Traditional French Fry day

Better, they're a brass free zone nowadays :D Although I think you can still get them with it if you will....;) Better finish I'd say.
 
kamagong said:
What issues did you have Hatchet_Jack Hatchet_Jack ?
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I'm not sure what it's called but around the pivot of the blade this started wiggling out. Now the blade sits way off centre.

I actually bought this first and loved it so ordered another 4 knives, 3 laguiole like this for my sons as gifts when they're older and a laguiole sport in mammoth. Of the 5 only one is a sound knife. This one, two have bad grinds, and one has a deep nick in the covers.

Nice knives but wouldn't buy them again.

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A pity. That locking laguiole is a beauty.

Shipping costs back to Europe can be pretty dear, but in your case I think that is really the best option since you have four knives with issues. You need to get those knives fixed, otherwise they are just going to nag at you.
 
kamagong said:
A pity. That locking laguiole is a beauty.

Shipping costs back to Europe can be pretty dear, but in your case I think that is really the best option since you have four knives with issues. You need to get those knives fixed, otherwise they are just going to nag at you.
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I will for the ironwood knife someday, Yann said they have a lifetime warranty on their products and that if I send it back he'll fix it.

For the two with the bad grinds I can fix it up myself. I did mention the grind to them in an email, they apologised but didn't offer to address it.

The one with the deep cut, it's been nearly a year since I bought it so even though it's never been used, sharpened or altered in any way I doubt they'll want to know about it.

As I said, beautiful knives but I wouldn't buy from them again. Chock it up to a lesson learned...an expensive one at that!
 
One hand opening and closing. Cuts like a dream. Patina comes and goes as I cut all sorts of material. After a few boxes and rope and feed bags, it will be nearly shiny again.

I think I've been carrying this N°10 regularly for about fifteen years. Maybe more.

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It came to me with a very slight scratch in the back of the handle. Over the years I would obsessively run my thumbnail in the scratch, eventually turning it into a groove. Then one day, possibly while waiting on hold on the phone, I inked in the groove with a fountain pen. This bit of blue is all that's left. It looks like a crack, but it's shallow, maybe a millimeter.

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Zieg
 
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Hatchet_Jack said:
I will for the ironwood knife someday, Yann said they have a lifetime warranty on their products and that if I send it back he'll fix it.

For the two with the bad grinds I can fix it up myself. I did mention the grind to them in an email, they apologised but didn't offer to address it.

The one with the deep cut, it's been nearly a year since I bought it so even though it's never been used, sharpened or altered in any way I doubt they'll want to know about it.

As I said, beautiful knives but I wouldn't buy from them again. Chock it up to a lesson learned...an expensive one at that!
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hey, just read this post. I am a huge fan of Fontenille-Pataud. I have probably eight knives from them. Styles include corsica, laguiole, thiers. I even sent some of my own wood material to have them create handle for me. I have had a few imperfect grinds, but everything otherwise is flawless; much better than any other french knife company. Your picture of the blade pivot is the teflon poking out. I would email the ceo and send back. DM me for contact info if you dont have it.
 
webmoore said:
hey, just read this post. I am a huge fan of Fontenille-Pataud. I have probably eight knives from them. Styles include corsica, laguiole, thiers. I even sent some of my own wood material to have them create handle for me. I have had a few imperfect grinds, but everything otherwise is flawless; much better than any other french knife company. Your picture of the blade pivot is the teflon poking out. I would email the ceo and send back. DM me for contact info if you dont have it.
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Realizing now you mentioned Yann. I imagine he will take care of you. I can assure you these flaws are rare. Shipping back will cost you about 50. I recommend USPS with tracking. Hope it resolves to your satisfaction. They are my favorite european knife maker.
 
Christmas present from my non-knife person wife!! (She only finds ones I have lost!!)
A commercial product from Lee Valley Tools, it's actually OK!! 10.5 cm, it's going to spend time in my pocket this coming year!! She was brave to select a knife for me, and did a good job!!Christmas Fidele 1.jpgChristmas Fidele 2.jpgChristmas Fidele 3.jpg
 
Hatchet_Jack Hatchet_Jack I too was alarmed to hear about your dissatisfaction with Fontenille-Pataud. I have four of their knives, all locking Laguioles and find them very high grade.

What I understand is that Gilles Steinberg, whose name appears as a trade mark on the tangs of the knives sold the company in 2019 to Yann Delarboulas a man with long connexion to cutlery as his father & grandfather were cutlers too. I have not had any knives made after this changeover, but I hear that some of the blades are now etched rather than stamped- bit of a disappointment really. The company says its products have a lifetime guarantee so I really think you should send your pix and an e-mail concerning your dissatisfaction to them, I think they will act upon this.
 
Will Power said:
Hatchet_Jack Hatchet_Jack I too was alarmed to hear about your dissatisfaction with Fontenille-Pataud. I have four of their knives, all locking Laguioles and find them very high grade.

What I understand is that Gilles Steinberg, whose name appears as a trade mark on the tangs of the knives sold the company in 2019 to Yann Delarboulas a man with long connexion to cutlery as his father & grandfather were cutlers too. I have not had any knives made after this changeover, but I hear that some of the blades are now etched rather than stamped- bit of a disappointment really. The company says its products have a lifetime guarantee so I really think you should send your pix and an e-mail concerning your dissatisfaction to them, I think they will act upon this.
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I think it’s just bad luck perhaps, the last four that I bought (3 x Le pocket laguiole in walnut and 1 x laguiole sport in mammoth) were ordered in late November last year. Shortly after they put up a message regarding not getting anymore orders out before the new year. I wonder whether they were perhaps rushing to get orders out by Christmas?

I did email Yann with the photos of my Le pocket and the mammoth sport. He offered to fix the issue on the Le pocket so I cannot fault that. It’s just a shame that 4 of the 5 do have issues.

The mammoth also doesn’t have a great snap and the transition from bolster to cover isn’t great. But as a hunting knife I can live with those imperfections. For around $1200 aud I just hoped for better out of that knife is all.

I was really wanting to get some of their non locking blades, the capuchadou and rondinara in Patricular. The pradel is a beautiful back lock also.

I was looking at a French cutlers website the other day who does some very nice friction folders, I can’t recall who it was. If I can find them again I may order one.

I love French folding knives and having French heritage gives me some personal interest in them too. I certainly intend to build up a collection in time.
 
https://imgur.com/q2cwrm9

Mini review of three lower cost Laguiole, and one Thiers, to help members wanting to buy.

These are my personal opinions and do not have to agree with everyone’s.

These knives were all bought online, from different shops, costing between 70 to 150 Euro/USD each, so they are, in my opinion, within the same cost bracket. They all have the same blade steel, SS.

Laguiole en Aubrac

This was the most expensive of this lot. Popcorn acrylic

Very nicely finished, smooth opening and closing, a “polished” product. The spring is a bit weaker than the others. Definitely worth buying from this brand again.



Coutellerie du Barry

This was ordered from the manufacturer, and I chose what options I wanted for it. I also got another Laguiole from them, but it is in a different price bracket. Acacia wood.

Rustic looking. Smooth opening and closing but the spring is definitely stiffer and may be difficult to close for some. Opens with a satisfying thud. The spring may be unusually strong because of the corkscrew tool making the spring shorter. Does not have the overall “polished” look of the Aubrac, but it has a functional beauty. Looks more handmade. Definitely worth buying again.



Laguiole Le Fidele

Two knives, a Laguiole (Olive wood, Brut de Forge) and a Thiers (Juniper wood). The olive wood is especially nice.

These are both functional and have the least “polished” look. They are also relatively cheap.

The Laguiole came with a cracked/bend cover (I fixed it with some glue). With the Thiers you can feel the pins sticking slightly above the cover, though this is a very minor issue. The Laguiole was the least sharp of the lot.

Their action is gritty, and with the Thiers you can hear a “ping!” sound during opening, despite a lot of cleaning and oiling, especially when compared with the others. It reminds me of the action on the Pakistan made “Laguiole” I have.

The springs have very good strength, weaker than the du Barry but stronger than the Aubrac.

Worth buying again, if you can get them on hand and see and test them first.

https://imgur.com/zHEzhTL
 
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