Laguiole
- Thread starter burnse
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The first thing to know is that "Laguiole" is a generic term; it's an area in France known for cutlery production. Like "Sheffield" in England, or Solingen in Germany. There's not a guarantee of anything just given that term. You have to know the exact manufacturer.
You will find a wide range of steels used and quality on things just labeled "Laguiole." Gotta do some more homework.
You will find a wide range of steels used and quality on things just labeled "Laguiole." Gotta do some more homework.
Piraticalbob
Member
Laguiole is, as Oro has pointed out, not the name of a knife company, rather it is the identifying trademark of a loose organization of knife manufacturers. The trademark symbol is that of a honeybee, usually seen on the backspring of Laguiole folders.
You can see a good selection of Laguiole knives at Cutlery To Go or at PremiumKnives.com.
You can see a good selection of Laguiole knives at Cutlery To Go or at PremiumKnives.com.
they´re nice for peeling an apple.....IMHO,
but compared with a real folder, they simply lack mass.
I´d still feel naked, or be scared of breakin it.
Not a man´s knife, unless you are a french man,
but that´s only if ya aks me.
Go Opinel instead. More knife for less money.
but compared with a real folder, they simply lack mass.
I´d still feel naked, or be scared of breakin it.
Not a man´s knife, unless you are a french man,
but that´s only if ya aks me.
Go Opinel instead. More knife for less money.
auschip
Member
This is my G. David. I think I paid $35 or $40 for it, and it's very usable. I will see if I can get better pictures in comparison to some of my larger folders.
It is a nicely weighted knife. I wouldn't hesitate to use it for anything that I would typically use a slipjoint for. It also will carry easier then the Opinel.
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bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
Mamma said "don't say any thing unless its good".........
Generally good knives, depending upon the specific maker.
Some are very well made while others are cheaply made.
Some are very well made while others are cheaply made.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
sgtdevildog
Member
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They make nice wine pulls/openers.
They had a great display at Blade last year. Very pretty stuff.
I collect these knives and one has to be careful. I bought most of mine in France and they do not require that they be marked as to where they are made. A lot are made in the middle east and sold as true French made knives. I have been in shops in Paris that only sold Laguiole and the prices go from cheap to outragous. I have two custom made ones that I am rather proud of.
Dirty Bob
Member
Let's take the high road regarding any country's knives. Fred Perrin knives are French, and they're well-respected and can be hard to find, at times.
I loved my visit to France a couple of summers ago and can't wait to go again. BTW, the French aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle (R91) is the only nuclear aircraft carrier outside the US Navy.
Every country and culture has the potential for producing great things. A lot of us joke about certain countries, but I don't joke about French knives. They gave us Sabatier kitchen knives, and the immortal Douk-Douk, to name just a few.
All my best,
Dirty Bob
I loved my visit to France a couple of summers ago and can't wait to go again. BTW, the French aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle (R91) is the only nuclear aircraft carrier outside the US Navy.
Every country and culture has the potential for producing great things. A lot of us joke about certain countries, but I don't joke about French knives. They gave us Sabatier kitchen knives, and the immortal Douk-Douk, to name just a few.
All my best,
Dirty Bob
I might as well come out and say it...
oh, it's hard...
I'm a bit of a francophile. Honestly, I'm going to school to become a French teacher, but the main reason I want a laguiole is because they are so elegant looking.
And I do need to start my douk-douk collection, soon. I have never heard a bad thing about those.
oh, it's hard...
I'm a bit of a francophile. Honestly, I'm going to school to become a French teacher, but the main reason I want a laguiole is because they are so elegant looking.
And I do need to start my douk-douk collection, soon. I have never heard a bad thing about those.
That is reason enough. In this case, function follows form as those flowing lines and gentle curves are very anatomic, the weighted, curved tip of the handle nestles nicely in your palm and you can have great precision with them. That is why they are prized as folding knives, pocket knives, cutlery and wine openers, etc.
Jean Dubost is a quality maker and widely available - I have some of their knives. Check them out and other reputable makers.
Don't feel badly about the cracks about France - heck, those folks probably happily take a deal on Chinese made items at Wal-Mart and don't think twice. I'd much rather buy something from France than China, Mexico, or even Germany (at least the French didn't invent death camps).
There are things the French do very well, including wine (better and actually cheaper IMO on average than anything out of Napa), and the classic design of Laguiole is another plus. It's what I put on my table when company comes over...
MatthewVanitas
Member
Douks are great. I ran a group buy in 2007 on THR, and we ordered something like 50 of them from Laci Szabo. He travels back and forth a fair bit, so always has extras on hand. Garret Wade has the lowest price in the US, but only has the Sorcier model and kinda high shipping. Laci Szabo has a slightly higher price, but carries all the current models and has reasonable shipping.
http://www.szaboinc.com/edged.asp?offset=55
(partway down page)
Very slim knives, very soft high-carbon steel that easily gets razor-sharp. Really neat lines and graphics, good gift knife even for folks not usually into knives. Very artsy.
I never found any Douk Douks when I was over there or I would have those too most likely. In my kitchen I have Sabatier knives that are 75 years old. They shapen like razors for me. I spent hours in a huge store over there looking and chooseing knives for my butchering also.
Carl Levitian
member
A Laguiole knife by one of the good makers is a very good all around pocket knife. It has a history going back 200 years in that particular style, and has been a wide use knife in France for that amount of time. The American pattern called a toothpick or powder horn, is decended from that pattern. I'm sure most of you have seen the yellow plastic handle "fish" knives from when you were a kid. Put a Case toothpick next to a Laguiole and you'll see the family resembalance. Some of the Laguiole makers are using modern higher end steels, but beware of the tourist trade knives.
The Douk-Douk's are a simple, rugged working knife that carries very flat in the pocket, and is as rugged as the sodbuster pattern made by Case and others.
French cutlery can be very very good stuff if you choose carefully.
You can thank Louis Pasteur next time you drink a glass of milk or have a a ham and cheese sandwich and don't get sick. Or thank Marie Curie if someone you know needs radiation treatments for a cancer. If you know anyone who's into scuba diving, they can thank Jaques-Yves Cousteau for inventing it. 80% of thier electric power comes from nuclear plants. The space shuttle uses Michelin tires. And somehow they have health care for every French citizen from birth to death. Something this country hasn't managed to do yet.
I was under the mistaken impression that THR meant The High Road. The subject was knives, not politics. If you don't have any intellegent comments to make exept to insult some of my family members, then please let me know your own background so I can work some comments in on you posts that have nothing to do with the subject on hand.
The Douk-Douk's are a simple, rugged working knife that carries very flat in the pocket, and is as rugged as the sodbuster pattern made by Case and others.
French cutlery can be very very good stuff if you choose carefully.
You can thank Louis Pasteur next time you drink a glass of milk or have a a ham and cheese sandwich and don't get sick. Or thank Marie Curie if someone you know needs radiation treatments for a cancer. If you know anyone who's into scuba diving, they can thank Jaques-Yves Cousteau for inventing it. 80% of thier electric power comes from nuclear plants. The space shuttle uses Michelin tires. And somehow they have health care for every French citizen from birth to death. Something this country hasn't managed to do yet.
I was under the mistaken impression that THR meant The High Road. The subject was knives, not politics. If you don't have any intellegent comments to make exept to insult some of my family members, then please let me know your own background so I can work some comments in on you posts that have nothing to do with the subject on hand.
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Even the cutlers in Lagouile are having trouble with knockoffs like we do in the us and are struggling with the problem of opportunists using their reputation to market cheap imitations. Look for their sticker of authenticity (which will get knocked off).
For those of you interesting in something different from custom makers in France here's something near and dear to all our hearts
You can find Lagouile knives priced all the way up to $250+.
For those of you interesting in something different from custom makers in France here's something near and dear to all our hearts
You can find Lagouile knives priced all the way up to $250+.
sgbeskin
Member
I have a Fontenille Pataud that I carry from time to time, I also have a Chambriard Le Thiers. I really like my Fontenille. It was a gift from my wife and everytime I use it, someone makes a comment about how beautiful it is. The Chambriard is a good knife but it hits the backspring if you close it hard.
Another pretty piece from Fontenille Pataud at Theirs. $150 for a handmade folder ain't too shabby.
One from R. David.
One from R. David.
7X57chilmau
Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2008
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- 687
Well said, Carl. Have to wonder where the resentment of the French comes from....
A French statue greeted so many of your countrymen in their first glimse of their new country.
J
A French statue greeted so many of your countrymen in their first glimse of their new country.
J
Dirty Bob
Member
Every country I visit teaches me humility. I love traditional Mexican cookware: a good, heavy, steel comal is great for warming tortillas, making choriqueso, or whatever.
I really should invest in a good laguiole. They have a real elegance about them. The piece of French hardware I've always wanted, however, is a 9mm MAT-49 submachine gun. I love the folding magazine. It was one of the first really compact SMGs. Only in my dreams...
Dirty Bob
I really should invest in a good laguiole. They have a real elegance about them. The piece of French hardware I've always wanted, however, is a 9mm MAT-49 submachine gun. I love the folding magazine. It was one of the first really compact SMGs. Only in my dreams...
Dirty Bob
ejfalvo
Member
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- Feb 8, 2009
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- 275
I purchased one by G David last week in Paris. Labeled as Laguiole Extra, longer blade that has a liner lock. Two stainless steel bolsters, blue pearled handle. Beautiful knife, well made - great carry with my suit versus my Gerber folding blade. Probably paid too much, 50 euro.
Welcome to THR ejfalvo!
50 euro sounds better than what you'd pay for one here.
50 euro sounds better than what you'd pay for one here.
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