rounded blade and a rather curved handle; rhe second model called a “spatula”, is charecterized by a truncated blade. It dates back to 1908 when, when the Giolotti law was enacted

HOW A LESORJA IS BORN

To build an excellent resolution it takes about 8-12 hours of work. It begins with the cutting of the horn, which is heated over a fire and pressed to create 2 cheeks: followed by the forging of the blade, the modeling by material removal, and the grafting on the handle. It ends with the ring, or collar, usually in brass or stainless, worked and engraved by hand locked on the handle by a pin. As mentioned, the sardinian knife consists of 3 essential parts:
The blade, in tempered steel, usually in carbon, stainless steel, and damascus.
The handle, normally in ram horn or mouflon horn. Different wood and other exotic materials are also used.
The collar, in brass, stainless or precious metals, gold or silver, often finely worked.

THE MATERIALS

The processing of the “artisan knife” involves the use of different materials. Steel is used to make the blade and the bow (only in the case of animated handles). It can be of 3 types:

  • Carbon steel
  • Stainless; with the addition of the following elements: manganese, silicon, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, and vanadium:
  • Damascus: with alloys obtained from the hot assembly of steels with different contents of carbon and other elements (in particular iron and nickel).

The horn is of different animal species (mainly ram, mouflon, and deer), and is used for the realization of the handle. Brass, nickle silver, silver and gold can be used to make the ring, rivets (nails used for assembling the handle of animated knives), the pin or for inlays on the handle.

This is only the beginning! I will be adding to this narrative and many other subjects and topics as this site progresses!