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identify this knife please.
- Thread starter furood
- Start date
That is a Laguiole style knife: which is indeed French.
Was it manufactured in France or in any other country I can not say. The fact that it has no indication of the manufacturer rather points at somewhere outside Europe from my point of view. Otherwise the knife looks really nice and is very similar (but not the same in very small detai) to a couple of Laguioles from G.David that I have got myself. If you do not get the answer here you can try the traditionals section http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/773-Traditional-Folders-and-Fixed-Blades
Was it manufactured in France or in any other country I can not say. The fact that it has no indication of the manufacturer rather points at somewhere outside Europe from my point of view. Otherwise the knife looks really nice and is very similar (but not the same in very small detai) to a couple of Laguioles from G.David that I have got myself. If you do not get the answer here you can try the traditionals section http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/773-Traditional-Folders-and-Fixed-Blades
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Do you mean the bee? I do not think that is a logo: that is kind of traditional ornament. On your knife it's sort of sketchy - so may be indeed difficult tor recognize, but that hardly makes it a logo. I might be wrong: sure there are Laguiole collectors here who have much more authority.
Maybe Fausto will make an appearance and clear this up.I'm certainly not an expert, but I believe the maker can be identified by the file work on the back of the blade, this one's made by Rossignol I think.
Cheers,
Kirby
as i checked ,rossignol logo is different by this one ,as i think !!!
maybe i am wrong !
how can i become sure ?
Can't help you with the maker of the knife. But can give you some more information from looking at the pictures:
The shape refers to a Laguiole knife. A French shepherd's knife original (1890 or so) from the town of Laguiole, France. Later the manufacturing moved to the city of Thiers, France until about 20 years ago when some makers in Laguiole started production.
Laguiole isn't a brand's name. The shape and name isn't protected so everyone is free to make a Laguiole knife. So now the knives aren't only made in Laguiole, but also in Thiers and even China or Pakistan.
For many only knives from France are called the real deal. For others only knives from Laguiole are so called.
Best known brands from Laguiole are Forge de Laguiole, Laguiole Honore Durand, Fonderie de Laguiole. Others from just outside Laguiole is Laguiole en Aubrac.
With all these the brands name is stamped into the blade, as is the type of steel used (trough pretty obvious with yours
) or the LOG logo (Laguiole Orgine Garatine) which shows the knife is original from the town of Laguiole.
Nice details about the knives are the bee on top of the spring, and the shepherd's cross in its handle.
There are some differences between cheap and expensive (mostly French) knives.
1: The bee is welded onto the spring with cheap knives. With more expensive knives its forged from the spring.
2: The filework at the spring is stamped with the cheaper models, and hand chiselled with the more expensive models.
The chiselling on the spring can identify the maker, but can't identify the brand with some exceptions. With brands like Laguiole en Aubrac the chiselling at the back of the blade is the signature of the maker. Each maker has its own pattern.
So your knife's origin is indeed France, but it can be made in China or Pakistan as well.
Looking at the pictures I notice a couple of things.
1: No brand stamped on the blade. But this is normal with Damascus blades.
2: No sheperds cross on this side of the knife, all brands I know have the cross on this side. Can't see if its on the other side on the pictures.
3: The bee looks welded on, not forged. I think its welded because of the clear line between the bottom of the bee and the spring.
4: The filework looks stamped to me. Nevertheless looks nice.
5: The knife has only one bolster. Most have two.
I'm no expert so can't say if your knife is actually from France, maybe someone else can help you with that.
Nevertheless a nice looking knife. Have fun with it!
The shape refers to a Laguiole knife. A French shepherd's knife original (1890 or so) from the town of Laguiole, France. Later the manufacturing moved to the city of Thiers, France until about 20 years ago when some makers in Laguiole started production.
Laguiole isn't a brand's name. The shape and name isn't protected so everyone is free to make a Laguiole knife. So now the knives aren't only made in Laguiole, but also in Thiers and even China or Pakistan.
For many only knives from France are called the real deal. For others only knives from Laguiole are so called.
Best known brands from Laguiole are Forge de Laguiole, Laguiole Honore Durand, Fonderie de Laguiole. Others from just outside Laguiole is Laguiole en Aubrac.
With all these the brands name is stamped into the blade, as is the type of steel used (trough pretty obvious with yours
) or the LOG logo (Laguiole Orgine Garatine) which shows the knife is original from the town of Laguiole.Nice details about the knives are the bee on top of the spring, and the shepherd's cross in its handle.
There are some differences between cheap and expensive (mostly French) knives.
1: The bee is welded onto the spring with cheap knives. With more expensive knives its forged from the spring.
2: The filework at the spring is stamped with the cheaper models, and hand chiselled with the more expensive models.
The chiselling on the spring can identify the maker, but can't identify the brand with some exceptions. With brands like Laguiole en Aubrac the chiselling at the back of the blade is the signature of the maker. Each maker has its own pattern.
So your knife's origin is indeed France, but it can be made in China or Pakistan as well.
Looking at the pictures I notice a couple of things.
1: No brand stamped on the blade. But this is normal with Damascus blades.
2: No sheperds cross on this side of the knife, all brands I know have the cross on this side. Can't see if its on the other side on the pictures.
3: The bee looks welded on, not forged. I think its welded because of the clear line between the bottom of the bee and the spring.
4: The filework looks stamped to me. Nevertheless looks nice.
5: The knife has only one bolster. Most have two.
I'm no expert so can't say if your knife is actually from France, maybe someone else can help you with that.
Nevertheless a nice looking knife. Have fun with it!
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2012
- Messages
- 856
There are literally DOZENS of manufacturers of Laguiole style knives. Some are VERY high quality, and some are Chinese trash. The file work SOMETIMES can tell you something, but even within a single manufacturer the file work can be different. Within the higher quality manufacturers, the file work is usually a 'Signature' of the particular artisan that made THAT SPECIFIC knife. Some companies even publish a list of the file work so you can determine the individual who made your knife.
herisson
Apple slicing rocking chair dweller
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2013
- Messages
- 4,754
Just my two cents here, but I've owned some Laguioles and I'm still interested, so here we go :
- It's very unusual that a Laguiole doesn't explicitly show the maker's name or brand.
- Another detail tickles me and that's the shape of the bolsters : they are usually narrower, more rounded and not grooved (this could denote a foreign influence).
- The bee is so thin it is soldered for sure but this is the case for many very authentic Laguioles (despite being easier to produce it allows also for a more ornate bee).
- Shepherd's cross ? It's not a must.
- Butt bolsters ? It's not a must.
- The "filework" is probably stamped and it's also very simple... good luck for identifying it.
- "Hand made" for a french knife ? Not an issue per se. Couteaux Gilles (Fontenille-Pataud) stamps "Hand made in France" on the tang.
Overall, the knife looks rather nice. If the assembly is tight and the "cran forcé" locks like a brute, you have a good knife all the same, true Laguiole or not. The Laguiole pattern is so widely used by so many makers (even speaking for France only) that the concept of "authentic" isn't very relevant. By the way, how is the locking action ? It should be a hook/notch interaction between tang and spring (cran forcé) and not a slip joint (square tang on flat spring).
- It's very unusual that a Laguiole doesn't explicitly show the maker's name or brand.
- Another detail tickles me and that's the shape of the bolsters : they are usually narrower, more rounded and not grooved (this could denote a foreign influence).
- The bee is so thin it is soldered for sure but this is the case for many very authentic Laguioles (despite being easier to produce it allows also for a more ornate bee).
- Shepherd's cross ? It's not a must.
- Butt bolsters ? It's not a must.
- The "filework" is probably stamped and it's also very simple... good luck for identifying it.
- "Hand made" for a french knife ? Not an issue per se. Couteaux Gilles (Fontenille-Pataud) stamps "Hand made in France" on the tang.
Overall, the knife looks rather nice. If the assembly is tight and the "cran forcé" locks like a brute, you have a good knife all the same, true Laguiole or not. The Laguiole pattern is so widely used by so many makers (even speaking for France only) that the concept of "authentic" isn't very relevant. By the way, how is the locking action ? It should be a hook/notch interaction between tang and spring (cran forcé) and not a slip joint (square tang on flat spring).
--As is the "Damascus".--KV
herisson
Apple slicing rocking chair dweller
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2013
- Messages
- 4,754
Dear Furood, I wouldn't give too much importance to the origin and supposed maker of this knife. How does it feel in hand, is it solid, tight fit, strong lock, straight blade, good cut ?... these are important. If it got all this right, I'd say you have a good knife. And it looks sober and elegant. No reason not to enjoy your gift.
i have many knives ,but this one is important to me,because my wife bought this one for me .
and paid 200euro for it !!
i want to know if it is pakistani or unknown maker ,i will try to send it back to italy from iran .
thanks