Re: Gentlemen’s Knives

[Mark76]

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: http://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…

Molecule Polishing: my blog about sharpening with the Wicked Edge