Laguiole

Don Adelfson

Don Adelfson

Joined
Oct 12, 2001
Messages
579
Got this Laguiole today (present for my Dad for his 80th birthday). I've seen these online but this is the first time "in person". It IS a slip joint...though admittedly not exactly "traditional".

It's got a 4" 12C27 blade..OAL is 8 1/2". Has brass bolsters, but the most interesting thing about it is the stag scales..they are 5/16" thick on each side!!

I desperately need a close-up lens for my Canon Powershot, but here are a couple of pics...not great but you might get the idea :)
 
Not sure what I did wrong...I do not see any pictures, either :)

Am going to give it another try.
 
Those are about as traditional as it gets. They were making that type of knife, in France, Spain, etc., long before we were a country.
Nice looking. :cool:
 
See? That's one of the best things about the Blade Forums...always learning something :)

Thanks Mike!!
 
How is the overall fit and finish on those? I have been thinking of getting one for some time, but have yet to decide for sure.
 
The fit and finish is excellent. The stag scales do not match, but they are impressive to say the least! The "snap shut" is the most beautiful sound I've ever heard on a slip joint.

I am going to keep this one and get my Dad another one. ;)
 
That is a really great looking knife. I love this style and in particular when it is a high quality Laguiole. One day I want one made by Henri Viallon.
 
Don
That's a beaut' can see why you want to keep it. I have a cheapish Laguiole with green micarta. Like you say the snap of the closing blade is great, similar to my Schatt & Morgan stockman.
I think I read somewhere that the Bee that Laguiole uses was the insignia of the Emporer Napolean - anyone know if that is true?
 
The continuing education of the knife nut...I was not even aware of the Laguiole Bee until I saw this knife "in person".

(Picture of the Bee when I get the close-up lens!)
 
Neil, there are many theories as to how the bee originated. Quite a few believe that it comes from the symbol of the original reigning dynasty of France. There are those that believe that Napoleon awarded the use of his imperial emblem to the Laguiole Regiment because of their courage in battle and that that is the origin of the Laguiole bee. Other do not think it is a bee at all. They think it is a fly. They think this because the first users of these knives were the peasant herders from the Aubrac region of France and that the Laguiole symbol represents the flies that hung around the cattle.
 
<a href="http://store.yahoo.net/gyby/lethier122pc1.html">Here</a>'s my all-time favorite Laguiole-type knife. No, I don't have one yet, but hope to some day.
 
Not all Laguioles are created equally. I have a few. The nicest I have by far is one like Don Adelfson's. It has Laguiole de'Artisan on the blade with a bull head and back. Along with 12c27 closer to the tang,FRANCE stamped on the opposite side of th blade near tang. Stag and shepards cross on the handle. The spring on the back is hand filed. I like it alot www.worldknives.com 12cm stag
Others have a stamped design on the spring. Often have smudged/botched stampings on the blade. scale may not fit all that great. With Laguioles you are definately better off doing reserch on the maker and spending the money.
Laguioles are a kind of cottage industry. Many different makers or rather "assemblers" put these things together. Some:barf: some:D
 
Have one with horn handles makes a great non threatening EDC, I usually use it for cutting my lunch or in place of the cheap knives they use in the resaurant.:D
 
I have several of these knives.., and as mentioned.., they are not all of the same quality, fit, and finish. The Laguiole "Elite" series is the best without getting into the very pricey stuff that can be ordered, but here is a very good site to see more. The owner of this particular company is Hermann Delorme.., very nice guy to deal with.., and the workmanship on these knives is simply incredible...

They also make extremely fine Wine Openers...

http://www.laguiole-elite.com

Some incredible stuff!



"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
There used to be a guy on here that went by the name of "snickersnee" I think it was. He was into this style of knife in a big way, but I think he used a different name for them. Is there another commonly used name for them?
 
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