Laguiole question

[T. Erdelyi]

Alright, I have a Laguiole Rossignol and I've read they all have the same issues as a result of not having a traditional kick, the blade at the belly rests against the backspring/spacer thereby allowing the sharpened edge to come into contact lightly against the inside of the backspring.

Typically the flat of the blade stays razor sharp but the belly/curve dulls quickly, more I can delay this by closing the blade gently but as anyone who has one these knows the dang backspring is super strong and trying to hang onto such a thin, narrow blade for that last half inch of closing is tough.

Unlike American made Traditional's you can't just close the blade against your leg and let it snap closed, this will put a serious ding in the blade.

Now I wanna try and take a dremel with a ball cutter and cut out a relief so the sharpened edge on the belly/curve doesn't come into contact with the backspring.

Here's my question, will this weaken the backspring? Also is there another alternative other than reproducing the blade so it doesn't hit?

Mods, please move this if it needs it but I thought I'd get more response in the Traditional forum.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I close all my traditionals by holding the blade all the way down. I have read that the French have used a strip of rubber or cork in the blade channel to cushion the contact.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

I close all my traditionals by holding the blade all the way down. I have read that the French have used a strip of rubber or cork in the blade channel to cushion the contact.

That's something I hadn't considered, I have adhesive backed rubber strips, I'll hafta term one down and try it.

 

[Stich2442]

Hey Ted I have the same Rossignol as you, when closing, after disengaging the spring, I hold the blade ( pinching with pointer and thumb) & let the handle come to the blade, fingers act as a stop or brake and then ease the rest of the way, hope that makes sense? My En Aurbrac is twice as strong as my Rossignol, so the Rossignol doesn't seem too bad to me, there was a product designed for the Laguiole that slips in between the blade & spring and is washable, can't remember the products name, I'll try and do a search.

Pete

I couldn't find the product but found a reference to it:


"Some time back I purchased a Laguiole from a French based ebay site. Interestingly, the seller referred to the problem with Laguioles that has been raised in this thread. He recommended a product called 'Durafil' - it is a small length of plastic or nylon material that is fitted inside the knife between the blade and spring. It has a vee on top to house the blade edge when closed.

I found a source for these and purchased a packet or about 5 or 6 for a small sum (I don't recall exactly how much). They can be fitted in a few seconds without disassembly and seem to be effective in removing contact between the blade edge and the innards of the knife. "

 

[littleknife]

This might be a typical feature on many European knives. I have Hungarian pocketknives from the 1990s which have the same feature/problem: very strong backspring + no kick = dinged blade.
It was an epiphany when I experienced for the first time the nice, user friendly design and execution of the American traditional pocketknives in this regard.
I mean, seriously, you don’t have to operate a bear trap in order to close a pocketknife?
Where’s all the fun when you are not in danger to mutilate your hands or to put a ding in the blade when closing a pocketknife?

 

[T. Erdelyi]

... I have Hungarian pocketknives from the 1990s which have the same feature/problem: very strong backspring + no kick = dinged blade.

Just curious what Hungarian knives do you have, my cousin back home in Hungary wants to send me a knife but I haven't thought of what I want, I'd be interested to see some pics.

 

[littleknife]

You can browse some traditional Hungarian patterns here:

http://www.bicska.hu/?function=listItems&category=28

I have a ‘Fejesgörbe’ from Polyák Imre:

http://www.polyak-keses.hu/bicska.html

a “Maskara’ from Nagy István:

http://www.kesekollok.hu/10.4041.zsebkes-maskara-nagy-agancs-nyellel-.html

and 'Rác (széles szalonnázó)’ from Révész

http://www.bicska.hu/product-category/bicskak/rac/

The Polyák knives are made by the son of the famous founder, but rumor has it that even in the ‘90s those knives were made by the son and apprentices.
IMHO the Polyák knives are the nicest, the Révész ones of today are of somewhat less consistent quality and the Nagy István knives are a hit or miss.

If your cousin really wants to please you, he would get you a pocketknife from Kocsis Ferenc, who was once apprentice of master Polyák (the Sr.) too.
He is considered now one of the best, if not the best, traditional pocketknife makers in Hungary:

http://www.kocsiskesek.fw.hu/fszeriabicska.htm

Those are top notch pocketknives even by our very demanding knife nut standards! :thumbup:

The price of the basic models (about 15,000 HUF or about 66 USD) would be 3x that of a knife from Nagy István, and only 50% higher than that of the other two makers mentioned.
There might be a 3-4 months waiting period also, and you can request better steel & also additional embellishments for some more HUF.

If I had the money, I would order myself a 'Kocsis bicska' right away.

For additional makers (some of them not active any more), see:

http://unboxing.blog.hu/2009/05/25/magyar_bicska

Some pics of Kocsis knives on a Hungarian knife forum/topic:

http://forum.index.hu/Search/showArticleResult?topic_id=9004699&aq_ext=1&aq_text=Kocsis bicska

http://forum.index.hu/Search/showAr...m_id=9215869&aq_ext=1&aq_hnt=eJzzswYAANkAig==

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Thanks for the links, I've saved 'em to my favorites and I'm gonna start checking them out tonight.

 

[knarfeng]

I wanna try and take a dremel with a ball cutter and cut out a relief so the sharpened edge on the belly/curve doesn't come into contact with the backspring.

Here's my question, will this weaken the backspring?

Mods, please move this if it needs it but I thought I'd get more response in the Traditional forum.

YES.

It's OK here.

 

[Will Power]

Fontenille-Pataud laguioles have a back stop which prevents this from happening. Some of their knives are lockback too, so there is innovation.

Thanks, Will