Bavaria, or officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a state in the south-east of Germany which is about one fifth of the size of Germany.  Munich is in Bavaria.  Bavaria is known for its many castles and kings that have ruled the area throughout centuries. One of these kings was Ludwig II who's ruled from 1864 to 1886. He was quite a reclusive person and was known as the Swan King or the Fairytale King. King Ludwig took the throne when he was 18. Two years later he was thrust into a war siding with Austria against Prussia which he's lost.

King Ludwig II had a passion for swords, knives and castles. He commissioned many local bladesmiths to make the best quality swords in an effort to avoid defeat again.  This is where the history of famous Bavarian knife making really started.

King Ludwig II built 7 castles as this was his lifelong passion. The most notable of them all is the New Swanstone Castle or Schloss Neuschwanstein. He conceived the idea of Swanstone Castle when he was a boy. It is a Romanesque fortress with soaring fairytale towers built on a breathtaking mountaintop near Fussen. It is widely believed that Disney imagineers have gotten their inspiration from Swanstone Castle as they were bringing the Disney Castle to life. New Swanstone Castle is visited by 6000 people daily, and is one of the most famous castles in the world.

Paul Hellman is the founder of Bavarian Knife Works. He is a design engineer whose family comes from the Bavarian region. Paul’s ancestors also shared his passion for knife making.

Bavarian Knife Works is a tribute to the original swordsmiths and bladesmiths who supported their king in his efforts to defend their motherland from the Prussians and his love for true quality and craftmanship.

You can keep the story alive by owning a Bavarian Knife Works kitchen cutlery set.