• Yann creates traditional knives and works on contemporary bespoke commissions
• He specialises in historical blade reproduction using ore reduction and bloomery steel making
• He collaborates with museums and castles, as well as Michelin-starred chefs

Before committing to knife making, Yann Petit worked in psychiatric care. In the late 2000s, a return to a childhood fascination with fire, iron and transformation marked a turning point in his career. Yann trained with a master craftsman, making traditional local knives and historical blades. His work drew the attention of Michelin-starred chefs, for whom he now makes cutlery and kitchen knives. Yann also developed expertise in historical reproduction, including ore reduction to produce bloomery steel, the closest modern equivalent to medieval ironmaking. "From contemporary commissions to exacting replicas, my work demands extreme precision," he says. Yann also shares his craft through teaching and medieval forging demonstrations. "Forging is only the beginning. Far more time is spent on assembly, finishing and polishing," he explains.