What is a Taramundi razor and what are the different types of Taramundi razors?
Taramundi knives are traditional pocket knives handcrafted in Taramundi and surrounding towns, in northern Spain, mainly in the municipalities of Taramundi (Asturias) and A Pontenova (Galicia).
These knives have a high-quality steel blade, usually curved in shape and with a sharp tip. The handle of the knife is made from different types of wood, such as boxwood, olive, walnut, ebony, rosewood, uz or hawthorn.
The artisans of the Taramundi area have perfected this knife-making technique for centuries, passing it on from generation to generation. Taramundi knives are famous for their quality, durability and beauty, and have become a symbol of Asturian and Galician craftsmanship. However, there are few artisans who continue to craft and perpetuate this centuries-old tradition. One of the greatest exponents today is the master craftsman José María Rodil Arruñada, known as J. Rodil, third generation of artisans in the noble art of manufacturing the Taramundi knife.
The manufacturing times of these knives vary depending on the model and the complexity of the design, as well as the experience of the craftsman.
Classification of Taramundi knives
Taramundi knives can be classified in various ways according to different criteria. Below are some of the most common classifications:
- Depending on the type of blade: there are two-blade knives, one of which is the main blade, and the other is secondary and is used for more delicate tasks. There are also single-blade knives, the most traditional from Taramundi, and pointed knives for precision tasks. In addition, we have mountain knives that are large and resistant and are used for outdoor activities such as hunting or fishing. It should also be mentioned the knives for gardening or horticulture such as the Hoja Chata knife. The Hoja Chata knife is a high-quality tool that has an elegant smooth boxwood handle, whose burnt wood finish gives it a unique and distinctive appearance. This model has been specially designed to meet the specific needs of horticulturists and gardeners, thanks to the particularity of its blade that makes it ideal for grafting with precision and ease. J. Rodil is a star model of the master craftsman J. Rodil, and he has been selling this type of knife to all the wealthy people of Spain for years.
- Depending on the material of the blade: you can find knives made of carbon steel, stainless steel and Damascus steel. Carbon steel is tough and easy to sharpen, but susceptible to corrosion, while stainless steel is resistant to corrosion and wear, but can be more difficult to sharpen. Damascus steel is produced by combining different types of steel, which gives the knife a unique appearance and patterns on the blade. It is important to choose the blade material well in a knife because this directly affects the quality, durability and effectiveness of the tool. The blade is the main part of the knife and its quality largely determines its ability to cut, how easily it can be sharpened and its resistance to wear.
- Depending on the handle material: knives can have wooden handles made of different types of wood. The choice of material will depend on strength, durability and user preferences.
- Depending on the use: there are knives for general use, for cutlery, hunting and fishing, craft work and collection.
Types of wood used in the manufacture of handmade Taramundi knives
Boxwood - Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) is an evergreen shrub that grows wild in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. It has been traditionally used for the manufacture of knife handles due to its strength, hardness and durability. Boxwood is a very dense, hard and compact wood, which has a very fine and uniform grain. This texture makes it perfect for the manufacture of knife handles, since it is resistant to wear and does not deform easily. In addition, it is a wood that is very resistant to humidity and corrosion, allowing it to maintain its appearance and durability even in humid environments.
Another advantage of boxwood is its ability to maintain its color and texture for many years. This wood is light yellow or light brown in color, with a uniform and smooth appearance. Additionally, boxwood can be polished to give it a shiny, smooth finish, making it very attractive for making knife handles.
Boxwood is also a very easy wood to work with, allowing knife makers to give it the desired shape and texture. It is a wood that is easily cut and carved, which makes it very manageable and versatile in the manufacture of knife handles. The master craftsman José Rodil is an expert in the use and properties of this wood, which is found in many forests on the Cantabrian coast. It is the wood most used in the J. Rodil collection of pocket knives and it is also the wood most associated with Taramundi knives.
Uz: Uz wood, also known as briar, is one of the most popular choices for making knife handles due to its beauty, durability, and weather resistance.
The uz is an evergreen tree found in Europe, Asia and North America. Uz wood is known for its density, hardness and resistance, which makes it perfect for the manufacture of knife handles. In addition, this wood has a very fine and uniform grain that gives it a soft texture that is pleasant to the touch.
Uz wood is highly resistant to wear and abrasion, making it an ideal choice for knives used in demanding environments. Additionally, this wood is moisture and weather resistant, meaning that knife handles made from this wood will not warp or crack over time.
Another advantage of uz wood is its natural beauty. This wood has a smooth, uniform texture that gives an attractive and elegant look to knife handles. Additionally, uz wood has a light yellow to reddish color, making it very attractive to the eye.
Uz wood is easy to work, allowing knife makers to give it the desired shape and texture. It is a wood that is easily cut and carved, which makes it very manageable and versatile in the manufacture of knife handles.
Ebony - Ebony wood is one of the most precious and valued woods in the manufacture of Taramundi knife handles. Its beauty, density and durability make it an ideal choice for high-quality knives.
Ebony is an evergreen tree that grows in tropical regions of Africa, India and Sri Lanka. Ebony wood is known for its deep black color and fine, uniform texture, making it very attractive and elegant. In addition, this wood is extremely dense and hard, making it very resistant to abrasion and wear.
The master craftsman José Rodil was the first artisan to make Taramundi knives with ebony handles with white drawings, creating designs that stand out for the beauty of the contrast of black and white colors.
Red, pink and violet wood - Pink, red and violet wood are tropical woods highly valued for their beauty and durability, and are commonly used in the manufacture of Taramundi knives.
Rosewood, also known as rosewood, is a hard, dense wood found in Central and South America, India, and Madagascar. It has a dark reddish brown color and is known for its distinctive grain and veining. Rosewood is highly valued in the manufacture of musical instruments, cabinetry and ornaments. It was known as the wood of royalty. In the manufacture of Taramundi knives, rosewood is often used for knife handles for its beauty and durability.
Palo Rojo, also known as cocobolo, is a hard, dense wood found in Central America. It has a dark reddish brown color and is known for its distinctive marbling and grain. Redwood is highly valued in the manufacture of fine furniture and decorative objects. In Taramundi knife making, redwood is often used for knife handles due to its durability, versatility and beauty.
Palo violet, also known as violetwood, is a dark purple wood found in Central and South America. It is a dense and resistant wood, which is often used in the manufacture of musical instruments such as guitars or bagpipes and knives and pieces of cutlery. In the manufacture of Taramundi knives, violet wood is often used for knife handles for its beauty and durability.
The master craftsman Jose Rodil is an expert in the manufacture of Taramundi knives with these woods due to his experience and skill in carving and treating the wood. Rodil is known for his use of exotic woods in the manufacture of knife handles, and has perfected his carving technique to create beautiful and durable knife handles from these woods. His work has been recognized both nationally and internationally, and he has been awarded awards for his mastery in the manufacture of Taramundi knives.
In addition, other types of wood that are not so common are also used.
- Olive: Olive wood is very durable and resistant, and is used in the manufacture of Taramundi knife handles due to its unique texture and patterns.
- Walnut: Walnut is a hard, wear-resistant wood used in the manufacture of Taramundi knife handles due to its unique texture and color.
The master craftsman José Rodil, in his Legado Rodil collection, has also been a pioneer in combining different types of wood in the same knife, respecting the tradition of artisanal production of the Taramundi knife.
To discover all the types of Taramundi pocketknives and knives manufactured 100% by hand by the master craftsman José Rodil, access his website or official store through this link. Also to the premium LEGADO RODIL collection.
