SICAC, the Paris knife exhibition

The history of the exhibition Salon International du Couteau d’Art et de Collection

In September 1989 there is the first edition born after 2 years of analysis and reflection of its organizer in response to a very strong request to create the first international exhibition of European knives dedicated to art and collecting in Paris.

It reports:

“I never imagined, after directing for many years the magazines “Action Guns” then “Gazette of Weapons” and “The Books of the Pistolier”, being since 1976 the only official photographer of the famous GIGN “Group Intervention of the national gendarmerie ” that, creating in 1987 the first European magazine dedicated to cutlery art ” The Passion of Knives “, I would have met such a success associated with the craze that this magazine would arouse”.

With SICAC in 30 years a huge number of collectors and more than 700 different makers from almost 30 countries have been discovered.

SICAC has hosted many big names but also young hobbyists or beginners who are today among the best on the international scene.

The first time at SICAP of famous makers

The first time Hirumama Hirayama exhibited outside Japan was at SICAC.

What Bob Loveless and Ray Appleton exhibited outside the US was to go to SICAC.

As for some US makers who have exhibited at SICAC among the largest Ron Lago, Michael Walker, Wolfgang Loerchner Virgilio England, Gil Hibben (the famous knives from the movie Rambo),Larry Fuegen Jim Kelso, Steve Johnson, etc. etc… who have honored with their presence the exhibition several times not to mention Jurgen Steinau who has been present for 7 consecutive years at SICAC.

In 30 years, almost all artists who count the world of knives have at least once participated in the SICAC-Paris Knife Show.

The world of custom knife has evolved and hundreds of talented new talents have joined these precursors.

Today, as in fashion, tastes have changed.

Collectors are perhaps more users than before and look for both aesthetic and functional pieces highlighting noble materials: fine wood, mammoth ivory, mother of pearl but also very trendy such as titanium, anodized aluminum, carbon fiber, zirconium, etc.

The use of these “modern” materials has become increasingly popular in the world of art, design and watchmaking.

In the SICAC exhibition, there is no demand for a style or a trend to be put on, but it leaves room for the maker and his proposals.

The thousands of collectors and enthusiasts have the opportunity to discover a very large group of artisans who bring each, from their country of origin, a cultural richness and an expressed diversity attract the type of knife they make.

LAUREATS DU 29ème SICAC – 2018

Best of the show: Michael Walker

Prizes for the best knife:

• design: Gustavo Colodetti Vilar
• folding: Michael Zieba
• forged folding: Gustavo Colodetti Vilar
• Straight: Apeiron – Andy Golz
• Forged straight: Daniele Ibba and Vlad Matveev
• Tactician: Sebastijan Berenji – Borka Blades
• Pinball: Stéphane Sagric

1st appearance: Jean-Michel Martin
Favourite: Liong MahJeune Hope: Atelier Névé – Tim Bernard
Around the knife: G2L – Gabrielle
Thanks to our jury: Maria Svigurnova, Tzvy, Tashi Bharucha, Marc Alfieri, Lionel Sinning and our team of collaborators and collectors