Few cutlery manufacturers can trace their origins back to the 17th century. This is the case for the company behind TB-1648, founded in 1648 in Thiers, the historical birthplace of French cutlery. This long history has earned it special recognition: membership in Les Hénokiens, the international circle of bicentennial family businesses.
Key Article Points
- The company behind TB-1648 was founded in 1648 in Thiers.
- Les Hénokiens brings together family businesses that have been in continuous operation for over two hundred years.
- This longevity is accompanied by the transmission of technical expertise, from forging to modern manufacturing.
Who are Les Hénokiens?
Les Hénokiens is an international association that brings together family businesses that have existed for over two centuries, still managed or owned by the founding family or its heirs. The admission criteria are strict: proven longevity, continuity of activity, and family governance maintained over time. This circle includes companies from very diverse sectors across the world, united by this rare business longevity.
Why is the company founded in 1648 part of it?
Founded in 1648 in Thiers, the historical capital of French cutlery, the company meets the criteria of longevity and family continuity that define Les Hénokiens. Such longevity, in an industrial sector exposed to technological and economic changes, implies an ability to transmit know-how while adapting it to the demands of each era.
What does such an ancient history concretely mean?
A 17th-century foundation is not just a commercial anecdote: it spans the major evolutions of French cutlery, from manual craftsmanship to industrialization, up to the modern industrial integration now carried by GDD. This continuity also explains why certain technical skills, such as mastering steel work, have been passed down and perfected over several generations rather than being reinvented.
What does this change for a customer today?
Choosing a knife from a three-century-old company means relying on a rare continuity in the manufacturing industry. This longevity does not replace the technical requirement of the product, but it forms its foundation: expertise proven over nearly four centuries, applied today to modern integrated manufacturing.
To understand how this expertise translates into current manufacturing, head to our article From Raw Steel to Finished Product. To learn more about the association, the official page of Les Hénokiens presents all member companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What distinguishes Les Hénokiens from a simple longevity label?
Admission requires verification of family continuity and activity for over two centuries, making it a restricted circle rather than an open commercial distinction.
Has the company always had the same name since 1648?
The history of a three-century-old company naturally involves structural and naming evolutions over generations, while maintaining the continuity of cutlery activity in Thiers.
Are other French companies part of Les Hénokiens?
Les Hénokiens brings together family businesses from several countries and sectors, with France being among the countries represented within the association.
Glossary
Hénokiens: An international association bringing together family businesses in continuous operation for over two hundred years.
Thiers: A town in Auvergne considered the historical capital of French cutlery.
