Nontron knives have been made by hand in the same tiny village in southwestern France since the 16th century — they run the oldest continuously operating cutlery in the country. Each knife is created by a single craftsman who oversees the entire 40-step process from start to finish. The blade is yatagan-style, stainless steel blades that curve slightly forward. The handles are made from decades-old, locally grown boxwood that air-dries for five years before being hand-shaped, sanded, and burned with signature Nontronnaise patterns.