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Although knives are not the most expensive among all tools in a commercial kitchen, they are considered to be the most valuable. Cutlery’s development is parallel to man’s progress as seen in history. There are 4 important eras that spearheaded the journey of knives, axes and spearheads that were made from fragment of hard Flintstones.
The Stone Age
The first cutler designed spearheads and knives from stones 300,000 years ago. He did the tools for him and his family in order for them to have food to eat and as a self-defense for themselves. The first knives in our history were made from splinters of flint.
Flint stones are known to be a tough stone. During that time, flint stones have been common and were readily available. The edges of the splinters are sharp which gave way for it to be used in hacking and skinning animals on hunting times. The ancient people required great experience on practically and skillfully crafting the early knives, they should use only good Flint stones.
It was in the late Stone Age when people made us of flints over stones in making tools and weapons. In the Late Stone Age, Flintstones were traded. France’s Grand Pressigny was abundant in supply of quality stones sold to tribes.
The Bronze Age
Metals slowly replaced stones. However, although bronze is a copper alloy with tin, people still use stones for the longest time. Nevertheless, because bronze knives became popular, they held and suppressed the quality and capabilities of stone ancestors.
The Beginning of Iron Age
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Iron a common earth metal it is from the earth’s crust but can also be found everywhere. This metal can be combined with other elements to be an iron ore. Sagas about “Iron Age” proposed that metal working skills were deemed originally as holy, coming from the east. |
The Chronicles of Paros suggest that iron as 1432 BC being its discovery date while “Iron Age” began in 1000 BC. Right after 1432 BC, there were discovered the written documents’ actual record, which have shown that iron was used in making farm tools, weapons and knives. Knives with iron blades were superior to other predecessors.
The Middle Ages, Late 19th Century
Iron preparation was Cutler’s Craft’s evolution. The preparation of Iron was discovered by the end of the Middle Ages, its preparation is just the same, alternating the layers of iron ores and charcoal were heated inside a hearth until molten ore was produced.
Sheffield and Solingen were the famous cutlery towns during those times. England and Germany were two of the major producers of European cutlery.
Cutlery's Craft
Cutlery’s trades began in the 10th to 11th centuries. This period gave extensive freedom to execute trades. Dividing trades were largely maintained and the manufacturing of knives involves the grinder, the polisher, the smith, and the handle maker.
Article from: http://www.ceramickitchenutensils.com
