Questions about Laguiole

A

arbytwo

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Apr 21, 2013
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So I'm thinking about buying myself a present and Laguioles look good to me. But I would like some information from the forum. The three main companies seem to be Forge de Laguiole, Fontenille Pataud, and Laguiole en Aubrac. What are the main differences in their folders? Fontenille Pataud offers a lockback according to their website, are the others slipjoint only? Also, how to avoid knockoffs since Laguiole is not a protected name. Is there a reputable dealer in the U.S. or should I deal directly with the French company? Thanks for any information.
 
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I ordered a Fontenille Pataud Capuchadou off their website last year. (Ship to US) I can say the the quality is excellent. They have both slipjoints and lockbacks, you'll have to read the descriptions.
 
Fontenille Pataud, top quality and besides the lock back, the also use a stop pin that prevents the blade from hitting the back spring and damaging the edge.
 
Fontenille Pataud, top quality and besides the lock back, the also use a stop pin that prevents the blade from hitting the back spring and damaging the edge.
 
I second the above statements about Fontenille Pataud. They cost more but they usually have really nice hand-filed guilloche.

I have one each from Forge de Laguiole and Laguiole en Aubrac. The blade execution is a little better in the Aubrac, and the handle is nicer in the Forge. But the differences are so small that I would rate them as equivalent knives. Both have good action and strong springs. They are about the same price.

I also have a G David Arbalete. It has a small amount of up and down play when fully open, it appears that the spring and tang were not matched properly. Otherwise it is very similar overall to my Aubrac. And it cost a lot less.
 
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I have a Laguiole Honoré Durand, which I am very pleased with.
 
FP sell excellent knives, but you pay the big price... and I'm not fond of the fat belly, I prefer sleeker handles (and most lags have a stiff spring that makes the lock a useless complication, just my opinion :) -).
It is impossible to make a comprehensive list af all assemblers of Laguiole beside the big shops (or even factories for some), there are a lot of assemblers who know the job (and often work/have worked for the big uns).
Components often come from the same source, depending of the price/length/finish with forged mouche it is not hard to get a good price/quality ratio and one must be very hard to please if he does not find the Lag he wants. Like in Alice's restaurant!
A few useful posts :
@Âchillepattada about
- J. Latreille
https://bladeforums.com/threads/jérôme-latreille.1694397/#post-19371386
- David Dauvillaire (https://les-tresors-de-laguiole.fr)
https://bladeforums.com/threads/french-regional-knives.1651680/page-14#post-19431740
- and of course possibly the best value for buck P-Y. Joyeux (https://atelierlaclefdeschamps.fr he is the guy assembling these also :
Bruno Coupat).
https://bladeforums.com/threads/pierre-yves-joyeux.1698179/#post-19411090
To make your opinion, you may want also to check these :
- Du Barry
- Calmels
- Coignet
- Lacaze
- Le Thiernois
- http://www.alex-couteaux.fr/index.php?id_category=20&controller=category (NOT R. Aubry!)
hope this helps. :)
 
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There is a Florida based laguiole importer that has been a pleasure to deal with. They sell blades from different manufacturers so you have a good selection from which to choose.


Ray
 
Jolipapa said:
FP sell excellent knives, but you pay the big price... and I'm not fond of the fat belly, I prefer sleeker handles (and most lags have a stiff spring that makes the lock a useless complication, just my opinion :) -).
It is impossible to make a comprehensive list af all assemblers of Laguiole beside the big shops (or even factories for some), there are a lot of assemblers who know the job (and often work/have worked for the big uns).
Components often come from the same source, depending of the price/length/finish with forged mouche it is not hard to get a good price/quality ratio and one must be very hard to please if he does not find the Lag he wants. Like in Alice's restaurant!
A few useful posts :
@Âchillepattada about
- J. Latreille
https://bladeforums.com/threads/jérôme-latreille.1694397/#post-19371386
- David Dauvillaire (https://les-tresors-de-laguiole.fr)
https://bladeforums.com/threads/french-regional-knives.1651680/page-14#post-19431740
- and of course possibly the best value for buck P-Y. Joyeux (https://atelierlaclefdeschamps.fr he is the guy assembling these also :
Bruno Coupat).
https://bladeforums.com/threads/pierre-yves-joyeux.1698179/#post-19411090
To make your opinion, you may want also to check these :
- Du Barry
- Calmels
- Coignet
- Lacaze
- Le Thiernois
- http://www.alex-couteaux.fr/index.php?id_category=20&controller=category (NOT R. Aubry!)
hope this helps. :)
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Merci, Alain. I am saving this post as a resource. :thumbsup:
 
I think the FP knives are very beautiful, and I love the lock back and stop pin features, but Fontenille Pataud annoys me because they will not deduct EU VAT tax when selling a knife to a non EU VAT consumer in the USA. That is 20 percent!

this is the main reason their knives are so expensive in the USA. It makes no sense to charge a tax they do not have to collect or pay, and I do not want to pay a tax I am not obligated to pay. I have explained this to them many times and they will only eliminate the VAT on a large wholesale order (which honestly is pretty tempting), but if I ordered 100 custom Laguioles I would have some explaining to do.
 
RayseM said:
There is a Florida based laguiole importer that has been a pleasure to deal with. They sell blades from different manufacturers so you have a good selection from which to choose.


Ray
Click to expand...
Yes, I second this. I have purchased two from that company, with very good results. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase from them again. Highly recommended.
 
Elgatodeacero said:
I think the FP knives are very beautiful, and I love the lock back and stop pin features, but Fontenille Pataud annoys me because they will not deduct EU VAT tax when selling a knife to a non EU VAT consumer in the USA. That is 20 percent!

this is the main reason their knives are so expensive in the USA. It makes no sense to charge a tax they do not have to collect or pay, and I do not want to pay a tax I am not obligated to pay. I have explained this to them many times and they will only eliminate the VAT on a large wholesale order (which honestly is pretty tempting), but if I ordered 100 custom Laguioles I would have some explaining to do.
Click to expand...
There's no reason for them to charge TVA as this is an inner tax. Get in touch with the French Customs, there's surely a way to get a refund. Now there maybe a link with the tremendous increase of US import taxes on French products. :thumbsdown:
 
Thank you to all for the information, with an extra merci to Jolipapa for the links. Now I have more to look at and choose from, looking is a pleasure in itself. My problem is that I want more knives than I need. Anyone have a solution?
 
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