Maniago, a town in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy, has been a hub for knife manufacturing since the 14th century. Initially, knife production in Maniago was a small-scale, artisanal endeavor. Local craftsmen made knives by hand, often supplementary to their primary agricultural work. Over time, as the demand for quality cutlery grew, these craftsmen began to specialize and organize, laying the groundwork for a burgeoning industry.

By the 19th century, the knife-making craft in Maniago had evolved from small, home-based workshops to more organized factories. These factories began to adopt industrial production methods, significantly increasing output and efficiency. Despite these advancements, the core values of craftsmanship, attention to detail, and quality remained central to Maniago's knife-making tradition.

In 1960, recognizing the need for a more structured approach to promoting their products, a group of local manufacturers formed the Consorzio Coltellinai Maniago (Maniago Knife Makers Consortium). This consortium aimed to promote the "Made in Italy" brand globally, emphasizing the reliability, quality, and craftsmanship that characterized Maniago's knives.

In 2018, four prominent Italian knife manufacturers—LionSteel, Viper, FOX Knives, and Mercury—joined forces to create the MKM (Maniago Knife Makers) brand. This collaboration aimed to combine their expertise and resources to produce high-quality knives that would stand out in the global market.

MKM's mission is to reach the pinnacle of high quality through innovative ideas and high-tech materials. Their knives are designed and manufactured by the local business network Mikita, which includes the best companies in the sector globally. At the 2018 Blade Show, MKM received the 2018 Knife Collaboration Of The Year with FOX, Viper, and LionSteel, highlighting the quality craftsmanship to expect from MKM.

- Maniago, Italy has been a hub for knife manufacturing since the 14th century

- In the 19th century, the knife making craft evolved to more organized factories

- In 1960, local manufacturers formed the Consorzio Coltellinai Maniago aimed to promote "Made in Italy" globally

- In 2018, MKM was founded by LionSteel, Viper, FOX Knives, and Mercury

- At the 2018 Blade Show MKM received the 2018 Knife Collaboration Of The Year with FOX, Viper, and LionSteel

- MKM offers a variety of knives, including iconic knives such as the Arvenis, Jouf, and Isonzo