Citadel

KNIFE WITHDRAWN FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION
* Origin: Withdrawn from a private individual, previously purchased
* Conditions: in like-new condition
* Available on the market: No longer available
* Sharpening: Factory
* Marks on blade: None
* Marks on handle: None
* Box: /
* Sheath: hand-made leather in good condition
* Manuals, Certificates and Guarantees: No
* Checked and Certified by our internal laboratory

Intended use: collection/sports

Type of production: Handcrafted
Blade production: Cambodia
Blade: mirror-finish DNH7 carbon steel
Blade treatment: brut de forge
Handle: wood and horn
Blade length: approx. 120mm.
Blade thickness: approx. 5.5mm.
Total length: approx. 250mm.
Balance: -
Weight: approx. 228g.
Lock: 1.5cm set back
Sheath: Handcrafted leather
Notes: -

Citadel Knives and Swords is a sword and knife manufacturer based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Despite the country's reputation as an exotic and remote location, the company is easily accessible, located close to the city's international airport. The workshop is modest but houses an impressive range of high-quality Japanese swords and knives.

Founded by Dominique Eluere in the 1990s, Citadel has combined the expertise of French and local craftsmen to produce blades that rival the best in the world. Eluere began by training Cambodian blacksmiths to make French table knives, later evolving into the production of Japanese swords.

The quality of Citadel swords is world renowned, thanks to the use of traditional Japanese techniques and a meticulous manufacturing process. Each katana is heat treated, creating a blade with varying hardness along the edge and spine, a hallmark of true katanas. The hilt is fully encased in high-quality stingray leather, a rarity compared to common panels.

Attention to detail extends to every element, with every component custom-made for each blade. This includes the tsuba (sword guard) and habaki (blade collar), both of which are hand-crafted and fitted, ensuring perfect fit and functionality.

In addition to katanas, Citadel also produces European swords and knives, maintaining the same philosophy of quality and functionality. Production is artisanal, with particular attention to polishing and finishing, often done by hand with sandpaper and whetstones.

Citadel is proud of its Cambodian roots, with local workers looking up to Eluere as a father figure and deeply involved in maintaining the company's high standards.

In short, Citadel Knives and Swords represents a perfect fusion of tradition, craftsmanship and innovation, offering products that are truly functional works of art. These tools, while expensive, represent an investment in quality and craftsmanship that is hard to match.