從原料鋼材變成精準的工具──刀匠的精心之作

René Frieden 是一名真正的匠師。他非常瞭解自己使用的物料。他的故事展示出只有傾注大量時間及精力的人能成為技藝精湛的大師。這位鐵匠回顧過去 50 多年的經歷，介紹職業的變化，並暢談精通拿手技藝為他內心所帶來的平靜與滿足。

René 與我們分享他在鋼鐵方面的淵博知識，讓我們從他豐富的經驗中學習。

從鐵塊到傳奇

一切都是由一塊生鐵開始。一開始看起來笨重而粗糙。這個外觀令我們聯想起這塊鐵如何從地球和礦石經過高溫提煉而成，然後來到 René 的手上。他不斷重複塑造形狀並打磨，物料來到他的手上就像獲得重生，發揮潛能展現出最完美的一面。最後製成兩個完美的部分：鋒利而閃閃發光的刀片，以及開關刀片時發出 Victorinox 經典「咔嗒」聲的彈簧。René Frieden 即使已成為刀匠 50 年，但顯然仍對自己的職業充滿熱誠。

他對自己雙手帶來的轉變感到著迷。聽起來雖然浪漫，但這需要不斷的努力，以及大量的知識與經驗。他熟悉各種金屬，亦是塑膠及木材、犄角、珍珠母等天然物料專家。一把刀不只必須要鋒利，還要能貼合手掌。為處理刀刃和手柄，René 需要使用金剛砂、打磨機、拋光輪、沖壓工具、壓力機等工具。過去他也經常使用鐵砧。René 會不斷敲擊他製作的部件，直到這些部件成形為止。刀匠的工作現時從沖壓胚料開始，但不變的是您需要全神貫注，令雙手學會思考。

從學徒到大師

技巧純熟的刀匠準確地知道如何以 17 度角打磨刀刃，令刀鋒變得更加銳利。要能讓這種技巧爐火純青，是需要數月、甚至數年的時間才能讓手指感受到正確的角度。René 記得他當時得在 Victorinox 珩磨剪刀將近整整一年。„他表示：「當然，過程非常困難，但卻是必須的，這是不斷進步的唯一方法。」因此，工匠必須有學習熱誠，同時要有充足的耐性。

正是這種對於新知求知若渴的欲望，才能讓他們熬過長時間不斷使用打磨機械的時光。有時候一些壓力也會有幫助。René 記得他在訓練時曾有過一段低迷的時候。「有一次，我的成績非常差。我立即被叫去見上司。」而這個人不僅是他的直屬經理，而是 Victorinox 行政總裁。Elsener 知道新人對當時有 500 名員工的公司而言非常重要，因此親自監督所有學徒的成績。René 笑說：「我被罰做更多打磨的工作。」但他當然明白這段經歷的重要性。1970 年，他以優異的成績通過學徒考試，這絕非偶然。

認識幾項 René Frieden 的特殊工作

Mother-of-pearl knife

“I like mother-of-pearl because it is pleasantly cool to the touch and completely scratchproof,” says René. In any event, he appreciates dealing with a lot of natural materials in his profession. “Nature is perfect as it is,” the smith says enthusiastically. Mother-of-pearl is a good example of this. Sea snails build their shells in layers like a brick wall. This makes the material extremely robust. This layering also produces a shimmering effect. René always has a small mother-of-pearl knife on his key chain.

Soldier’s knife

In 2009, Victorinox resurrected the first Swiss Army soldier’s knife of 1891. This is a perfect example of why the company still needs a cutler, even today. The engineers working on the project were stumped by the fact that the edges of the scales were rounded, but the rivet holding the knife together was rounded only in one place. How was it possible to make sure the rounded side of the rivet was in the correct position? René grins: “Quite simple, a small tube on the 100 model.”

Details

Deer antler knife

Knives are subjected to high pressure. In the past, it was common to have knife handles made of deer antler, as it effectively dampens pressure and blows. The material also feels nice in the hand. Even today, deer antler knives are very popular with collectors. Even though Victorinox no longer manufactures such knifes, we are experts when it comes to repairing old deer antler knives. People from all over the world send us their knives to be fixed, including the knife pictured here, which is from South Korea.

The preservation of a species

Today in Switzerland there are still between 20 and 30 federally certified cutlers, both men and women. But what was once a highly esteemed profession is now in danger of extinction. At Victorinox, it will also be important in the future for the company to have good generalists, individuals with comprehensive knowledge who have an understanding of the larger picture. „“For precisely this reason, we are going to start training a new cutler this year,” says Toni Blaser, who is responsible for apprenticeship training.

Would you like to accompany our young smith during his or her apprenticeship to become a cutler? Then follow his or her career on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

What is René Frieden’s favorite knife?

What does the master craftsman reach for when he needs a knife? René’s favorite knife might come as a surprise. Perhaps you expected a knife with a mammoth bone handle or silver blade. But a true artisan prefers a simple and appropriate knife to something swanky or exclusive. Therefore his knife of choice is the classic pocket knife. “It can do everything, fits well in your hand, and it’s always with you.”