Who has Laguiole Knives?

[Sean]

Looking at Lee Valley Tools at this unit

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=32461&cat=1,51222&ap=1

Sent off an email to find out who the manufacturer is and hopefully a little more about the knife in general.  Anyone have this particular knife or a Laguiole at all?  Care to post pic's?

[jzmtl]

I wanted one, but they just seem too expensive for what it is, so I settled for an opinel instead.

[Sean]

ya they are pricey, this one is relatively inexpensive compared to what I've been looking at.  Makes for a good picnic knife though eh?    Cheese, apples, sandwiches, a bottle of cabernet, just wouldn't be the same chopping it apart with a recon tanto. 

[Gareth]

I've got one that I picked up while in France.  As to the manufactures there seems to be hundreds of them.  TBH as long as you get one with 12C27 steel then the quality should be OK.  I say OK as the workmanship can be a bit mediocre no matter what price you pay.  The other thing to be aware of is the fact that the blade edge will be touching the backspring when it is closed, don't let the blade snap shut, this just seems to be a result of the design as I never found one the didn't do the same.  All this sound like I'm on a bit of a downer about them, however they are very pleasingly shaped knives that will take a good cutting edge.  Some people (the French  ) think they are the greatest knife ever designed, I wouldn't say that myself but they are a very pleasant object, especially to have on a picnic. 

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

I recall some kind of kit that was sold to prevent the edge from hitting the backspring. Basically it was strips of some material you could jam inside the knife

I've read that a piece of wooden matchstick was also used for the same purpose.

[Sean]

interesting thanks for the info on that guys.