Retirement gift for men: the handcrafted knife, symbol of a mission accomplished

Glasses clink, voices rise. Happy retirement! Between tears and relief, his heart is torn. It’s his last day at work, his professional career is coming to an end. He’s not leaving empty-handed; giving a beautiful gift for retirement is a tradition. It symbolizes the unique transition from an active life to rest. But that’s not true; retirees are the busiest people around. A gift for a man retiring represents his profession, his commitment, and his new life. Handcrafted knives are a classic choice. This handmade object perfectly connects yesterday’s work to the newfound freedom to create, cook, and travel. How do you choose and personalize one? Here are a few secrets from the JHP workshop.

Celebrating retirement: celebrating a new beginning

The gift received upon retirement symbolizes a career, recognition of a professional life. For a man, this moment represents not only a farewell to work, but also a tribute to consistency, rigor, and pride in a job well done. For one man, it represents some forty years dedicated to his passion for his profession. For others, it represents long and sometimes difficult days of labor.

For every man, this last day of work marks the end of a cycle, a major break. Indeed, our profession is an integral part of our identity. We are craftsmen, teachers, doctors, artists, etc. Men, often recognized by their role, experience this transition as a shift in identity.

Dominique Méda, sociologist and philosopher, believes that “work defines individual and collective identity to the highest degree.” Moreover, the Life History survey (INSEE 2006) reveals that 54% of working people consider work to be the second most important aspect of their lives. The first being family.

Choosing a gift that reflects the transition from professional life to retirement is a highly meaningful act.

Giving a retirement gift to a man: a ritual of renewal

The gift accompanies this transition. The object given celebrates this new chapter in which the schedule finally relaxes. For many men, retirement does not mean rest, but freedom. They pick up their tools, aprons, or backpacks again. They continue to create, repair, and pass on their knowledge, but in a different way. Men take full advantage of leisure activities (hunting, fishing, hiking, bushcraft, cooking, reading) or simply revel in the pleasure of doing nothing. Isn’t that wonderful?

The traditional farewell party and retirement gift remain etched in the memory of the person concerned, as the emotion marks this moment forever.

Some traditional gifts that colleagues like to give for retirement:

• the complete works of a favorite author;
• an engraved watch;
• a photo with the team of colleagues;
• a gardening set for vegetable garden enthusiasts;
• and, of course, a knife.

The knife, with its symbolism, is the traditional gift for those who are retiring.

But which one?

How to choose the ideal knife for a retiree?

The passions of people in their sixties

It’s well known that no one is more active than a retiree. From dawn onwards, they go about their business.

For cooks, gourmets, and foodies, choose paring knives, chef’s knives, or table knives. Bread knives will delight former bakers, while oyster knives will delight former oyster farmers. Kitchen knives are suitable for former butchers, delicatessen owners, restaurateurs, cheesemongers, greengrocers, and caterers.

Discover Morta kitchen and table knives.

For outdoor enthusiasts and camping fanatics, check out our outdoor knives. Fixed or folding, they feature a sturdy blade made of stainless steel or Damascus steel. Choose one with a handle that embodies nature and life (Morta?).

If your young retiree enjoys gardening and DIY, a versatile model such as the EDC knife is perfect for active people. Like every man, every knife has its own character: adventurous, refined, or discreet.

Erwan Balança, photographer and globetrotter, champions the Morta Trappeur model.

Finally, if you want the best knife for a collector, then look for something unusual. Unique wood, an ancestral material (such as mini mammoth ivory inlays), a blade crafted with passion: three ingredients for an exceptional knife. 

Morta, a fossilizing wood native to Brière, is both unique and ancient, ideal for epicureans who appreciate the French art of living.

Giving a high-end knife to a man is a way of recognizing his quiet strength and practicality.

The personality of the man celebrating his retirement

Every man has a story. Whether he led a team, carved stone, or worked the land, he shares the same respect for craftsmanship and materials. 

Is your future retiree dandy, cool, urban, or country? Does he appreciate craftsmanship and traditional values? Is his home décor minimalist, authentic, or kitsch? These are all criteria that will help you choose the knife that will truly delight him. A well-chosen knife resembles its owner: elegant simplicity, respect for time, a love of manual labor, a discreet aesthetic, you tell us!

The Morta artisanal knife, made in France, embodies this masculine and understated elegance, where every detail tells a story of a journey, a skill, a life of hands and heart.

🔪 A Damascus steel blade, with its random moiré patterns, gives the knife an original and chic style.

🔪 A raw steel blade emphasizes the authentic and timeless character of the material.

🔪 A stainless steel blade gives a modern look with its shine.

All three reflect a taste for authenticity.

If someone embarking on a new life after retirement appreciates fine materials, then handles made from rare woods will delight them. Enhance them with mini mammoth ivory inlays and/or a blue vulcanized fiber border. Traditional knives always favor organic materials, symbols of life and of a region.

The personal knife: a symbolic gift that connects professional past and future freedom

The knife: an ancestral symbol of loyalty and autonomy

For thousands of years, blades have accompanied free men: they symbolize responsibility, protection, and transmission.

Heirs to many cultures (Nordic, Celtic, Japanese), knives and blades in particular embody strength and honor.

🔪 Brennus, a Gallic chieftain from the 4th century BC, brandished his blade when he uttered his famous “Vae victis!”

🔪 Ragnar Lodbrok, a Viking hero from the 9th century, always carried his seax, a symbol of freedom and survival.

🔪 Miyamoto Musashi, a 17th-century samurai, saw his sword as an extension of his spirit.

Through these iconic figures, the blade shows that it is a part of oneself, forged to last and to accompany man throughout his life.

A Morta knife perpetuates this intimate relationship. Handcrafted from thousand-year-old wood, it connects the material to memory, the gesture to intention. It embodies respect for time and values.

It is a deeply personal object, a discreet everyday companion, a witness to history and character.

A gift of trust to celebrate a new beginning

Giving someone a French-made knife symbolizes the trust you place in them. When they retire, it formalizes their professional qualities. It’s a bit like confirming their technical skills and experience and valuing their new beginning. The knife marks the end of one cycle and the beginning of a well-deserved rebirth.

Personalize the knife: transform an object into a unique souvenir

Engrave a message to inscribe a story

Engraving a knife is like freezing an emotion in the material. A few words, a date, or handwriting are enough to give the blade a soul. Each time it is used, the gesture awakens a memory: that of a departure, a team, a shared moment.

Engraving transforms a tool into a silent witness of recognition. It tells the story of a journey, a skill, a human connection.

The knife becomes a useful object, but above all a living memory, conveying identity and gratitude.

The different types of messages that can be engraved on a Morta knife

Each knife becomes unique thanks to the engraving work. Our cutlers inscribe a quote, initials, a logo, a first name, a symbol, or a pictogram on the blade. The effect is discreet, even intimate, and full of meaning.

The chosen typography reinforces the tone: an elegant, warm, or more sober font for a timeless, yet always rock ‘n’ roll look.

At the JHP workshop, the combination of fossilized wood, steel, and engraving creates a rare balance between craftsmanship and personal expression. Each knife becomes a unique piece.

🔗 The knife engraved with the company logo, the perfect corporate gift.

🔗 A knife engraved with a handwritten message is the perfect gift for your favorite colleague (or not 😉).

🔗 A knife engraved with a pictogram representing the retiree’s passion or personality is the perfect gift.

Personalization through ornamentation

For an exceptional retirement gift, the handles are adorned with refined details.

The three mini mammoth ivory inlays recall the beauty of passing time, echoing an accomplished career.

The discreet and modern blue vulcanized fiber edging symbolizes a new horizon, that of a life free from constraints.

These subtle finishes highlight the uniqueness of the Morta knife: an elegant, durable, and deeply personal retirement companion.

Engraving ideas for a blade that touches the heart of a retiree

Gift! A selection of sharp ideas to cut the cord between work and retirement.

Inspirational messages

A new life begins
Thank you for everything [First name]

Enjoy every moment
Time is yours
The great outdoors is yours
A page is turning
A new chapter begins
New life, same passion
Make way for sunny days

Carpe diem

Tempus fugit

Humorous notes

Free at last!
The best is yet to come
See you soon, far from the office
Always standing tall, always curious
Free spirit, at last

Professional engravings

[Initials] + years of service
[First name] + [job title]
From a job well done to the good life
Proud of your career
Thank you for everything

Happy retirement [first name] (yes, that’s what we’re here for 😉).

Handwriting

For a highly personalized and irreplaceable gift, write the message by hand yourself. Your former colleague will cherish the memory of your time together forever.

Another idea: scan their professional signature.

To have handwriting engraved, simply take a photo or scan the desired word or drawing, then attach the file when placing your order on the website. The team of cutlers will then adapt the engraving for a faithful and harmonious result on the blade.

Evocative symbols

Pictograms

Choose from mini works of art designed by our friend, the painter Nicolas Peyron: anchor, duck, magic square, majestic deer, chopper, heart, sublime hearts, Morta extraction, Freemason, infinity, wolf, music, ocean liner, pin-up, fish, Porsche, shark, rose, skull.

Which one most resembles our recent retiree?

The company logo

Perfect for forging an eternal bond between the last employer and the young retiree.

Giving a man a knife for his retirement is like building a bridge between two lives. His professional career may be coming to an end, but it is only to make way for a new path. A path of freedom and renewal. Finally, it is time to let time take its course. Perhaps this is an opportunity to follow Goethe’s advice: Nothing is more valuable than today. Here’s another idea for an engraving 😉.

Discover the Morta collection of customizable knives and give him a retirement companion as unique as his life journey.

Our sources

• The Life History Survey – INSEE, 2006

Article written by the sharp pen of Christelle Lorant.🪶