FRIEDRICH SCHNEIDER
We highly appreciate that Friedrich Schneider has agreed to present himself and his knives on our website! Friedrich Schneider is without doubt one of the greatest and most famous knifemakers in Germany. But that is not all. His development of stain resistant damascus steel has not only enriched the world of metallurgy but revolutionised it. Back in 1981 he introduced this technique with his former partner Richard Hehn, a technique which enables the transformation of stainless steel into stain resistant layer steel - i.e. damascus. A steel which does not merely have great importance within the art of manufacturing knives, but is also applied in wide areas of the metal-processing industry. Steel made by Friedrich Schneider is famous in the world.
In 2003 Friedrich Schneider celebrated his 25th anniversary as a knifemaker. Meanwhile he is 78 years old but still active. He has been involved in the world of metal-processing much longer, since it was always the centre of his professional life and long before the knifemaking became his destiny. His knives are pure works of art! It is not only the beautiful and fine damascus steel that is so impressive it is the harmony in material and form, combined with unbelievable perfection, truly works of art!
Friedrich Schneider has many friends all over the world. It is not just the numerous collectors who are very close to him, but also many of his colleagues working in the knifemaking field, such as Wolf Borger, Richard Hehn, Dietmar Kressler, Charles Bennica, Charles Roulin, Ron Lake, Bob Terzuola, Michael Walker and others. All of them are keen users of his steels, which Friedrich Schneider still forges himself. Manufacturing knives is one thing, being one of the centres of the world´s most famous knifemakers is quite another. This requires a great deal of experience and creativity, but above all it is strong personality that leads to acknowledgement.
Friedrich Schneider has received many awards: among others for the most beautiful pocket-knife made of damascus steel in 1992, the the most beautiful folder in 1995 in Stuttgart and the most beautiful knife at the SICAC in Paris in 1996. At the Knifemakers´ Guild in Kansas in 1982 Schneider and Hahn received standing ovations for the presentation of their stainless damascus.
The works of Friedrich Schneider range from hunters and fighters to precise made folders. And when he has some time left and the leisure to do so he makes presentation knives like his Lapislazuli Dagger. The themes for the engravings are taken mainly from the field of hunting. His Big Five hunters are legendary, no matter whether they are engraved with European or African themes.
Friedrich Schneider is a member in the GERMAN KNIFEMAKER´S GUILD.
