SAUVETERRE DE ROUERGUE
The knives

By the end of the Middle Ages Sauveterre de Rouerge had become the cutlery capital of Rouergue. In the 15th century, thanks to capital provided by the region's merchants, cutlery was a thriving industry. Around 1425, Sauveterre had some 30 blacksmiths, 16 of whom used a tool called a tornalis to grind or sharpen blades. The tornalis was a hydraulic device that allowed for the development of cutlery works established on the Lézert in the 14th century. Steel, iron, boxwood and horn were used to make daggers and table knives.