Qatar’s falconry culture creates receptive market for traditional knife craftsmanship

Qatar's falconry culture is driving demand for traditional knife craftsmanship, with local preferences shaping the materials and designs favored by enthusiasts, according to Hugo Jose Martins, chief executive of Main Knives. Speaking at the 10th Katara International Hunting and Falconry Exhibition – S’hail 2026, Martins highlighted that the Qatari market has become a vital part of the company's global presence.

The company's products, which blend traditional designs with contemporary materials, have been well received by visitors and customers during the exhibition. Main Knives offers a variety of knives made from steels like MagnaCut, Elmax, M398, 440C, 440A, and N690, as well as Damascus and copper Damascus, forged carbon fibre, titanium-coated blades, stabilized mammoth material, and specialized leathers.

Martins explained that the company combines traditional knife shapes with innovative materials and employs hand-sharpening, polishing, and assembly techniques to preserve the knives' natural feel. The local climate in Qatar, characterized by intense heat, also impacts the preferences of falconers, who favor wooden-handled knives as they do not heat up as quickly as metal in the desert sun.