Johnnythefox
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Pure class, so the French do have a sense of humour"Coujou(x)" (pumpkin in local), is the nickname of Brives' inhabitants. There's a famous song about his market. (english subtitles)
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French regional knives...
- Thread starter lonestar1979
- Start date
Hello,
nice picture.
Maybe you already knows but the "le Thiers" has a design charter, regarding manufacturing, area and design.
It's a public charter book if you are interrested.
Cognet (who is also Douk-Douk manufacturer) is the only one who has the autorisation to use another blade design on the "Le Thiers".
For me, Le Thiers is a bit boring design (maybe just because we see it everyday on all the knives fan pages
).But the Cognet version has a great design.
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kamagong
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Is anyone here familiar with the St. Amans knife? The reason I'm curious is that it bears a striking similarity to a popular Spanish pattern, which is made even today.
What I find very interesting is that it seems a humble knife through and through. Even Fontenille-Pataud's version is basic, foregoing the guillochage that is present on nearly all their offerings.
www.fontenille-pataud.com
What I find very interesting is that it seems a humble knife through and through. Even Fontenille-Pataud's version is basic, foregoing the guillochage that is present on nearly all their offerings.
Couteau Saint Amans Olivier
Couteau pliant Saint Amans Olivier. Commandez dès maintenant votre couteau Saint Amans fabriqué artisanalement en France par Fontenille Pataud.
www.fontenille-pataud.com
draggat
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I have seen this knife before but had forgotten about it. It's made by a few different Spanish cutlers, the most popular probably being Pallares Solsona. I am sure that the Fontenille Pataud versions are much higher quality.Is anyone here familiar with the St. Amans knife? The reason I'm curious is that it bears a striking similarity to a popular Spanish pattern, which is made even today.
What I find very interesting is that it seems a humble knife through and through. Even Fontenille-Pataud's version is basic, foregoing the guillochage that is present on nearly all their offerings.
Couteau Saint Amans Olivier
Couteau pliant Saint Amans Olivier. Commandez dès maintenant votre couteau Saint Amans fabriqué artisanalement en France par Fontenille Pataud.
This has been mentioned somewhere here before, but Pallares also makes another 'French' knife, which is a Capuchin style, the cheap plastic handled versions are called 'Gabacha'. In Spain, 'gabacho' is a derogatory name for French people. It is similar to Gringo here in the states. Although I have been called a gabacho on at least one occasion, more often I am called 'wero', which refers to someone with light skin but isn't considered derogatory.... Probably TMI.
An example of the fancier version of the Gabacha, this was my first encounter with the Capuchin pattern, sorry I don't have a better photo at the moment.
Here are some 'authentic' Capuchins....
Jolipapa
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According to Lemasson, the St Amans, along with the Maïs and the Bonnet were created by a Mr Bonnet, from a smith family in St Amans-Valtoret since the XVIIIth cent.Is anyone here familiar with the St. Amans knife? The reason I'm curious is that it bears a striking similarity to a popular Spanish pattern, which is made even today.
What I find very interesting is that it seems a humble knife through and through. Even Fontenille-Pataud's version is basic, foregoing the guillochage that is present on nearly all their offerings.
Couteau Saint Amans Olivier
Couteau pliant Saint Amans Olivier. Commandez dès maintenant votre couteau Saint Amans fabriqué artisanalement en France par Fontenille Pataud.
The patterns differed little in shape and were adapted to specific purposes, the bonnet being a large knife used by muleteers, the large sage leaf shaped blade being practical to cut the leather straps should the load overturn en route.
The maïs sported large nails on the handle to prevent from slipping in the hand when shelling maize (maïs).
The St Amans had decorated handles and were the more elegants of the family.
All were strictly regional knives, also made in the larger town of Castres. Later, as for many local patterns, Thiers made them in quantity and probably sold them in Spain, one of their larger and the nearest export market.
draggat
: the Spanish made are probably nearer to the genuine pattern in spirit, simple, robust and unexpensive tools aimed at peasants and muleteers.Btw when the business grew in Thiers, the less expensive ranges were sometime outsourced in Spain, the wages being drastically much lower than in France.
(edit) The Romans occupied the country and were already using simple, unspringed knves, easy to repair.
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kamagong
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This has been mentioned somewhere here before, but Pallares also makes another 'French' knife, which is a Capuchin style, the cheap plastic handled versions are called 'Gabacha'. In Spain, 'gabacho' is a derogatory name for French people. It is similar to Gringo here in the states. Although I have been called a gabacho on at least one occasion, more often I am called 'wero', which refers to someone with light skin but isn't considered derogatory.... Probably TMI.
Lol...you're such a huero Steve that you spell it W-E-R-O.
I like mine very much. They are the sharpest and slicey-est knives I own, and surprisingly robust:
The one I re-handled is less elegant than the original, but I wanted a more filling grip because I like to use them for whittling and carving.
These are the biggest versions, with the 4” blade.
kamagong
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I have seen this knife before but had forgotten about it. It's made by a few different Spanish cutlers, the most popular probably being Pallares Solsona. I am sure that the Fontenille Pataud versions are much higher quality.
View attachment 2123992
This has been mentioned somewhere here before, but Pallares also makes another 'French' knife, which is a Capuchin style, the cheap plastic handled versions are called 'Gabacha'. In Spain, 'gabacho' is a derogatory name for French people. It is similar to Gringo here in the states. Although I have been called a gabacho on at least one occasion, more often I am called 'wero', which refers to someone with light skin but isn't considered derogatory.... Probably TMI.
An example of the fancier version of the Gabacha, this was my first encounter with the Capuchin pattern, sorry I don't have a better photo at the moment. View attachment 2123993
Here are some 'authentic' Capuchins....View attachment 2123999
I really like the blade shapes on those Le Grats. There's a fixed blade knife that Savignac offers with that same shape, but it looks like they're all out of carbon steel. Pity.
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Interesting - I looked that town up on the map, and I passed just a few miles south of there on one of my treks back in the day.
A little off topic, but would there be a knife pattern typical of the Aude? A capucin maybe?
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draggat
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I like mine very much. They are the sharpest and slicey-est knives I own, and surprisingly robust:
The one I re-handled is less elegant than the original, but I wanted a more filling grip because I like to use them for whittling and carving.
These are the biggest versions, with the 4” blade.
Not much is as satisfying as using a knife you made, or customized. I always enjoy seeing yours!
While they aren't quite as big as yours, these fancy versions have slightly larger handles than the older ones did. The one in the middle was my daily for quite a while.... Liked it so much I 'needed' back ups.
Concerning Capuchins, Le Grat is my favorite model. Here is a stainless in Plum
I agree, the fixed blade version is great! They have it available as a whole set if you really need it!
Jolipapa
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There are patterns in every surrounding depts but seems the Aude is terra incognita to cutlers!
All I found are two smithes making some knives, in Lézignan Corbières and Coursan.
Excellent news! Saves me from hunting down and purchasing another knife I don’t need…
Now what about the Gard
…
Jolipapa
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In the Gard, some neo-regionals, the Nîmois, le Minot and the Camarguais. Never had any in hand.Excellent news! Saves me from hunting down and purchasing another knife I don’t need…
Now what about the Gard
If you go further South, there's Julien Baillon in Montpellier, but that's another country!
Thanks!In the Gard, some neo-regionals, the Nîmois, le Minot and the Camarguais. Never had any in hand.
If you go further South, there's Julien Baillon in Montpellier, but that's another country!
Again, looks like I dodged a bullet there - nothing really traditional, or within my budget
.
5K Qs
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But the bolster stamps on the Carmarguais knives are the most desirable design I've ever seen!Thanks!
Again, looks like I dodged a bullet there - nothing really traditional, or within my budget
- GT
Prester John
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"Huero" can also be spelled "güero", but you're right about "wero": not Spanish!Lol...you're such a huero Steve that you spell it W-E-R-O.
Jolipapa
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That's the Camarguaise cross uniting the symbols of Faith, Hope and Charity.But the bolster stamps on the Carmarguais knives are the most desirable design I've ever seen!
- GT
The Camargue is a coastal country of horses (camarguais), toros and red flamingos. And some rice too.
Aigues-mortes (Dead waters) was a harbour from where started some crusades, but now is a good few miles from the sea.
