Knife crafting in Sardinia became a typical and traditional activity during the nineteenth century, when models were codified and technical solutions were found, resulting in the creation of the coltello sardo, well known in the national scenario.
Initially, the term leppa referred to the fixed blade knife that was carried by men at their belts, leppa de chintu. Over time, the meaning of the term changed, referring to Sardinian knives in a broad sense, widely identified with the traditional jack knife, sa resolza.
 
Knives were mostly used by men as multifunctional cutting and piercing tools, to be carried in their pocket and indispensable for all work activities in the fields and with the livestock.
 
To shepherds, knives were the extension of their arm, suitable for all his daily activities, such as, cutting, scraping off, barking, piercing, etc. While the sheep grazed, shepherds often spent time carving wood and cork into small tools and other artefacts of daily or symbolic use, connected to religious traditions and household activities, such as weaving and bread-making. Jack knives were also used as “the” only piece of cutlery available and the only weapon of self-defence in event of danger.
 
To farmers, who already possessed different tools necessary for their daily work activities, owning a jack knife had mostly a symbolic value, in addition to being a useful tool.
 
The models
The most ancient models, called a foggia antica, features a peculiar large bay leaf-shaped blade, a foglia di alloro, with a single cutting edge. This peculiar shape is traditionally associated with the  arburese model that features a single-piece handle, carved out of a single piece of horn and decorated with two chiselled brass rings mounted at its ends.
 
The sa resolza pattadesa model is the most popular on the island and it is usually referred to as "the"  Sardinian knife . In general, it features a pointed myrtle leaf-shaped blade, a foglia di mirto, it is particularly handy and suitable as a cutting and piercing tool. Its main feature is the sophisticated jack knife structure, typical of the knives crafted in the village of Pattada. Its handle consists of two elements: two horn halves secured by brass rivets mounted on a central steel core. The spread of the  resolza pattadesa was also possible thanks to the extensive selling activity of paddlers, who worked at full pace until the second half of last century.
 
The Dorgali model, sa resolza durgalese, is similar to the pattadese model, except for its more elongated and thinner shape. Also the Santu Lussurgiu model, sa resolza lussurgese, features a structure similar to the pattadese, keeping nonetheless its peculiar features.
 
 
Another more recent model, dating back to the early twentieth century, is called sa guspinesa. It features a pointless rectangular broad blade. The handle is single-pieced, straight, usually decorated with two brass rings at both ends.