French regional knives...

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lambertiana said:
Finally! How do you like it?
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I'm enamored with it. 😍

This is my 2nd Laguiole. My first was appropriated by my wife, later pilfered by a dishonest ne'er-do-well. The craftsmanship on this knife is in all ways superior.

Walk-and-talk is superb. Not yet familiar with the strong backspring, I unintentionally let the blade shut closed within minutes of taking it out of its packaging. There is now a slight flat spot near the tip. 🤬 I won't be making that mistake again.
 
JW225 said:
I have now read every page of this amazing thread -- what an incredible source of information and inspiration! 👍

This Basque Yatagan recently arrived at my doorstep. I was really intrigued with the backstory of this knife (as presented on a couple of makers' websites). Apparently, this style was originally created for tobacco growers in southwestern France. What are now flat decorative pins were originally raised rosettes or rivets that were designed to improve the grip when the knife was used to cut gummy tobacco plants. I am just as glad now that these pins are flat and merely serve a decorative purpose, but it adds to the enjoyment of this knife knowing that, historically, there was a functional reason for their existence on the handle. One account suggests that this style originated in Bergerac, circa 1800. I will leave it to the experts here to provide their own thoughts on this.

One thing I will say -- this knife is exceptionally robust and sturdy. It would certainly have its way with a large baguette! :D The knife itself is large -- coming in at 12.5 cm/folded, with a blade length of 9.5 cm. That being said, it is truly comfortable in the hand and beautifully proportioned.

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Hello ! I have heard that story that the portruding rivets on the " yatagan basque " are there to improve the grip on your knife when you harvest tobacco leaves. A tobacco plant grows up to six or seven feet, the stems of the leaves are half an inch in diameter, tough and stringy. and sticky sap leaks out of every cut. Who is going to spend all day cutting off these leaves with a pocket knife with a three and a half inch blade and a slim handle ? Once the knife is covered in sticky sap are you going to put it in your pocket or use it to butter yor bread ? Of course you can harvest your sugar - cane with a Buck 110 but would a machete or a bolo be a bit more comfortable and efficient ? Marketing BS just like the " shepherds cross " on Laguioles........
 
I'd agree that the protruding pins are simply an aesthetic effect to enhance the look of the knife rather than some utility. Likewise, I'm sceptical about the Shepherd's Cross fable, it could be true but has little bearing on the functionality but rather, the aesthetics of the pattern.

Others may view it differently.
 
Michel Droz said:
Hello ! I have heard that story that the portruding rivets on the " yatagan basque " are there to improve the grip on your knife when you harvest tobacco leaves. A tobacco plant grows up to six or seven feet, the stems of the leaves are half an inch in diameter, tough and stringy. and sticky sap leaks out of every cut. Who is going to spend all day cutting off these leaves with a pocket knife with a three and a half inch blade and a slim handle ? Once the knife is covered in sticky sap are you going to put it in your pocket or use it to butter yor bread ? Of course you can harvest your sugar - cane with a Buck 110 but would a machete or a bolo be a bit more comfortable and efficient ? Marketing BS just like the " shepherds cross " on Laguioles........
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I've read many times about the use of thie yatagan to remove damaged or dusty lower tobacco leaves (there's even a controversy about the number of rivets, 8 or 10! 😂).
... But tobacco leaves were hand picked (see : from 08'20 in this period video), one by one, (and no juice evidence btw).
As often there must be a bit of truth to start with, then the urban (or rural in this case!) legend takes his flight, copy/paste does the rest.

According to Mr Lemasson, only the name is basque as the pattern was created in... Thiers! and really sold to tobacco growers to replace a Bergerac country knife made for that purpose (also with rosettes, see the link below).

I suppose (just my 10cts) the knife was used to cut the flower off the plant, hence sap and the need of protruding rosettes. I trust Old Timers to know what they were doing... "Un sou c'est un sou"... 😺
Comparison with sugar cane is irrelevant in many points.

Examples of purpose made rosettes knives here : https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/french-regional-knives.1651680/page-51#post-20068135
Many South-western patterns of the XIXth century had prominent rosettes (ie not decorative).
Cross on Lags is clearly just esthetics and anyway flush with the handle.

ps to add confusion a copy of the Manufrance of St Etienne catalog showing a yatagan and a so-called Basque looking very much like an Issoire. 🤔
As said in the text :
"These knives, picked among patterns used in some countries where they are commonly sold, are advantageously used as pocket knives or in very curious arms displays"
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(@ https://www.couteauxterroirsetcompagnie.fr/yatagan-couteau-basque/)
 
Jolipapa Jolipapa That makes a lot of sense and interesting too. Like the catalogue (who doesn't go into a phantasy on seeing old catalogue pages?:)) I'll take any of those knives at around Fr. 1.10 to 50 centimes😻 The Armenian looks unusual, but can't imagine it being made for Turkey...:eek: but the advert wording you quote, explains a lot:) "used as pocket knives or in very curious arms displays" etc.
 
Will Power said:
Jolipapa Jolipapa That makes a lot of sense and interesting too. Like the catalogue (who doesn't go into a phantasy on seeing old catalogue pages?:)) I'll take any of those knives at around Fr. 1.10 to 50 centimes😻 The Armenian looks unusual, but can't imagine it being made for Turkey...:eek: but the advert wording you quote, explains a lot:) "used as pocket knives or in very curious arms displays" etc.
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At that time no tv sets, no movies, the Catalogue de la Manu(france) was eagerly expected twice a year and many a child dreamed reading it. They are reprinted now. You could find absolutely anything you need from toothpick to car, rifles to push bikes, etc. Manufrance was the trade name of the Manufacture d'armes et de cycles de St Etienne, a city in the city (the English wiki is a real pity, even dates are wrong). It sold in brick & mortar in towns but mostly by mail and also exported a lot (including heavy weapons to foreign governments).
I had sometimes ago a little argument with a Russian who would not admit his country (under the tsar) bought knives in France (and Sheffield). Spain was clearly the first export ground for Thiers, but Russia, Belgium, Turkey, Middle East, South America were important markets for various reasons.

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Beautiful catalogue with much atmosphere JP I could lose myself in that alright 😍 Those carbines....

I have the feeling that pocket-knives were mostly a 'western' thing - although folding knife patterns must've existed in 'eastern' countries but were likely very large and intensely local. Here at least, pocket-knives were uncommon until the 1930s, a knife was a puukko (generic term for all fixed knives too) they came in small sizes too. I've never seen a pre Soviet Russian pocket-knife, they might well have existed but likely home made efforts by a local smith. Germany, Bohemia, England, France, US were the big producers and peoples in the east turned to them I imagine.

The big take-off of SAKS post WW II also spurred Eastern equivalents when not using the Swiss original.

Regards, Will
 
cbach8tw said:
Here is a closer pic of maker’s mark, hoping to see who it is kade by. One with a flash which made the writing come out a little better and a reg pic.

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Got some good news from another source, my knife is made by a Antoine Monteiro of du Barry cutlery. and thanks to Jolipapa learned he still has two shops in Laguiole and about 4 workers still. Nice to know the maker is still around, and a little history on my pawn shop knife I found years ago.
 
cbach8tw said:
Now where to find out where to find the Le 125 by Marie Taillardat.



View attachment 1778803found her site. In French of course.
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cbach8tw cbach8tw I know of a dealer in Germany but that might not help you. The website is in German or English available.

If you are interested I can provide the name of the company - as they are to my knowledge not listed with BF I might not be allowed to post the link direct.


Gerd
 
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Daughter is on Easter Holiday this week, so we took a trip into the City today. Took the opportunity to stop by the local coutellerie.

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Unfortunately nothing spoke to me so I left the store without a new knife. How I wish they had a Sauveterre.
 
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