Laguiole knives?

Le Fidele and au Sabot are at a (much) lower price level than the others mentioned.
I'm looking for one with an aluminium handle.
Au Sabot and Le Fidele cost about the same, would you rate one above the other?

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G.David seems to have discontinued their models with a aluminium or stainless handle

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http://couteaux.clicforum.com/t389-les-laguioles-en-metal.htm
 
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Will Power said:
Very interesting, I'd like to hear more about your experiences with these Arto knives please.

Most Lags have a really fantastic slicer aspect and this is one of their many strengths.

'Arto' is a Finnish man's name...
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They use it because itis much easier for non French-speaking people than Arthaud-Chosson! The seahorse is the trademark.
The traditionals are awesome, but the new line of knives (called outdoor 6644 - for june 6 1944 the first of the line being a Rouennais from Normandy) where they try to modernize traditionals are a bit too modern interpretations for me.
If you publish a picture of your knife, I can show it and ask the man who probably built it.
 
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Several years ago, one of my physician employers was traveling to France and asked if he could bring me something.

I said, "A Laguiole Knife", not really expecting that to replace the usual keychain or snow globe type items I'd received in the past.

When he returned, he handed me a yellow and brown box with "DAVID" printed in a lower corner.

Inside was a nice light colored horn handled Laguiole with the same blade markings as on the above David, but as I recall there was no tang stamp.

I'd have to dig it out to make sure and I have no photos.

It's a well made knife, but I'm not exactly sure who made it. The box states, "DAVID", but the knife does not.

It was a gift, so I suppose it matters not.
 
Will Power said:
Harry Most kind of you! I gave one away, I think 4 now?? Here's another but the larger size in Ram's Horn, this too is a locker. F-P offer their knives as conventional backspring knives without the lockback for those who prefer it. They also offer a lot of scale choice and file-work options.

Don't know about favourite but the White Bone gets a lot of use as I like the way it takes on colour & age. A Lag feels very good in the hand which may surprise you when looking at the slender handle, thick scales help.

Many thanks, Will

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That is nice one too Will .

Harry
 
Neo said:
Jolipapa, could you comment on Le Fidele vs Au Sabot?
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I am no specialist of Laguiole (I just have an old Forges de Laguiole), and according to mates, both are very close, no thrill, sturdy knives. Personally I would prefer Le Fidèle as I prefer a dog rather than a clog as far as blade markings. You can check their websites, both have a great choice, lot of handles, forged or soldered flies, carbon & stainless, etc.

CNoyes said:
Several years ago, one of my physician employers was traveling to France and asked if he could bring me something.

I said, "A Laguiole Knife", not really expecting that to replace the usual keychain or snow globe type items I'd received in the past.

When he returned, he handed me a yellow and brown box with "DAVID" printed in a lower corner.

Inside was a nice light colored horn handled Laguiole with the same blade markings as on the above David, but as I recall there was no tang stamp.

I'd have to dig it out to make sure and I have no photos.

It's a well made knife, but I'm not exactly sure who made it. The box states, "DAVID", but the knife does not.

It was a gift, so I suppose it matters not.
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I think the trademark is a crossbow. Former knives had few blade markings. David still exists and is respected.

ps there is 2 David, Genès David, with the crossbow mark, cutlers since 1810 and Robert David, much younger as they started in 1919.
If I had to buy one today, I'd search a 11cm Dozorme, traditional, not the modern style or a G R (Issard) if I find one without the ugly (IMHO) peasant face stamp on the blade.
Of course, Gilles (Fontenille-Pathaud ) are excellent, but a bit overpriced, due to (again IMHO) useless sophistication I E : these are peasants and shepherds knives. Wood or horm (preferably blond from Aubrac cows - thus less expensive) and a good stiff spring, no need of a lock blade. I don't mind if the fly is forged or not.
Now, it's the same old story. FP, Dozorme are in the GEC league, the others like , say, Case or Rough Rider.

My Forges de Laguiole, 11cm, corkscrew, briar root
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My son's Dozorme, 12cm, ebony
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Another maker I have forgotten to mention is Renaud Aubry. The advantadge with him is that you can design your knive, from budget price to astronomic mammoth teeth. All share the same quality, lifetime guaranty. I was reminded this by a friend who recently had smallish cracks on a handle, that was fixed (changed) without a problem.
In fact he would be the first i would consider if buying a Lag.
 
Your son's Ebony Lag is quite the looker JP:cool::thumbup:

Here's a G.David with blonde horn which shows the Crossbow trademark stamped on the blade. This Lag has a kind of spike or stoner which I've never known what it's for. Quite neat on a single-spring with a cut-out to access it. I bought this in France in 1990. Unfortunately, it's been in the wars, a cleaner in my office dropped it on the floor from the desk and cracked the horn on both sides. But, it's all part of use I suppose.. Very toughly sprung knife 11cm.

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Shattered.....:eek:

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Thanks, Will
 
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Superb one, probably made before 1990, probably 70s, that was not trendy at all and in little village shops you could find a lot, along with automatic knives. Silly as ever, I neglected them (too common!) and prefered an automatic. :rolleyes: Today village shops have closed and gone the tresures with them..
Will, the horn can be polished with a very soft cloth and oiled.
The spike is a flam (flamme) for veterinary. When the sheep eats too much wet grass, it ferments and produces gases, this is used to punch the beast's belly and evacuate the methan. It could also be used for picking hooves but the shape would be different.
This is typical on old Laguioles.
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images from Glandières site.
 
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Many thanks indeed for that info JP, I'd always wondered what it was. Poor sheep, quite a brutal method of dealing with flatulence :eek::eek:

I like those line drawings too, very neat. Thank you for perking up my day with this info, brought back fond memories. Today I'm down with influenza and feeling really rough, nice to have the forum to distract you at such times

I got it in a little town in Perigord, one of those knife shops which as you point out have long vanished, more's the pity. They had a mass of knives in there and I believe agricultural tools too, very dark and delighfully old-fashioned. I just don't prefer our homogenized world where all countries become alike and only corporations sell anything, horrible.:mad: I also remember seeing a group of World War 1 veterans celebrating the 14th July , quite marvelous when one knows they have all gone now. The food in Perigord is rich, the countryside beautiful and to be able to buy a Lag in an out of the way place was remarkable.

Thanks, Will
 
Here's my other G.David which I got at the same time. It's smaller and is barehead, which I prefer. Thinking about it, the shop was full of stuff and they might very well have had gear in there for 30 years, new old stock for sure! They didn't come in boxes but the shopkeeper, a rather surly type..:D wrapped them up in brown paper for me.:cool:

The finish on this David is rough & ready but that's the appeal, it has character, and by the gods it gets viciously sharp, I carry it often and I think it's my longest used knife now.

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The spine on these Davids has an interesting bit of 'gimping' on it (I'm sure there's a correct French term?) which certainly does facilitate grip work.

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It is guillochage, like for the spring. Certainly practical for slicing (!) those big breads for lunch. The method is you take the bread strong against your breast and with the other hand you cut a large slice.
For your influenza, a warm tea with a glassful of rum you wioll color the life in rose! :D
 
I just ordered my first one last night, and this thread has got me looking forward to receiving it! Mine is coming from Honoré Durand.
 
I own knives by Laguiole en Aubrac, Forge de Laguiole and Fontenille Pataud. They are all very nice. One thing about the Fontenille Pataud knives is that it has a blade stop pin inside the handle so that the edge of the blade can't contact the spring. The others you have to close carefully so you don't get flat spots.

While I don't own any of his Laguioles, I have Vicomte and several Navettes made by Renaud Aubry. His prices are exceptionally good, especially considering he makes semi custom knives. Even shipping costs are very low. His website also has a configurater where you can see what your knife will look like before he makes it. Here's a few examples of his work.....

Vicomte with filed backspring and liners:



Navette with Red Coral:


Chiseled spring:


He even chiseled the inside the spring!
 
Jolipapa said:
I have seen a few, you shouldn't be deceived.
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I certainly hope I wasn't deceived, but I also hope that you meant that I wont be disappointed! :D

Edit: I couldn't see your location from my phone. The pictures and descriptions on the Honoré Durand website looked good, but I'm glad to have the opinion of someone in the country of origin!
 
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cpc1027 said:
I certainly hope I wasn't deceived, but I also hope that you meant that I wont be disappointed! :D

Edit: I couldn't see your location from my phone. The pictures and descriptions on the Honoré Durand website looked good, but I'm glad to have the opinion of someone in the country of origin!
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You understood as I meant it!
HD is in Laguiole and besides the "war" between Laguiole and Thiers cutlers, I heard nothing wrong with them. They have a lot of offers, even obsolete ones made to the order. What size and finish did you order?
 
Jolipapa said:
You understood as I meant it!
HD is in Laguiole and besides the "war" between Laguiole and Thiers cutlers, I heard nothing wrong with them. They have a lot of offers, even obsolete ones made to the order. What size and finish did you order?
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I ordered the 12-cm traditional slip-joint style with matte stainless bolsters and olive wood scales.

But because I have a knife problem, and because I saw this thread, I also ordered a Fontenille Pataud :D. That one is slightly non-traditional. Still 12-cm, walnut scales, matte stainless bolster (only one end), but I got the lock-back style and a thumb loop on that one. I'm a big fan of being able to open a knife one-handed, so I anticipate the Fontenille Pataud seeing more EDC carry. I expect that I will enjoy both though. Now I just need them to ship and for FedEX International to get a move on!
 
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