About Us

CULTURE OF CUT

Gaucho culture is the rich tradition of bringing people together to celebrate the steak and all the work that went into making it. Playing guitar, drinking mate, eating asado with family and friends--ours is a culture of slowing down, patience and appreciation for the process that brings about quality. That moment when the blade cuts the steak is the pride of the Gaucho--the culmination of his hard work. The knife he made and the meat he raised--this is when tradition, connection, #cultureofcut is forged. When you bring your own Gaucho Steel (#byok - bring your own knife) to an asado, you are ambassador of the Culture of Cut. For us, Gaucho Steel is more than just a knife. It is tradition. It is family. It is connection to our roots.

 

OUR ROOTS

Deeply rooted in history, Tandil is the traditional Argentinian town, a true representation of what it means to be Argentinian. Tandil is not only renowned for high quality knife blades, but also for its landscape and natural resources. It is the land of Gaucho legend. If you’re looking for the best knives, Tandil is where it all begins.

 

THE GAUCHO

Gauchos are artisans and cowboys, cattle ranchers and musicians, knife handle-makers (known as “encabadores”) and skilled knife fighters, as well as competition horseback riders. Out in the “Pampas”, the fertile lowlands, Gauchos depend on simple, quality tools every day, especially their knife. They take great pride in making and wearing their Gaucho Steel as an essential part of their attire--an artistic expression of their individual personality. While the Gauchos are out herding cattle they also forage the countryside for raw materials to make knife handles and other traditional handicrafts--things like “noble” hardwoods, cowhide leather, found deer antlers and even bone.

 

THE ASADO

The Asado (traditional Argentinian BBQ) has made Argentina famous for the best steak in the world. As children we visited Tandil on holidays, sharing in the family ritual of Asado. This is the slow ritual of preparing and sharing that culmination of all The Gaucho’s pride and hard work--the knife they made and the cattle they raised.

 

OUR KNIVES

In a world of quantity over quality and Chinese mass production, Gaucho Steel is the standard by which all other knives may be judged. Made in the old-world, bladesmith tradition, crafted with only the finest “acero criollo” and stainless steel blades, and finished by master handle-makers “encabadores”, Gaucho Steel has no equal. Made by the same guys who raise the cattle, Gaucho Steel is made with the same passion, attention to detail and pride that put Argentina on the map for its steak. The best knives are made slow, by hand and in the Gaucho tradition--just like the Asado. So that each Gaucho Steel knife is as unique as the person who owns it.

When comparing two of our knives of the same model, the design will always be similar, but small details may be unique to each piece, due to the natural qualities of the materials (color, size, shape, etc). No tree, bone or metal is identical to any other.

 

 

WHAT MAKES OUR KNIVES GAUCHO STEEL

  •  - Made in Tandil, Argentina. Based in Miami, Florida
  • - Family-owned and operated factory employing local people for fair wages
  • - We use only local materials: found deer antlers, local hardwoods, bone, leather, high quality stainless steel and acero criollo (Argentinian carbon steel from Tandil)
  • - Local handle metals include: brass, steel, copper, silver, alpaca (traditional argentinian silver alloy)
  • - Each Gaucho Steel knife is a one-of-kind art piece--all hand-made by our master bladesmiths and "encabadores"
  • - Built to last. If well cared for, our knives become family heirlooms
  • - Money back guarantee: If for some reason you are not fully satisfied with your Gaucho Steel, you may return the undamaged knife for a full refund within 30 days of purchase
  • - Limited lifetime warranty: if your knife is damaged for some reason, we will help you fix it (service or reduced replacement cost, See "Knife Care" tab on each product page)
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"I saw an opportunity to start a knife company that would create a beautiful art piece not only representing my culture but really provide an intersection between two cultures that are, at the end of the day, passionate about the same things."   

- DONATO HELBLING, GAUCHO STEEL FOUNDER

 

 “When you own a Gaucho Steel knife you own a piece of a tradition. A symbol of how the Gauchos live, their individualism, a key part of their attire. The knife is a tool with them at all times, not just at meals but in the field, on the job, even in combat.” 
 

- DON CASTILLO, KNIFE MAKER