Laguiole & Texas Toothpick ???

It does look like a fly, but every Laguiole ad I've seen calls it a bee.

Makes sense, though; which would you rather have near your food?!
 
There is an urban legend that Napoleon admired the stalwart workers of Laguiole and bestowed his own iconic bee on their knives. But it was really a fly. :)
 
Gentlemen, the Lagioule bug is a "bee" awarded to the region's knife makers in Napolionic days as a sign of excellence - the area produced sabers which were also used to open champaigne bottles... at least this is what I've read on the Lagioule site!
Peace
Revvie
 
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Revvie said:
Gentlemen, the Lagioule bug is a "bee" awarded to the region's knife makers in Napolionic days as a sign of excellence
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Like a lot of popular knife lore, there does not seem to be any evidence to support (or deny) that story. I have seen the "bug" on Lagouile knives referred to as both a fly ("la mouche")and a bee. I would imagine the makers perfer the "bee" as a better advertising symbol than a "fly".

Take your pick! :D
 
Wait.. so I was looking at purchasing a folder from Lagouile... very expensive.

Then I noticed I have some steak knives stamped and Lagouile-- then Sabiter I think. They also had a bee sorta thing.

Does someone actually hold the copyright on Lagouile signifying its from an actual maker or can it be used as a descripter like Swiss Army Knife... (Assuming the Swiss Gov didnt regulate that usage.) So that multiple companies could make Lagouiles of differing qualities?
 
Laguiole is a knife style originally ascribed to the town of Laguiole. The town has no rights to the name as a knife designation, however, and is not even the center of the Laguiole knife industry. In France, I believe that honor goes to Thiers. Similar knives are made elsewhere, including in Spain and of course China.

There are a few reliable manufacturers and the knives can be quite expensive, and worth it. They style is also used on some nice steak knives.
 
one thing you may find interesting about laguioles (pronounced leeyool) is that a great many of them have crosses in the handles usually just 4 studs in a cross shape. this is a traditional design that comes from france way waaaaay back. the cross supposedly was for french shepherds. theyd stick the knife in the ground and say their prayers over it...kind of like a rosary i guess. the bee is traditional to...something to do with napoleon although im not sure what exactly. so iv read anyway.
 
They are very serviceable and stout knives for slip joint folders:thumbup: Very comfy in the hands. Fiddleback gifted me one a year or so ago, and it sees pocket time every sunday that i attend church, every fancy dinner I attend, and any place where a locking folder might be frowned upon.

Lots of pocket time for that one:D
 
Looking at both knives, the Laguiole and the toothpick, they are so alike in profile, I can't believe that there was not some connection long ago. The toothpick was born in the deep southern U.S., while the Laguiole came from France.

I wonder if some time a Laguiole made it's way from old French New Orleans over into Mississippi and Alabama, and was somehow the ancestor of the toothpick. Between the almost identical profile, and the fact the toothpick came from the deep south after New Orleans had a strong French population is a big coincidence.
 
jackknife said:
Looking at both knives, the Laguiole and the toothpick, they are so alike in profile, I can't believe that there was not some connection long ago. The toothpick was born in the deep southern U.S., while the Laguiole came from France.

I wonder if some time a Laguiole made it's way from old French New Orleans over into Mississippi and Alabama, and was somehow the ancestor of the toothpick. Between the almost identical profile, and the fact the toothpick came from the deep south after New Orleans had a strong French population is a big coincidence.
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It was the Acadians I tell yah... They started everything worthwhile in those parts...
 
sirahren said:
Does someone actually hold the copyright on Lagouile signifying its from an actual maker or can it be used as a descripter like Swiss Army Knife... (Assuming the Swiss Gov didnt regulate that usage.) So that multiple companies could make Lagouiles of differing qualities?
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No, its more or less a generic name used by anyone who wants to. Personally, I would not consider any knife a Lagouile unless it was at least made in France, but that's just me. :rolleyes:

There are a few quality makers of Lagouile-style knives from France, including G. David, Lagouile de l Artisan, Laguiole Actiforge and Forge de Laguiole.
 
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