Thread: A. Sanelli

Whilst the rest of you were ogling Wades and Butchers and Ducks, I snagged an A.Sanelli razor off the bay.
Big one, a hair under 15/16.


Got it unpinned and sanded/polished a bit. Some pitting remains, but oh well! Pretty nice blade!

In searching Sanelli, I find they are still doing big business in cutlery from the tiny town of Premana in the mountains of northern Italy.

Some history and photos borrowed from their site!


The history
The Coltellerie Sanelli knifeworks were founded in 1864 in Premana, a village set in the mountains near the lake of Como, famed for its bladed tool manufactures.

The saga began in 1860, when the founder and head of the family made his way back to Premana after spending several years in a workshop in Venice and others working as a knife-grinder on a floating barge anchored near Castel Vecchio, in Verona.

Still young and enterprising, Sanelli cleaned up a disused old mill-race flowing down below the village, which had been used to supply smelting kilns, and renovated it to power an old water mill. This done, he set to work producing knives, in a process that has been subjected to continuous improvement and specialization ever since.

The company is now known all over the world for the revolutionary results it has achieved with its new types of knives. Applying a professional approach to marketing, the Sanelli staff studied what professional knife users really need and designed the Premana collection specifically for them. Experience accumulated in more than 150 years producing knives, associated with constant research for ways of applying new materials and solving the problems of user ergonomics, hygiene and safety, now ensure that the Coltellerie Sanelli S.r.l. knife works are a spearhead for the whole industry.

Nice factory!


The Sanelli clan back in the day!



Here is a picture of Premana. Looks like the factory at far left, I think. Who wouldn't want a razor from there?



I like the looks of their products. Nice stuff.
Could not find another Sanelli razor, though. Anyone else have one?

Nice score . . . and Italian to boot. Second picture makes it look like there might be a little niggle on the edge. Am I seeing something that is not there? It's about halfway between the toe and the midpoint. Hope I am wrong . . .

Originally Posted by Orville

Nice score . . . and Italian to boot. Second picture makes it look like there might be a little niggle on the edge. Am I seeing something that is not there? It's about halfway between the toe and the midpoint. Hope I am wrong . . .

Na, the bevel polished up nice. It is thinly double-ground, So I just left some of the pitting. Want to keep the original character.

Scrubbed up very nice, like the shape of that.

Very cool history! Nice snag

Razor is not worn or little has been in use. Good job.

Very nice catch, and thanks for sharing the factory/family research. You made this a double treat.

Very nice Tom, it's a beautiful blade! You always find those awesome, off brand razors.

Originally Posted by lz6

Very nice catch, and thanks for sharing the factory/family research. You made this a double treat.

Was pretty easy on this one. Check out their website! I always thought I wanted a set of another make.
Someday, I would like to have some of their products.

Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

Very nice Tom, it's a beautiful blade! You always find those awesome, off brand razors.

Yeah yeah, Andrew! The oddballs and the 'B' razors! Thanks!

So. Since this razor only says 'Premana' and NOT Italy, does that make it pre-1891?