What is this knife?

[Outback in Idaho]

  Still haven't decided on an Opinel (or not) knife. Was browsing over their facebook page and saw this post. The knife on the top, in this photo, what is it? Looks interesting... 

[Crow]

It is French Laquiole sommeliers knife.

[bmot]

Indeed.


Laguiole knives are another traditional French knife, originally from the town of Laguiole. Laguiole is not a brand, more the type of knives. There's a few "traditional" manufacturers that make them (for example Forge de Laguiole and Fontenille Pataud) but they're quite expensive, lots of cheap (or cheaper) ones are easy to find as well. They're usually slipjoints, as far as I know. And yeah, some have a corkscrew on the back, some don't

[bmot]

Oh, and the text with it says something like:


"My Laguiole in 12c27 (I assume that's the steel) ... it has had more than 20 years of service"


The text with the Opi says something like:


"My Opinel no 9 ... It's in service since 1966!"


 

[Crow]

Laquiole uses wery good materials and sometimes quite decorative springs. You can recognize Forge de Laquiole knives with their bee symbol at backspring near pivot point.

[enki_ck]

Laquiole uses wery good materials and sometimes quite decorative springs. You can recognize Forge de Laquiole knives with their bee symbol at backspring near pivot point.

I think it's a fly, not a bee. They call it la mouche = fly.

[Crow]

Laquiole uses wery good materials and sometimes quite decorative springs. You can recognize Forge de Laquiole knives with their bee symbol at backspring near pivot point.

I think it's a fly, not a bee. They call it la mouche = fly.

I'll let you decide...
http://www.laguiole.com/laguiole_history_village.php
Roll down to decoration...

[PTRSAK]

how about this one in Blue Mammoth Ivory Crust...  only 590.00 Euro

[enki_ck]

Laquiole uses wery good materials and sometimes quite decorative springs. You can recognize Forge de Laquiole knives with their bee symbol at backspring near pivot point.

I think it's a fly, not a bee. They call it la mouche = fly.

I'll let you decide...
http://www.laguiole.com/laguiole_history_village.php
Roll down to decoration...

Well la mouche translates to fly and it looks like one.

Also http://www.laguiole-en-aubrac.fr/francais/fabrication_artisanale.html

Hopefully Michel will be along shortly and have more info.

[Crow]

Laquiole uses wery good materials and sometimes quite decorative springs. You can recognize Forge de Laquiole knives with their bee symbol at backspring near pivot point.

I think it's a fly, not a bee. They call it la mouche = fly.

I'll let you decide...
http://www.laguiole.com/laguiole_history_village.php
Roll down to decoration...

Well la mouche translates to fly and it looks like one.

Also http://www.laguiole-en-aubrac.fr/francais/fabrication_artisanale.html

Hopefully Michel will be along shortly and have more info.

Well i won't argue with you. My French in non existent.
They really are beautiful knives.

[dipti]

These knives can be categorized into bowie knives because the blade is long and the blade type seems to be clip point.Such knives are also known as Arkansas and were designed during 1830 by James Bowie.
You can use them in different situations like hunting, as a short sword,survival knife or for kitchen purposes.

I hope this information will be useful to you.

Thanx!!

[dks]

I have a couple of Laquiole style knives and irrespective of where they are made (one is Hungarian or German) they all seem to have that bee or fly on their back, so the bee does not indicate who makes them.

They also tend to have a cross on them, which was reputedly used for praying by the farmers.
I do not think they can be classed as bowies as they are folding, small, thin/narrow bladed knives that have been in production before bowie made a knife for his brother.
They are related to toothpick knives, having a similar style blade and shape (large toothpicks).