An Interesting Historical Photo From a Laguiole Producer

Here is an interesting look into the past from French knife maker, Claude Dozorme.  This picture circa 1900s shows the company's grinders also called ventres jaunes (‘yellow stomachs’ referring to the yellow dust released by the grinding wheel).  By laying face down, these yellow stomachs would save their backs from being hunched over all day.  Workers were encourage to bring their dogs to not only keep them company but to act as heaters to keep them warm by having the dogs lie on their legs. 

On Order From France

For the longest time I have wanted this book Les fusils de chasse de Regis Darne by Jean-Claude Mournetas.  I have known about it for over 6 years now.  Unfortunately it has never, at least not to my knowledge, been stocked on this side of the pond.  There are many reasons for this,of course, one Darnes are not too popular or even common Stateside, and two, this book is only available in French.  Although I haven't a clue how to read French; I wanted this book solely for the photos.  I'm weird like that and notorious for buying books in languages I can't read.

Years ago I found this Darne book and wanted so badly to buy it but only bookstores in France sold it.  None of the websites had were bilingual.  Recently I began my search for this book again and noticed that a seller on Abe Books was selling it in Quebec.  I got all excited and order it.  A day later I received an email from Abe stating that the seller no longer had it in stock.  Bummed, I started surfing for it again.  I found a site that actually was bilingual, well sort of.  It was half way translated to English.  When I was placing my order, most of it was in French though.  Most of the ordering process was pretty self explanatory and straightforward but for all I know I could have order some gay porn without even knowing it.  We'll see when I finally receive it.

While looking for the Darne book I found Le Laguiole Eloge du Coutea by Daniel Crozes.  I actually was able to order this book from Amazon so it was much easier to order.  I didn't need to pull out the translator.   The seller though was still in France. I recieved an email the other day stating that is was shipped and expected to make it to my door by the 3rd of May.  So I'll be waiting patiently for it to arrive.
From these pages I pulled from the website it looks like a good one.

Both should make some nice coffee table books even though I wouldn't have a single clue as to what the heck the text is talking about. Maybe I should start learning French among other languages.

La Coutellerie de Laguiole Honoré Durand - Fabrications, magasins et vis...

Another Laguiole video.

A Laguiole for My Father

As my father's birthday is coming up soon, I decided to get him a Laguiole knife for a gift. I think he'd appreciate these old world knives. Along with the knife I also picked up a sheath for him as well.


This is an 11 cm Prestige with Violette wood handles. The wood is nice straight grain. I actually like it more than my Snake Wood handles.

Here is the other side of the wood handles. The leather sheath is made in France from soft supple leather. The Bee is imprinted on the flap. I hope he likes his gift.

My New Laguiole Knife

Yesterday I received my Lagiole knife. This Laguiole is from L'Artisan (Honoré Durand). This is a 11cm Preistige model with Snake wood handles. This is a true Laguiole knife made in France in the village of Laguiole. Although there are many manufactures in this small village, only two manufactures of handmade laguiole knives are available for export. They are La Coutellerie de Laguiole aka "Laguiole de L’Artisan" and "Les Forge de Laguiole". Unlike Champagne, Laguiole was never trademarked and therefore anyone can produce a Laguiole style knife and still be called Laguiole. As a result there are many Laguiole knives that are produced in other parts of France and elsewhere such as China and Pakistan.

These knives originated as Shepherd's knives. In those days Shepherds worked on Sundays and were unavailable to go to church. Therefore each Laguiole knife contains a cross made of six pins. While out tending their flock a shepherd could open his knife and stab it into the ground or a loaf of bread and pray to the cross. *EDIT 5/2020: Sadly this myth has been debunked.*

All quality knives have hand chiseled springs with a forged Bee at the end. Inferiors ones are machine stamped.

Some say the insect at the end is a Bee others say its a fly. Local legend says it's a bee, Napoleon's imperial seal offered to the town as a token of gratitude for the courage of the locals during battles. Others disagree and state its a fly, an insect quite known to cattlemen and shepherds. Either way the controversy adds to the appeal. *EDIT 5/2020: Sadly this myth has also been debunked.*

The shape of the handle is said to represent the leg of a woman.


Each knife is handmade by one knife maker from start to finish. Like a fine shotgun the fit is always excellent. The blade will always click open and shut and never shift.


Notice the spine of the blade toward the handle, its a unique signature of each individual knife maker. Durand's is 7 dimples which represents the 7 days of the week.

All Honore's knives come with a gaurantee card and certificate of authenticity.

This knife will complement my Darne quite nicely in the field.

Laguiole

More good stuff from France. If you like fine doubles and fine guns Laguiole may interest you as well. Each are handmade by one knifemaker from start to finish. Every knife has the artisan's engraving on the spine of the blade, each unique to the individual knifemaker. Its like their signature. The more I read or look into these knives the more fascinating I become of them.