Info on Laguiole Knives

[Will Power]

 

[Jolipapa]

Renaud Aubry!!
R.I.P!!

 

[jwb01]

Love my Fontenille! Ordered direct. I will say that the hump they put on the spring as a stop doesn’t work on this one, if you snap it shut it will ever so slightly rap the spring...... so I don’t snap it shut. It is an excellent slicer!

 

[Elgatodeacero]

Renaud Aubry has passed? If anyone has more info please share. The website still shows him?

http://www.artisancoutelier.com/en/content/21-craftsman

Here are my best French knives, a Yan Nomine/Fontainbleu, Renaud Aubry, and two barrel knives by Jean-Michel Remaud.

All have juniper handles. Also a couple close ups of the R. Aubry in 14C28N.

 

[pjsjr]

They are elegant and classic. I found mine in a flea market, used, but good condition.

 

[Jolipapa]

Love my Fontenille! Ordered direct. I will say that the hump they put on the spring as a stop doesn’t work on this one, if you snap it shut it will ever so slightly rap the spring...... so I don’t snap it shut. It is an excellent slicer!
View attachment 1533944

You can do like Old Timers: put a bit of match or cork. And keep on closing it carefully.

 

[Peregrin]

This is my one and only. A Fontinelle Pautaud Laguiole XS Guilloche. Lock back, Gunstock Burled French Walnut, 14C28N, 9 cm. Just a great little knife. Couldn't ask for anything better. I need more!

 

[mitch13]

I like em,
Had this little fella made many years ago with xc75 blade, still going strong. Did have a 12cm ebony handle but my Dad really liked it, so he got it for a birthday present , carried it at work every day for over 10 years until he retired.

 

[jlomein]

Anyone with experience on Robert David Laguiole? They seem readily available at several US dealers and are $50-100, says made in France.

 

[353]

Laguioles tend to snap shut very strongly and most of them do not come with a kick at the bottom of the blade, so the edge will contact the back spacer. Close them gently.

So this is a "feature" of Laguioles?

I was getting interested in getting one(again) but this has me reconsidering. Especially since I can remember the high prices the last time I checked these knives out.

 

[Peregrin]

So this is a "feature" of Laguioles?

I was getting interested in getting one(again) but this has me reconsidering. Especially since I can remember the high prices the last time I checked these knives out.

The Fontenille Pataud Laguiole I posted back a few (post #27) has a stop pin, as opposed to a kick. Serves the same purpose. I think the FP Laguioles are manufactured with that pin.

 

[airyq]

So this is a "feature" of Laguioles?

I was getting interested in getting one(again) but this has me reconsidering. Especially since I can remember the high prices the last time I checked these knives out.

Strangely, yes. Laguioles are customarily made with a strong back spring and some effort is required even to open them and this unavoidably results is a strong snap when closing. Just remember to hold on to the blade when closing and bring the blade towards the handle and you'll be fine. I find this intuitive as the spring tension is so strong that I just don't feel like releasing the blade when closing.

 

[CelloDan]

 

[353]

The Fontenille Pataud Laguiole I posted back a few (post #27) has a stop pin, as opposed to a kick. Serves the same purpose. I think the FP Laguioles are manufactured with that pin.

That is great news, anyone else with a F. Pataud that can check this and confirm? I can see you CelloDan got one.

 

[airyq]

If I am not mistaken, FP makes a modern version which is a lockback, which has a stop pin. I believe both Peregrin's and Cello Dan's are lockbacks, you can see the unlocking tab right at the very butt end of the handle.

 

[Jolipapa]

So this is a "feature" of Laguioles?

I was getting interested in getting one(again) but this has me reconsidering. Especially since I can remember the high prices the last time I checked these knives out.

The Fontenille Pataud Laguiole I posted back a few (post #27) has a stop pin, as opposed to a kick. Serves the same purpose. I think the FP Laguioles are manufactured with that pin.

A good Lag is easy to open and hard to close.
Now, different country, different traditions. Snapping shut a knife is considered as offensive, bad manner in France. A knife is a useful (and rare) tool, you need to take care of your tools. Same way you don't drop a hammer, a saw or a file if you want to use it for years...
Older people had large knives (13cm was the common size) and used to put a bit of match, or cork, under the tang to minimize the risk of accidentally denting the blade. Some makes have hollow spring in the middle and the flat tang acts like an invisible kick.

Let's be simply logical, how could you explain the Lag's success story over centuries? Chances are that this is the pattern with the greatest number of makers/assemblers, not to mention the number of knock offs worldwide.

FP people are wise people. If US buyer wants a kick, let him have a kick! But clearly for most cutlers US market is not their primary concern and they keep making knives as they did for decades...

Yes, Robert David (boar brand, different of Genès David crossbow brand) are good average priced knives made in France.

 

[353]

I dont't want a lock back version, I want the real thing.

Is Robert David a Laguiole brand?

Or what are some good, "authentic", french made Laguiole brands, that is not to hard to get hold of?

Remember I'm not US but EU located.

Also I think I'm geared towards a smaller one.

 

[Jolipapa]

I dont't want a lock back version, I want the real thing.

Is Robert David a Laguiole brand?

Or what are some good, "authentic", french made Laguiole brands, that is not to hard to get hold of?

Remember I'm not US but EU located.

Also I think I'm geared towards a smaller one.

No, RD is in Thiers.
Remember that Laguiole cutlers closed down their shops because Thiers cutlers strangled them. Then when the pattern got trendy again Laguiole made knives where often assembled with parts from Thiers. The real renaissance of the Laguiole made Lag started #1990.

Personally I'd turn to a (very) slightly more expensive PY Joyeux's knife. Size from 11cm. But that is just my opinion. He sends in EU. PMed you his site address.

 

[lambertiana]

My locking FP has the stop pin. My traditional slipjoint FP does not have a stop pin; there is a slightly raised area on the backspring that might act as a small kick.

 

[Will Power]

I dont't want a lock back version, I want the real thing.

Is Robert David a Laguiole brand?

Or what are some good, "authentic", french made Laguiole brands, that is not to hard to get hold of?

Remember I'm not US but EU located.

Also I think I'm geared towards a smaller one.

The FP lockbacks are very much the real thing too

See my post No.21 The two F-P are lockback XS 9cm Lags and the locking bar is the actual one piece backspring.

Jolipapa is naturally correct A good Lag is an easy to open knife but hard to close, safety/eficiency. That being the case, snapping them shut is not only unwise from the point of view of potential edge damage but you don't want your fingers near there either Plus as he noted, it's an etiquette thing as well as a practical reality. Try changing gear on a manual gearbox without using the clutch....

G.David make inexpensive Lags, the finish is not up to F-P standards obviously but they are solid well assembled work knives in a large variety of scales and sizes 8cm Mini (also in my pic) 11, 12, 13 cm They arrive sharp and I've been very pleased with their customer service inside the EU itself.

Thanks, Will