"The technique of the manufacture of knives in Skopelos is passed from generation to generation and the cutler wrote his name above the name of his island (when signing his work)" said Christos Patsis.
Giorgos Koustrelos heads the list of master knife makers of the past, along with Giakimis, Lemonis who worked at the same time and was a third generation knife maker, and Asteriadis, who stole the technique by secretly watching the master cutlers at work. In those days the cutlers did not show their art to outsiders.
Now Christos Patsis is the last manufacturer of these handmade knives. He loves his work and wants to teach it to his son so that the profession is not lost from the island.
The knife blade is wrought on the anvil in stainless steel, while the handle is made from goat horns that have been left to dry for 3 years. The horns are heated in the fire and shaped, before being placed in a vice and left to dry.
The handmade knives of Christos Patsis are rare and coveted. He makes about 300 pieces during the winter to sell during the summer.