Laguiole knife

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Lagiole droit, the earliest form of laguiole knife

The Laguiole knife (French pronunciation:

Massif central region of France. Laguiole in this instance does not refer to the French knife brand but to a generic type of traditional slipjoint
knife associated with this region of France.

History

yataghan
style blade and curved handle which influenced the development of the classic laguiole

The major influence on the form of the classic laguiole is most likely the Arabo-Hispanic clasp knife of

bloat) was added to the some laguiole knife patterns. In 1880, some models of the laguiole began featuring a corkscrew, in response to demands from the owners of bars in the Auvergne, and restaurants in Paris.[4]

Design

A modern laguiole folding knife of classic form with the blade open, the wooden grip scale shows the typical cross made of metal pins
An early twentieth century laguiole knife with a corkscrew, the carved ivory handle in the form of a nude woman
The 'bee' or 'fly' on the end of the backspring of laguiole knives
Modern Laguiole knife, with a corkscrew

Classic laguiole knives feature a slim, sinuous outline. They are about 12 cm long when closed, with a narrow, tapered blade of a semi-

yataghan form, steel backspring (slipjoint) and a high quality of construction. Traditionally, the handle was made of cattle horn; however, nowadays other materials are sometimes used. These materials include French woods, exotic woods from all around the world, and fossilised mammoth ivory from Alaska or Siberia. The French designer Philippe Starck re-designed laguiole knives using aluminium for the grips, but it was only a revival of a 1910 model. The blade is often made of Stainless steel or High-carbon steel
, with XC75 steels being 0.75% carbon and XC100 being 1% carbon.

The traditional laguiole utilizes a single blade, but sometimes a corkscrew or some other implement is added. This necessitates an even slimmer cutaway handle, the shape of which is fancifully known as the "lady's leg", the bolster at the base resembling a foot. A 'Shepherd's Cross' consisting of 6-8 inlaid metal pins forming a cross can be found on the handle of some laguioles. It is a myth that this embellishment is a reference to a legend of Catholic shepherds in need of a cross for prayer during their seasonal migrations between the mountains and the plains. The cross can be found in the knives not earlier than the 1950s and is a mere decoration.[5]

There is much mythology about the insect depicted on the spring. A legend identifies the design as a bee granted by Emperor

Napoleon I
(the bee was adopted as a dynastic symbol by Napoleon) in recognition of the courage of local soldiers. However, the "bee" on the laguiole knives was only introduced after World War II, more than a century after the death of the emperor. Technically, "la mouche" (the fly) is the end of the backspring, which sits over the rotating part of the blade. The upper section was expanded to form a thumb rest. Older laguiole knives feature many kinds of decorated springs which don't necessarily feature insects.

There are about 109 production steps for a one-piece laguiole (single blade), about 166 for a two-piece one (blade and one other tool), and about 216 for a three-piece model (blade and two tools - corkscrew and awl).

The name Laguiole has since been used as a trademark designation for various other implements, so that one can now buy, for example, a "Laguiole" corkscrew, spoon, or steak-knife set.

French and overseas production

As laguiole designates a type of knife and is not a brand or trade name of cutlery, laguiole knives are manufactured globally. This has led to the widespread availability of inexpensive, and sometimes low-quality, "laguiole" knives from China and elsewhere. Laguiole knives from France are currently produced in the cutlery town of Thiers, and more recently, production resumed in the village of Laguiole, the knife's namesake. French manufacturers stamp a trademark or signature into the steel of their knives. A description of the type of steel used and "Made in France" will often be stamped as well.

See also

References

  1. ISBN 0-8264-4739-2
    (2005), p. 151
  2. ^ a b Lecoutre, Fabien, Rubat, Baptiste, Engelen, Barth, and Engelen, Cécile, Le Petit Futé La France à moto!, Paris, FR: Les Nouvelles Editions l'Université (2008), p. 540
  3. ISBN 2-84494-858-8
    (2005), p. 17
  4. ^ Pierre Pelou, L'arbre et le paysage : L'itinéraire d'un postier rouergat (1907–1981), Editions L'Harmattan, 2011, p. 76
  5. ^ Christian Lemasson, Histoire du couteau de Laguiole. Monts Auvergne, 2012, p. 53

External links

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