Hi guys,
I would like to remind some of my Laguiole knives, because of a new beautiful Laguiole Actiforge 12 cm model with black horn scales and the name forged on the spring.
It wouldn't obviously work without a little confusion. After I found out that Laguiole is not a manufacturer but it is a classic style, tradition, shape coming from France. This style is so popular that it is copied all over the world, in Pakistan, China and you can even order a set of parts to put together yourself. To make sure that I'm not going to get a fake I ordered knives directly from France. Two for me and two for my friends as a gift. One was made by Fontenille Pataud and it is called Laguiole Gentleman Knife, the black one (12 cm of the handle length) has the Actiforge tredemark forged on the blade, so I think it was made by Laguiole Actiforge, and the two remaining were made by Laguiole Chevalerias (9 cm and 12 cm with corkscrew)
The French manufacturers have thousands versions of these knives because each Laguiole is unique. Various kinds of exotic handle materials, a few sizes to choose from, additional elements such as corcksrews and awls, bottle opener etc. they create a lot of confusion at the start. You can get lost in all of this but characteristic elements of this style are still visible. And within these are shapes of the blades and handles, bee/fly on the end of the spring, Shepherd's Cross, hand engravings on the spring, liners and on the back of the blade. All of this makes a really positive impression and some of the details are finely craftsmanship made. The bee of Fontenille Pataud on the Laguiole Gentleman Knife as a part of the spring has a different texture than the rest of the steel. The pins in the shape of Shepherd's Cross are so small that I don't know where to find needed drills.
Fontenille Pataud Laguiole Gentleman Knife has a 3 mm thick blade and is 8 cm long made of Sandvik 12C27 steel, hardened to 56-57 Hrc. The blade opens up lightly and blocks easily without any looseness. The Gentleman Knife has a backlock system.
What I found till now, French producers give a length of the handle as a main size, and Gentleman Knife has 10,5 cm long handle, which gaves 18,5 cm total length after opened fully. For my average hand size the handle is one of the most comfortable for my liking, same with the LionSteel M2. The handle is made from Finland Curly Birch and this wood is simply amazing. The dens patterns makes it seem like a 3D hologram and change depending on the angle of the light. Unfortunatly you cannot see this on the pictures because it is only visible with harsh bulb light or drirectly in sun rays.
What I've never seen before is customized Laguiole module by Actiforge where literally each part of the knife can be customized. You may choose knife size, handle material, type of steel, bolsters, shiny or matte finish, corkscrew and awl, type of a bee, laser engraving on the blade and hand engraving on the spring...
The Actiforge knife has a 12 cm handle of black horn, forged bee and has for a penknife an impressive 218 mm total length. Blade is made of Sandvik 12C27 steel, has about 3 mm thickness and it gets thinner towards the top. The Shepherd's Cross is placed in horn. The knife is highly polished.
The Chevarelias knife has also the 12 cm handle but made of bone this time. It has additional steel corkscrew and the forged bee. Blade is made of Sandvik 12C27 steel with satin finish, has 2,5 mm thickness and the overall length is 218 mm.
Laguiole Chevalerias and Actiforge knives are Slipjoints in contrast to Fontenille Pataud Laguiole Gentleman Knife with Backlock. Slipjoint blades are held by springs and thanks to that those knives are legal in many countries. Corkscrew and blades open with some resistance which is needed in Slipjoint knives to secure fingers from the knife accidentally closing on your fingers.
The smallest one Laguiole Chevalerias 9 cm is so small and light that you don't even know that you have a knife in your hand or in your pocket. It is the first knife I've seen that the handle is thicker than wider. The bee is made separatly and it is built into the spring. The handle is made of olive wood. The blade is 7,7 cm long and has 2 mm thickness and of course it is made of Sandvik 12C27. It opens up with resistance, there is no any looseness and has 16,7 cm total length.
Uff... thanks if someone read it all, there was a lot
Best regards from Poland!
I would like to remind some of my Laguiole knives, because of a new beautiful Laguiole Actiforge 12 cm model with black horn scales and the name forged on the spring.
It wouldn't obviously work without a little confusion. After I found out that Laguiole is not a manufacturer but it is a classic style, tradition, shape coming from France. This style is so popular that it is copied all over the world, in Pakistan, China and you can even order a set of parts to put together yourself. To make sure that I'm not going to get a fake I ordered knives directly from France. Two for me and two for my friends as a gift. One was made by Fontenille Pataud and it is called Laguiole Gentleman Knife, the black one (12 cm of the handle length) has the Actiforge tredemark forged on the blade, so I think it was made by Laguiole Actiforge, and the two remaining were made by Laguiole Chevalerias (9 cm and 12 cm with corkscrew)
The French manufacturers have thousands versions of these knives because each Laguiole is unique. Various kinds of exotic handle materials, a few sizes to choose from, additional elements such as corcksrews and awls, bottle opener etc. they create a lot of confusion at the start. You can get lost in all of this but characteristic elements of this style are still visible. And within these are shapes of the blades and handles, bee/fly on the end of the spring, Shepherd's Cross, hand engravings on the spring, liners and on the back of the blade. All of this makes a really positive impression and some of the details are finely craftsmanship made. The bee of Fontenille Pataud on the Laguiole Gentleman Knife as a part of the spring has a different texture than the rest of the steel. The pins in the shape of Shepherd's Cross are so small that I don't know where to find needed drills.
Fontenille Pataud Laguiole Gentleman Knife has a 3 mm thick blade and is 8 cm long made of Sandvik 12C27 steel, hardened to 56-57 Hrc. The blade opens up lightly and blocks easily without any looseness. The Gentleman Knife has a backlock system.
What I found till now, French producers give a length of the handle as a main size, and Gentleman Knife has 10,5 cm long handle, which gaves 18,5 cm total length after opened fully. For my average hand size the handle is one of the most comfortable for my liking, same with the LionSteel M2. The handle is made from Finland Curly Birch and this wood is simply amazing. The dens patterns makes it seem like a 3D hologram and change depending on the angle of the light. Unfortunatly you cannot see this on the pictures because it is only visible with harsh bulb light or drirectly in sun rays.
What I've never seen before is customized Laguiole module by Actiforge where literally each part of the knife can be customized. You may choose knife size, handle material, type of steel, bolsters, shiny or matte finish, corkscrew and awl, type of a bee, laser engraving on the blade and hand engraving on the spring...
The Actiforge knife has a 12 cm handle of black horn, forged bee and has for a penknife an impressive 218 mm total length. Blade is made of Sandvik 12C27 steel, has about 3 mm thickness and it gets thinner towards the top. The Shepherd's Cross is placed in horn. The knife is highly polished.
The Chevarelias knife has also the 12 cm handle but made of bone this time. It has additional steel corkscrew and the forged bee. Blade is made of Sandvik 12C27 steel with satin finish, has 2,5 mm thickness and the overall length is 218 mm.
Laguiole Chevalerias and Actiforge knives are Slipjoints in contrast to Fontenille Pataud Laguiole Gentleman Knife with Backlock. Slipjoint blades are held by springs and thanks to that those knives are legal in many countries. Corkscrew and blades open with some resistance which is needed in Slipjoint knives to secure fingers from the knife accidentally closing on your fingers.
The smallest one Laguiole Chevalerias 9 cm is so small and light that you don't even know that you have a knife in your hand or in your pocket. It is the first knife I've seen that the handle is thicker than wider. The bee is made separatly and it is built into the spring. The handle is made of olive wood. The blade is 7,7 cm long and has 2 mm thickness and of course it is made of Sandvik 12C27. It opens up with resistance, there is no any looseness and has 16,7 cm total length.
Uff... thanks if someone read it all, there was a lot
Best regards from Poland!
Last edited:
