The Reha knife craft gets its name from a village in Gujarat. Six generations of metal knife makers in the Lohar community have sustained this particular technique. This craft is believed to be at least 800 years old. Reha is one of the last few villages where knives are being made by hand.

The process of making a knife by hand involves ancient techniques like cold forging, sand casting, polishing, and buffing. The craftsmen sharpen the knife using ancient techniques to produce a razor-sharp blade. The handle is made from locally sourced Babul wood for durability and strength. The handmade knives of Reha were very much in demand in the India of the 60s and 70s. However, the demand diminished significantly from the 1990s, when people began turning to mass-produced knives. These factory-made knives were rust-resistant, cheap, and easily available.

The story of knife-making in Reha is intrinsically linked to a regional habit of eating betel nuts, locally called supari. Seniors in most households would chew on a piece or two after each meal, and nutcrackers were required as a daily essential tool. The Marwari community from neighbouring states of Kachchh also began to get embellished nutcrackers made. The craft of knife carving began from that evolution.

Any information on this page is anecdotal and based on publicly available details. If you're interested in learning more, click here.