Care for a knife that costs Dh50,000?

Abu Dhabi - "Last year we displayed a knife worth Dh100,000, with a blade made by a Samurai in Japan," Al Amiri told Khaleej Times.

The most expensive knife at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex) costs no less than Dh50,000! "It is not for sale, though. I really like it a lot, so I want to keep it," said Mohammed Al Amiri, owner of Tamreen, a UAE based company which has presented the knife.
Made of the strongest Damascus blade by William Henry in the US, fitted with an ivory handle and with four differently designed falcons meticulously engraved on both sides, this unique knife is definitely a work of art and took several hundred hours to be made.
But it is not the only special product that Tamreen has at the exhibition taking place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre until Saturday. The company, which has been exhibiting at Adihex for the past nine years, has always been spoiling visitors with the most exquisite looking blades.
"Last year we displayed a knife worth Dh100,000, with a blade made by a Samurai in Japan," Al Amiri told Khaleej Times.
Some of Tamreen's popular collections include the M62 pocket knives which may be Italian made, but have UAE specifications like being small, light and easy to sharpen. These are qualities that falconers look for.
The 'Rolls Royce of knives', as Al Amiri called them, are the William Henry knives, though. Handcrafted each knife takes eight months and 800 steps to be completed. Every blade is made using Damascus steel, considered the best since three different types of metal are used.
"Every year at Adihex William Henry issues a five-piece edition of knives, exclusively available during the exhibition," said Al Amiri.
"The knives are made of Damascus stainless steel and with a makuma gama - wood grain metal - handle, as well as a 10,000-year-old mammoth tooth," he added.
Mammoth teeth are rare, but they occasionally surface in remote areas of the world such as Alaska or Siberia. If the tooth is in good condition, craftsmen can make 10 knife blades out of it.
Tamreen collection this year also showcases the B12 Arabian, a one of its kind knife, having a special engraving of an Arabian horse that took more than 100 hours under the microscope to complete. This knife, too, is made of Damascus blade and 10,000 years old mammoth tooth, and is available for Dh40,000.
During Adihex 2015, Tamreen also runs live demonstrations of knives showing visitors the different processes that go into making one. The daily live workshops include leather crafting, too, used for casing of knives and guns.
Perhaps the most special product of them all is the Mohammed Khalaf knife.
The name of Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, the man behind most of Abu Dhabi emirate's cultural and heritage activities, initiatives and projects, Adihex included, has become synonymous with the revival and preservation of Emirati traditions. Al Mazrouei, who was cultural advisor to the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court, passed away in an accident in November last year.
"In memory of Al Mazrouei we have made 10-pieces of this edition that carry his photo on an ivory handle and having a Damascus blade manufactured for us in the US by Pro Tech Knives," explained Al Amiri. -silvia@khaleejtimes.com

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