Agde: Florent Dall’Ava’s knives can be discovered at the Moulin des Évêques

Dans son atelier de Paulhan, Florent confectionne de splendides couteaux. D.R.

Installé à Paulhan, ce Compagnon du Devoir sera présent au Salon du couteau samedi 30 et dimanche 31 mars, à Agde. L'occasion de découvrir un magnifique savoir-faire.

If the Mediterranean Knife Salon owes a lot to the Agathois Jean-Claude Despeysse, an enlightened cutler if ever there was one, founder of the association L’âme des Knives which has been carrying this event since 2016, the quality of the exhibitors – several dozen more this year –, rising crescendo over the editions, also has a lot to do with it.

His job for three years now

It was in Paulhan that we found Florent Dall’Ava, who will be present on Saturday March 30 and Sunday March 31 at the Moulin des Évêques. A Compagnon du Devoir born in Monaco and who, at the end of his tour of France, settled in the region as an ironworker. "I've been making knives for around twenty years and that's all I've done for three years,” explains the craftsman, a lover of a job well done, as you can imagine.

70 hours of work for the most beautiful pieces

If for health reasons he can no longer forge the steel necessary to make his blades, he sources his supplies from hand-picked colleagues. For the rest, everything happens in his workshop. Cutting, processing, shaping, woodworking… Florent uses traditional machines – band saw, milling machine – and does not count his hours to make splendid pieces."A knife with a hidden central pump (which helps maintain the harmony of the shape, Editor's note), is 70 hours of work" , testifies the cutler, who works half on orders, the remainder on direct sales, as will be the case next weekend in Agde, with models specially made for this occasion.

From 200 to 850 € the knife

Hand-stitched knives whose entry-level price is around 200 € – "but I very rarely make them, except sometimes for birthdays", admits Florent – , 850 € for the most advanced. The price of quality for passionate customers and collectors "who are numerous in our region", notes the craftsman. A universe to discover next weekend in Agde.

Blacksmithing outside, ax throwing… the program for this 7th edition

The Knife Fair was not organized in 2020 and 2021 due to the health crisis, so this month of March we are celebrating the 7th edition of an event which has perfectly found its place in the small world of cutlery.

It must be said that the recipe is unanimous, with quality exhibitors from the world of crafts and a good dose of conviviality, which suits this kind of meeting.&amp ;nbsp;

As for entertainment, on the square in front of the Moulin des Évêques, you can discover a blacksmithing stand run by the Marguerittise brotherhood of cutler blacksmiths, as well as a sharpening stand to restore sharpness to your blades. More unusual, we can also try ax throwing and archery!

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