Heading to France this summer again... Custom Laguiole here I come!

[Bobbybirds]

Hey all!

So my lovely bride and I will be heading to France again this summer for a buddies wedding, and as luck would have it, they live in the Aveyron region! Last time we were there I was impressed with all the Laguiole knives the farmers carried, and I just had to have my own. Because of that we made a stop in St-Emilion where I found the little Laguiole-en_Aubrac shop and ended up talking with the fellow there for quite a while and settles on the 12cm 3 piece in brushed stainless with a juniper wood handle. I love this knife!

So this time, I am planning ahead, and I am going to try and get a custom knife built by this same fellow! I am not too concerned with the price, but I would like to keep things under 600 euro, which is about $800.00 Canadian/US. This gives me a lot of play! I have been spending a ton of time cruising the net seeing what I find appealing, but there are so many awesome options I am having trouble narrowing it down, so I was thinking I might be able to get a few opinions of what others like! The link is here and shows a lot of the options available. This is a once in a life knife for me so I want to make it count!


http://www.laguiole-en-aubrac.fr/anglais/couteaux_poche_pliants_laiton.html

I am pretty hung up on using the brut de forge blade along with Rams Crust scales. I was considering fossilized mammoth ivory as well. Still trying to decide whether I want the full handle or bolsters, but if I go with bolsters I have found some pics out there done in a silver rams head. That might be a bit over the top style wise but it really is sticking in my head. If I go full handle, the have a hand carved style called the scorpian tail which is pretty cool. I just am running myself in circles! Oh my lord... lol!

So if anyone would like to shoot me some input and considerations, I would love it!

Samples...

 

[PaulBosley]

I see why you have been going in circles. I've been on the site for 45 minutes. I've got it narrowed down to the stainless bolsters lol. Good luck with the rest. Maybe if you got more than one it would be easier. Ebony and ivory or something. That marque checker board one looks like something I could live with. I think juniper is the tradishional handle with brass bolsters then there's ....well all of them. Like I said good luck!

 

[Bobbybirds]

I see why you have been going in circles. I've been on the site for 45 minutes. I've got it narrowed down to the stainless bolsters lol. Good luck with the rest. Maybe if you got more than one it would be easier. Ebony and ivory or something. That marque checker board one looks like something I could live with. I think juniper is the tradishional handle with brass bolsters then there's ....well all of them. Like I said good luck!

I have the juniper handled with stainless bolters and it is sweet! This time I really want to push it a bit. I want to keep the look tradtional leaning, hence the brut forge blade and a ram crust or other bone/horn looks, but at the same time I want to bling it out a bit. I know i am going to change my mind 20 times between now and
then...

 

[wildpig001]

you want RARE? go with a 12 cm satin {brushed} front & rear bolsters with double plates gilloshea or how ever you spell it with abalone handles. only 1-2 cutlers will do a laguiole in abalone or mother of pearl.

 

[Bobbybirds]

Hmmmm.... Worth a look I think...

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

Are you going with damascus blade? Never mind, you are going with the Brut blade. I am envious and have researched these myself. But never pulled the trigger.

 

[Bobbybirds]

I was really torn. I actually wanted a Damascus blade every since seeing one there, but that Brute Forge is definitely older appearing. I really like an old look, but with some extra fancy bits. If I have enough left, I might buy a second smaller knife with a Damascus blade too...

 

[zippofan]

I can't stop staring at the mammoth ivory, that backspring, holy moly!

I've been very pleased with my two French traditionals (Chambriard Le Thiers Compact and Fontenille-Pataud small lockback), terrific fit and finish and real slicers.

If I were to do it myself I'd go for the Brut Forge blade and the ram's horn with bolsters though, that would just scream "traditional" :thumbup:

 

[shaldag]

I've done this type of thing before, but with a different company.
It's a lot of fun, and you end up with a pretty cool knife.
What you end up with is personal, and according to your own taste, so I won't offer any advice except to enjoy yourself.

 

[Bobbybirds]

I've done this type of thing before, but with a different company.
It's a lot of fun, and you end up with a pretty cool knife.
What you end up with is personal, and according to your own taste, so I won't offer any advice except to enjoy yourself.

Haha! I hear you... I am not looking as much for advice, but maybe just ideas I have not been considering. I am super stoked about this though!

zippofan - You are right about that mammoth ivory knife... So beautiful!

 

[actiforge]

We do have 2 Laguiole Abalone in our range:
Stainless steel and Damas.

(non BF member dealer links removed, please read the forum guidelines)

awaiting your comments

Jean