I am not from Canada, Leo (although technically I am: I was in Toronto last fall ). I am from The Netherlands. But the French border is only four hours by car from where I live. So I have been on holiday in France quite often. In fact, we are going there in two weeks, skiing in the Alps.

My love for knives is actually only three years old. We were on holiday in the Provence when my old Swiss army knife broke down. And there, in a sports shop, I saw this beautiful pocket knife. As you’ll probably guess, it was a Laguiole…

So our visit to Thiers last summer was my first visit there, but it’ll certainly not be the last one. They organize a knife show there every year, which is one of the largest of Europe and I plan on attending next spring. There is a nice thread about it at knifeforums: www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/903399/

Anyway, since the pictures seem to be appreciated and since I hijacked your topic anyway already , here are some more pictures.

Centre of Thiers:





Lots of knives…







One of the largest and best-known Laguiole knife makers, Fontenille-Pataud. Looks like a garage, though .



And finally some photographs from the town of Laguiole.



Forge de Laguiole, who got knife-making back in the town of Laguiole. True craftmanship.









Assembly…







Grinding





In Main Street in Laguiole (the town is hardly more than Main Street) there is a large number of coutelliers next to each other, each making their own knives (though they are supplied with parts from the same “Fabrique Artisinale”). During summer, some of them finish polishing knives on the street.









And, finally, using a knife...

Wow!

If you keep this teasing up Mark, and I'll have to report the thread to Leo!!!

jendeindustries wrote:


You don't have to report him! I see him and Mark I order you to...please stop because you are killing me here with your wonderful photography. Great stuff mate. Very impressive!

With appreciation
Leo the Francophile

leomitch
That knife is so nice!
What a cool thread with all the super photos...
Thanks Jdee

For those who were wondering about this knife's stats, here they are:
-the 9 cm blade is made from Sandvik 12C27 Swedish stainless steel. This is the most used steel in all French knives. It is a happy-medium steel with good edge retention and easy to sharpen.The blade had a very sharp edge out of the box, but a few swipes on my large strop with Green Compound and it was extremely sharp. I will be putting my own edge on it after a bit, but for right now it is good.
-the bolster is stainless steel and the fit and finish is superior. The Juniper wood(I love the peppery smell) and the steel mate nearly seamlessly.The lock mechanism in integrated into the file-work on the back-strap of the bolster. You can see it standing proud of the rest in the picture of the file-work. The blade opens manually and needs no nail-nick to do it as there is ample metal for one's fingers. The unlock is two-handed, press the unlock button with one hand and fold the blade with the other. Like many folding knives, one must be careful to not snap the blade shut sharply as there is a risk of the blade edge touching the bolster inside and possibly blunting the edge. This is the only flaw I have found in the knife and it doesn't bother me at all. I am scrupulous about my edges and that baby is closed softly each time and I constantly touch up the edge with a strop. Soon the WEPS will put an even sturdier edge on this knife.
-the closed length is 13 cm and the total length open is 22 cm. It weighs about 4 ounces.

All in all this is not only a beautiful knife and well crafted but it is made of the finest materials. Although it is labelled a 'gentleman's knife', it is sturdy enough to do duty around the campfire as well as the kitchen and dining table, provided one doesn't try to chop or baton wood as you would with a fixed blade. Unlike most of my knives, the women in my family love it because it is so well crafted and for once I didn't get, "What, another knife!" Instead an appreciative smile.
I have used it everywhere in the house from opening packages to thin slicing pork roast to butterflying chicken breasts and finally at the table with dinner. I love it! Try one, you could do a lot worse but not much better!

Leo

Beautiful knife. How much did it cost, and do they have a website?

mr.cheapguy wrote:


It is imdeed beautiful. It was 149 Euros when I got it... Google coutellerie chambriard. Money well spent. You can also get it at World Knives in the USA. www.worldknives.com/products/chambriard-...nife-2717-2688.html.

Good luck!

Leo

I thought I had corrected this but I guess not. I stated that the Chambriard Le Trappeur used Sandvik 12C27 steel but really they used Sandvik 13C26 steel which is a slightly better steel developed by Sandvik for razor blades and high quality knife blades requiring a stainless quality as well as a sharp, edge retentive geometry.

Leo