The Laguiole knife is born in Laguiole in the North of Aveyron, in the heart of the Aubrac plateau. It is part of the heritage of French cutlery. The Laguiole is also known as the Opinel alongside the other French regional knives: the Thiers, the Nontron, the Agenais, the Yatagan Basque. The discovery of this folding knife, its history, its manufacture and its different parts (blade, punch, spring, horn or wooden handle, bolsters) will undoubtedly be one of the essentials of your holidays in Aubrac. . THE Laguiole knife making workshops open their doors to you all year round. Before going to meet the cutlers, we tell you a little more about this legend blade.

Hallmarked Laguiole knife
Tourism in Aubrac

Laguiole in the dictionary

The Laguiole knife has its definition in the dictionary. In the Larousse, it is described as follows: “Pocket knife, made in Laguiole, with a slightly curved handle and an elongated blade.”

Visit cutlery workshops

In the village of Laguiole the cutlery business is dynamic, as demonstrated by the many workshops and shops in the village. Meet the cutlers, some of whom are Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, discover these professions with many skills. Love of a job well done, tradition, openness to the future and modernity are the hallmarks of the cutler manufacturers who welcome you and show you their talent.

In the workshops, the five senses awakened

There are many cutlery shops in Laguiole. Each of them has registered its own mark, which is found on the steel blade of the knife with different logos: bulls, cows, church tower, stylized shape, company name. By venturing to their homes, you will be able to interact with the craftsmen. Some cutlery shops offer tours of their workshops: free, self-guided or with a guide, at different times and all year round. In some companies, it is even possible to see the forging of blades (classic blade or damascus blade) on certain days of the week.

Your senses will be solicited in the workshops: listen to the hammers on the anvils, the sanding of the handles on the abrasive belts, the chiselling of the springs and the bees, touch the polished handles, smell the smell of metal, of the cut horns, look at the magic of the work completed by the craftsman.

B. Colomb – Lozère Sauvage for PACT Aubrac
Bee guillochage Laguiole knife

In the shops, for the pleasure of the eyes

Of course, after the visit, you can go to the shop adjoining the workshops, a wide range is available, in stock:

  • folding knives
  • traditional knives
  • contemporary knives
  • dinner knives
  • serving knives
  • cheese knives
  • hunting knives
  • adventurer's knives

With blades of different alloys:

  • forged blades
  • carbon blades
  • stainless steel blades
  • damascus blades

Handles made of various materials:

  • olive wood
  • hazel wood
  • Birch wood
  • ebony
  • Rosewood
  • light or dark horns
  • local or exotic materials

Take a close look at the springs, they are often adorned with many details. Don't forget once you have chosen the knife, have your first name engraved on the blade of your knife, so it will be unique! You should also know that it is possible to engrave your name, your first name, a date on the spring of the knife, on the other hand, unlike the engraving on the blade which can be done immediately, for the spring you must place an order with the cutlers .

And if you can't get around, the cutlery shops in Laguiole offer home delivery. You will be able to choose on their respective websites the knife made in their workshop, product of their work, accompanied by useful accessories: sheaths and whetstones.

B. Colomb – Lozère Sauvage for PACT Aubrac

Laguiole capital of the knife

In the village, you will find several workshops that open their doors to you and many shops to leave with a superb craft gift.

Know the history of the Laguiole knife

A saga over several decades

From the Middle Ages to the present day, discover the evolution of the Laguiole knife. Since its invention in 1828 by Calmels, Moulin, Glaize, through the addition of the punch in 1840, then the corkscrew in 1880, you will discover that the bee on the Laguiole only appears around 1908-1909.

The Laguiole Knife and Sharp Object Museum

In Laguiole, this private museum opens its doors to you and invites you to admire a collection of old Laguiole knives and forged objects.

All about Laguiole production

Multiple parts and multiple crafts for one knife

Seen from afar, you will tell us that the Laguiole consists of a blade and a handle. As you approach a little closer you will discover that the parts are numerous: blade, punch, corkscrew are the best known. Fly, miter or spring are also part of it. Discover the parts and the manufacturing process during visits to the various cutlery workshops in the village.

Cow cutlery made from Laguiole knife parts
Tourism in Aubrac

Zoom on Cutlery

On the Town Hall Square in Laguiole, Coutelle poses proudly. This cow sculpture was made in 2005, on the occasion of an original event, which asked all the municipalities of Aubrac Aveyron to create a cow from recycled materials, iron, wood, stone, etc. All ideas were welcome. In Laguiole, the cradle of cutlery, the cow was of course made from different elements that make up a Laguiole knife, we can thus recognize the different parts that make up a knife: bolsters, bees, springs, plates, blades, etc. .

Knife making courses

Several cutlery shops in the village offer knife-making courses where you can, with the help of a cutler, assemble your own knife and take it home.

Laguiole knife polishing

All questions about the Laguiole knife

Laguiole is the name of a knife, but not only?

Laguiole is indeed the name of the famous folding knife, but also the name of the village, located 1 meters above sea level, in the north of the department of Aveyron. The town has approximately 000 inhabitants. Laguiole is also a cheese, Laguiole AOP a 1 kg fourme, uncooked pressed cheese, made from cow's milk, it has had an AOP (Protected Designation of Origin) since 260.

How much does a Laguiole knife cost?

The price of a Laguiole knife varies depending on several elements:

  • If the Laguiole has three parts (punch, corkscrew and blade), it will be more expensive than if it has only one part (the blade).
  • The material used for the handle can also vary the price: cow horn or horn of more exotic animals, local woods or precious woods, reconstituted wood or resin.
  • If the knife was made by a Meilleur Ouvrier de France, its price may also increase.
  • The chiseling work of the spring and the fly (or bee) increases the working time of a knife and therefore its price.

On average, the price of a Laguiole made in the village is around €80 or €100 and can climb very high. The main thing to remember is that the knife is a craft object that must please you or the person to whom you are going to offer it.

Do you need a bee to have a real Laguiole?

The bee is not a sign of guarantee for a Laguiole. In cutlery, this part of the knife is called a fly. This fly can be chiselled into bee, four leaf clover, animal head, or any element you wish.

Is Laguiole a protected brand?

The cutlers have registered their own brands of Laguiole knives with the INPI (National Institute of Intellectual Property). So you will find their logo, acronym, name on their storefronts and especially on the blades of their knives in order to easily recognize where the knife comes from and where it was made.

The municipality of Laguiole also led a fight to defend the name of its village and to change the law, because until then, any person or any company could register the name of a village, a locality, without asking for permission to the community. At the same time, the municipality of Laguiole and the cutlers of the Syndicat des Manufacturers Aveyronnais du Couteau de Laguiole have also led a fight to protect manufactured products (such as food products with a PDO or PGI).

Why do we have to give a coin to someone who offers us a knife?

It is customary to give a coin to the person who offers you a Laguiole knife, simply so as not to cut off the friendship.

How to recognize a real from a fake Laguiole?

Laguiole designates a form of knife. Everyone can call Laguiole a folding knife with a curved handle but the logo or name engraved on the blade of the knife will allow you to find the origin of the knife and the name of the cutlery that made it. For lovers of know-how and beautiful knives, a real Laguiole will be a Laguiole made in Laguiole.

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