Favorite French Knives

[rye_a]

I'll be in Paris at the end of this month, and plan on visiting the esteemed Coutellerie Kindal (LINK) while I'm there to pick up a French traditional knife or two. In the meantime, I'd love to see your favorite knives that are made in France.

Please show off your favorite traditional patterns here!

 

[Railsplitter]

This one is an SFO from a small cutlery shop in Auxerre, France.

 

[adriancook53]

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[PNWJimbo]

Does French Kate count? Jk lol just subbing to the thread [emoji14]

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[deltaboy]

Opinel

 

[lambertiana]

I don't have any handy pictures of any of my opinels, but here are a couple other French knives

 

[supratentorial]

My own experience is somewhat limited to knives that are easily available in the US like MC Cognet (e.g. Douk-Douk and others), Opinel, and Nontron. But there are some knives from those companies that are not exported to the US. For example, some Nontron knives made with Juniper and other woods are not readily available in the USA. Although I only have very little French language experience from high school, I called a shop in France and ordered a few. I wasn't quick enough to understand them on the phone and they had a hard time understanding my English so we switched to email and Google translate. I also have a few friends who are French citizens working in the USA so that helps me find some of the more unusual stuff. But I know almost nothing at all about French knives compared to some other forum members like Jolipapa. Hopefully he'll see your post.

 

[Peregrin]

I'll add this one. If I had any sense I'd carry this one more often then I do.

 

[afishhunter]

Only French knives I own are an Opinel No. 7 and 8 with Carbone blades.

 

[Will Power]

Here's some of My Favourite Things

From the Top

Renaud Aubry Laguiole 10.5 cm Shadow Ebony, white liners
Renaud Aubry Navette Ram's Horn, black liners
Garonnais Ebony, all stainless, 10cm, gigantic snap on this, watch your hand!
Chambriard le compact, all stainless ebony
David small Laguiole in horn 9cm with GEC 73 for size
Fontenille-Pataud Walnut 9cm locking Laguiole. Matte.
Fontenille- Pataud Ram's Horn locking Laguiole 10.5cm
Fontenille-Pataud Ivory Bone locking Laguiole 9cm. Polished.

Thanks, Will

 

[Jolipapa]

It depends of the time you can spend searching for knives, and a question of budget. Another thing is availability in the shops. If you have enough time I'll advise you some trekking from Kindal to Courty's. The grande coutellerie Dozorme is quite on the way, but more orientated on their own Laguiole and Thiers, with a few other patterns.
Kindal and Courty offer a vast choice of patterns. They perhaps can sell you duty free, which could be intersting for you as VAT is only 20%

Else, if you intend to travel in France, then you'll find better prices than in Paris (shop rentals have no comparison) and possibly other regional patterns.
You will find some pictures of Courty's shop here :http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1244736-Earl-Sees-the-World!?p=15557352#post15557352
here : http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1244736-Earl-Sees-the-World!?p=15558852#post15558852
and a few pix at Kindal's :

My favorite knife would be a Mongin canif multi or facette single blade. They are quite expensive but the craftmanship is outstanding. (picture borrowed from Couteaux Mongin - non officiel)

A morutier would also be fine! (pictures borrowed from la folie des Couteaux blog)

 

[LastRodeo]

I'm going to follow this thread closely. I will be traveling to France in a few months and hope to purchase at least one knife while I'm there.

 

[edbeau]

The only type of French knife I have are Opinels. I do like the pictures of other French knives.

 

[Taike]

Here's some of My Favourite Things

From the Top

Renaud Aubry Laguiole 10.5 cm Shadow Ebony, white liners
Renaud Aubry Navette Ram's Horn, black liners
Garonnais Ebony, all stainless, 10cm, gigantic snap on this, watch your hand!
Chambriard le compact, all stainless ebony
David small Laguiole in horn 9cm with GEC 73 for size
Fontenille-Pataud Walnut 9cm locking Laguiole. Matte.
Fontenille- Pataud Ram's Horn locking Laguiole 10.5cm
Fontenille-Pataud Ivory Bone locking Laguiole 9cm. Polished.

Thanks, Will

This is looking alot like my wish list! I recently discovered the Navette and Le Garonnais and have been rolling them around in my head regularly.

Thanks for the great pix!

 

[Will Power]

Taike My pleasure! France has a really impressive and vast array of regional knives and many talented artisan cutlers. Some of whom produce extraordinary and very costly examples, but there are many producing quality at affordable prices. My pictures only show a small array but they are the ones I like, tip of the iceberg really When I first saw a Laguiole nearly 30 years ago on a trip to France I wasn't that taken, initially. It looked like it would be thin and uncomfortable in the hand, but on the contrary as soon as you get it in the hand you appreciate the curved shape being comfortable and offering leverage, the scale slabs may be narrow due to the shape but they're thick and this offers satisfying ergonomics. Then I was drawn into the details, the huge variation in file-work, which the French excel at, choices of handles and bolsters, the charm of the abeille/mouche (bee/fly) at the head of the spring. Above all, they slice through all manner of things effortlessly, particularly foods! But, like I say, it's only one type of the many French knives, vive la difference! :thumbup:

Regards, Will

 

[Taike]

Will Funny. My roots in French knives date to a stage I did in a kitchen in Strasbourg back in the era of Giscard d'Estaing. I missed the whole Laguiole bateau, however. The filework is amazing and your discussion of Laguiole handle ergonomics compelling. My interest continues to be piqued, which bodes well for future adventures! I see that there's already a discussion on abeille/mouche in this thread - another aspect to which I had not previously paid much mind. But I see now that, among other things, it's possible to have a four-leaf clover in your pocket. Thanks for the inspiration!

 

[Pt-Luso]

This knife is made by Couteaux Farol in La Rochelle, France. It is made of Ebony wood and has a length of 11 cm (+/- 4.25 ").

 

[Jolipapa]

This knife is made by Couteaux Farol in La Rochelle, France. It is made of Ebony wood and has a length of 11 cm (+/- 4.25 ").

This is an interesting early example, the blade shape is slightly different now, and 12C27.

 

[rye_a]

In the end we only made it to Kindal, where my kids (12 and 10 year-old daughters and eight year-old son) and I spent 1 1/2 hours with the kind and lovely proprietress of the shop, who happens to be the fourth generation of family owners. I had planned on picking up a couple of nice knives for myself, but wound up getting a Laguiole en Aubrac for myself and letting the kids each choose a knife as mementos and beginning of their collections.

Here's the haul:

 

[OMark]

Only got Opinels. Great to all the other options out there, thanks for posting everyone.