Alexander Zegula forges knives, and not just for mushroom season

On MDR I came across a knife smith from the Vogtland: Alexander Zegula, 61, from Hammerbrücke. His forge is behind the house. There the fire burns, and again and again he puts the blank into the glow.

The blank is heated to 1,200 degrees and then worked blow by blow. Forging takes place at around 800 to 900 degrees, which he says applies to all knives. In between he stands the blank on edge to check whether the blade is straight. As for how exact it has to be, he puts it this way: two wrong blows and the blank is ruined.

He has a clear opinion about steel. Stainless steel is easy to care for, but rusting steels get far sharper and are the ultimate for enthusiasts. A knife that rusts, however, has to be wiped with a cloth and oiled after every use.

The piece also takes up the old question of whether to harvest mushrooms by hand or with a knife. Zegula says it is a matter of belief. Whoever uses a knife cuts below the ground and covers the cut again with soil so that it does not start to mould. I like how matter-of-factly he talks about temperature, steel and care: at the end of the day, a good knife is craftsmanship and regular maintenance.

Source: MDR Sachsen