The Bygone Knife Grinders of France: Working on Their Stomachs to Preserve Their Backs, 1900s

In early 20th-century France, knife grinding was a vital yet grueling trade, requiring long hours and careful precision.

In the town of Thiers—famed as the heart of French cutlery production—knife grinders developed a peculiar and practical technique to endure the physical toll of their work: they lay on their stomachs, chests down, as they worked the grindstone.

This unusual posture allowed them to preserve their backs, sparing themselves from the hunched, painful stance that often plagued other trades.

Often, a loyal dog would sit on the grinder’s legs, providing warmth during cold days and adding a small comfort to an otherwise taxing routine. Through these old rare photos, we gain insight into the lives of these skilled craftsmen.

Yellow Bellies Knife Grinders of France Old Photos
Despite lacking natural resources crucial to the industry—such as iron ore for blades and sandstone for grinding wheels—Thiers became the heart of French knife making.

The city’s defining asset was the Durolle, a fast-flowing river whose energy powered the cutlery workshops.

The town’s rugged landscape also contributed; inhabitants, accustomed to working on the rocky, steep terrain, labored in the fields in summer and crafted blades in winter, with a determination that propelled the industry forward.

During this time, knife production in Thiers shifted toward a division of labor, with specialists focusing on different stages of the process, from blade shaping to final assembly—a marked change from when a single cutler would handle the entire process.

Yellow Bellies Knife Grinders of France Old Photos
Work conditions were notoriously harsh. Those responsible for blade shaping, known as “yellow bellies,” lay over the grinding wheels, with a dog often perched on their legs for warmth in the cold, damp valley workshops by the river.

The noise was deafening, and the danger constant; a ruptured grinding wheel could throw a worker against the ceiling, often fatally.

Other stages of knife production were equally taxing, as hammering presses posed high risks, and forge temperatures regularly soared to 120°F. Nonetheless, Thiers’ specialization and efficiency attracted orders from across France.

Yellow Bellies Knife Grinders of France Old Photos
One notable example was the Laguiole knife. Originally produced in the village of Laguiole in Aveyron, demand soon outpaced local production, and Laguiole cutlers turned to Thiers for help.

These knives, once known as “Laguiole style,” became known simply as Laguiole when all production moved to Thiers.

This pattern was repeated for numerous French knife styles, which were often named after the cities or regions that initially developed them—Yssingeaux, Issoire, Alpin, Montpellier, and Rouennais, to name a few.

Yellow Bellies Knife Grinders of France Old Photos
Ironically, while Thiers produced blades for most French regions, it had no signature knife of its own until 1994, when the distinctive “Le Thiers” model was introduced.

Today, the once-water-powered industry is driven by electricity, yet Thiers and its surrounding areas still manufacture 70% to 80% of France’s blades.

With a dedicated museum and the annual “Coutellia” international blade show, Thiers rightfully retains its title as the capital of French knife making.

Yellow Bellies Knife Grinders of France Old Photos

Yellow Bellies Knife Grinders of France Old Photos

Yellow Bellies Knife Grinders of France Old Photos

Yellow Bellies Knife Grinders of France Old Photos

Yellow Bellies Knife Grinders of France Old Photos

Yellow Bellies Knife Grinders of France Old Photos

Yellow Bellies Knife Grinders of France Old Photos

Yellow Bellies Knife Grinders of France Old Photos

Yellow Bellies Knife Grinders of France Old Photos

Yellow Bellies Knife Grinders of France Old Photos

(Photo credit: Knives of France via Flickr / Upscaled by RHP).

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