Cutler
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Le Coutelier | The Cutler
The cutler ("El afilador", 1640 painting by Antonio de Puga, Wikimedia Commons).
Generally speaking, the coutelier, or cutler, was a manufacturer of knives, scissors, razors and other sharp instruments, usually for domestic use. Cutlers could also make sword blades, daggers, halberds for the military, as well as surgical instruments.
The cutler would make his knives by hand, from the blade to the handle. The manufacturing of a knife generally involved one or a combination of processes: stock removal, forging to shape, welded lamination or investment cast. Primitive knives were made from bronze, copper, brass, iron, obsidian, and flint. More modern knife metals come from the carbon steel, tool steel, or stainless steel families.
Up until the 19th century, it was still the norm for men to have a knife on their person for occupational purposes, or to eat. Spring blade knives were especially popular, and were often given to young boys as their first present.
In New France, however, most cutlers repaired knives instead of making them, due to the large influx of imported knives coming from France and later the United States. Most cutlers often had to take on other jobs to make ends meet.
Known persons who had this occupation: Louis Aimé, Claude de Xaintes, Claude Frérot, Charles Gauthier, Jacques Liberge
17th century satirical drawing of a cutler ("Habit de coustellier", drawing attributed to Nicolas de Larmessin, Wikimedia Commons).
19th century cutler ("Couteaux et ciseaux à moudre!", 1887 drawing by Victor Fournel, Wikimedia Commons).
Sources:
Alfred Franklin, Dictionnaire historique des arts, métiers et professions exercés dans Paris depuis le treizième siècle (Paris, H. Welter, 1906), 225.
Jeanne Pomerleau, Arts et métiers de nos ancêtres : 1650-1950 (Montréal, Québec: Guérin, 1994), 173.