Cheapskate Heroes

[oldmanwilly]

I use Pallarès knives made in Solsona, Catalonia, Spain. I mainly use them in the summer when the lack of thick clothing makes it impossible to carry a much more visible Opinel. I don't have this exact model, but the "common" model, which comes in four sizes up to a 4-inch blade.

At first, I didn't like them, and they spent years in a drawer.

But they are very useful, lightweight, and very sharp. Some have more spring tension than others, but that's the only manufacturing flaw I've found! I even prefer them to my Douk-Douk! In the same category of summer knife!

Yours is clearly a lemon, but it's not worth sending it back given the price. I bought mine locally in Valencia, I think, further south but still in the area. It's definitely a privilege to have examined them before buying; it makes all the difference!

bad luck! try again! and in the same time it's a shame to send such a pity knife!

Thanks for chiming in, I am glad that yours work so well for you! I read a little into the company and was pleased to find that it is an old company run by the same family for a long time - one of the last such firms still operating in Spain. I also know that they have a pretty wide array of available models and their kitchen/cooking knives appear to be quite popular and good users.

I would also be pleased to find that the knives I received are rare exceptions. I think they also make the same folders with horn and wooden handles that should be more solidly built, they are just not easy to find in the US. I will look out for them if I ever get a chance to visit Spain in person, which I certainly hope to do.

I have a request: could you please share pictures and information about any other budget-friendly knives from Spanish makers that are not well known in the Americas? Joker knives are reasonably well known, but other than those and Pallares Solsona nothing else comes to my mind.

 

[flexo2]

yes there are Taramundi knives, they are clasp knives in old english, or friction folder nowadays, sheperd knives but with a lot of adornment , can't name any maker as taramundi is the name of the village , like Mora or Laguiole. it's at the opposite side of Spain compared with Solsona.
and there is a guy i believe he is in estremadura making knives can't remember his name, certainly not jose cuervo (joseph raven) who is mexican and not into knives but a name like that.