Spyderco Laguiole by Rossignol?

crashlander · Oct 27, 2003

Hi Spydernuts,

i went into a shop in Amsterdam this weekend (not a coffeshop

)and saw something very surprising: three Spyderco Laguioles with "Rossignol" written on the blades! I thougt about buying one, but EUR 110,- was a bit to much for me, ´cause I already own a Ramco Laguiole, thanks to Sal.

Now my question is, are this old ones, before Ramco got the license to make them? they looked well made, I did not have a chance to handle one, but fit and finish seemed to be quite ok. I know Rossignol as one of the largest Laguiole producer in France (but not the best one), but did not know there maybe was a relationship to Spyderco.

Shiden · Oct 27, 2003

Hi Crashlander,

Did you see those Laguiole in the Old Man in the damstraat?

Shiden-Kaj

4 s ter · Oct 27, 2003

crashlander

I also have one of the Spyderco Ramco Laguioles - also thanks to Sal!

The following information came from postings by Sal Glesser Joyce Laituri. They give a lot of background info about the Laguiole but don't mention any Rossignol linkage.

Sal's posting:

Spyderco produced a Laguiole "style" knife about 8 years ago. It was a front lock folder designed by Dennis LeMaire. We produced it in Seki. Steel was GIN-1. We designed our own "bee" for the traditional look. Quality was excellent. Came in Plain or serrated. Custom made leather sheath also had the "bee" embossed on the sheath.

It was/is IMO the best quality Laguiole ever to hit the market. We actually lost quite a bit of $ in the project.

Dealer support wasn't there and the model was dropped. One of the Spyderco crew just purchased one of the remaining pcs at the last Spyderco "Crew sale" last week.

They were, however, quite expensive. As I remember, Over $130 retail + sheath.

sal

Joyce's posting:

Denis Lemaire was an creative French Canadian cutlery designer, maker, and friend of Spyderco. In the early '90s Spyderco made a French-style Laguiole model which Denis had engineered and designed. He was adept at producing innovative concepts and was well-acquainted with French influenced cutlery designs. A folder named the AKMA was one of his inventions and is produced today by Florinox Cutlery of Thiers, France.

The Spyderco Laguiole debuted as a high-tech version of a time-honored design. It featured:

~ A front lock (developed by Al Mar and Harvey McBurnette), the first ever lock-back Laguiole
~ A handle of black Micarta with brass liners
~ Blade steel was G-2
~ The traditional Laguiole "bee" found its' appearance underwent a subtle, buggy make-over
~ Notably absent were the Spyderco round hole and a pocket clip
~ Notably present, Spyderco serrations
~ It came with a tooled leather belt sheath
~ Spyderco's French design was manufactured under the Ramco label in Seki City, Japan
The Laguiole was discontinued in 1995-1996 and the MSRP at that time was $119.95, the sheath $19.95.

Strange knife, a French design, Americanized with serrations and made in Japan....

Joyce

frank k · Oct 27, 2003

Dose anyone have a pic to post? Id love to see one of these!

Thanks.

- Frank

4 s ter · Oct 27, 2003

Here's a thread on the Spyderco.com Forum that has more info about the Rossignol and Spyderco Laguioles.

frank k - there is a pic showing various views of the Spyderco Laguiole and sheath near the bottom.

http://www.spyderco.com/forum/Topic...derco+Laguiole&forum_title=General+Discussion

frank k · Oct 27, 2003

Cool! Thanks!

That's really nice!

- Frank

TedV · Oct 28, 2003

Hi, I posted that thread sometime ago on the same subject on the Spyderco forum.

In short:

This summer I visited the Rossignol factory in Thiers/France. I spoke to the son of the manager, and he remembered something about doing the Rossignol with Spyderco, but would need to ask his father which wasn't around at the time.

Anyway, Rossignol also makes a locking Laguiole, which looks very similair to the Spyderco Laguiole. I bought one, and sold it just last week on Ebay. Here are some pictures.

Ted

crashlander · Oct 28, 2003

@ shiden-kaj: No, it was a small shop selling expensive porcelaine and some kitchen- and table knives, it is located in the palaisstraat between Singel- and Herrengracht, I think a few steps after the brilmuseum, if coming from the dam.

@ Ted Voorde: I think that´s it, but with a matte (or dusty

)black handle. How much did You pay for it? Just to compare.

Tot ziens!

TedV · Oct 28, 2003

60 EURO (factory price), I saw it in shops in Thiers for 79 EUR.

Sold mine for $59 on Ebay

frank k · Oct 28, 2003

Thanks Ted!

Was that one also made in Japan?

- Frank

dvdflnn · Oct 28, 2003

Is there any chance of finding one of these anywhere? I'd love to see and hold one, who knows... DVD

4 s ter · Oct 28, 2003

dvdflnn

They're hard to come by!

You could try posting on the "Knives wanted to buy" Forum here on BladeForums. Other than that, I couldn't tell you where you might be able to find one.

TedV · Oct 29, 2003

Frank, no, they make all their knives in the factory in Thiers/France (www.therias.com)

Ted

TedV · Oct 29, 2003

dvdflnn, I could visit that shop in A'Dam and try to get you one. But the price would be EUR 110 which is about $130...

Ted

dialex · Oct 30, 2003

Crashlander, does it say "Spyderco" on the Rossignol Laguiole?

TedV · Oct 30, 2003

or did it have 'teeth' ?

crashlander · Oct 30, 2003

It said "Rossignol" on the blade, did not see any Spyderco signs.

And I did not have the possibility/time to handle it, so I don´t know if it was serrated.

dialex · Oct 30, 2003

Yes, that's what I was thinking. It's not a Spyderco. I remember I read something about the strange similitude between the Spyderco Ramco and the Rossignol Laguiole.

4 s ter · Oct 30, 2003

Interestingly enough, the Ramco-manufactured Spyderco Laguiole didn't have any Spyderco identification on it either. Probably the only Spyderco knife that didn't say "Spyderco" on it anywhere. And, one of the two Spyderco folders without the hole!

dialex · Oct 31, 2003

Which is the other one? The Solo (buttonlock)?