Share your French traditional/regional pocket knives

Ooh, very nice JP. You look to have selected a fine specimen. Are those covers Ebony wood?
 
Jolipapa said:
Spent last week atmy daughter's home and had a day in Auxerre, nearest large town. Could not get home without visiting the cutler (the red corner shop) Gouvernois and get a local Auxerrois! The pattern is common to the Tiré-droit, with a spear instead of a sheepsfoot.

Gouvernaire.jpg



Auxerrois-2.jpg


Auxerrois-1.jpg
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Very nice looking knife and the shop looks really interesting as well!:thumbup::thumbup:
 
You're welcome! And , yes, both are nice. :)

edit : Sorry for the delay, Scruffuk, yes it is ebony.
 
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Wow love those I would be in trouble going there ;) too many to choose from!
G2
 
Sorry, I had to copy it yet again. Beautiful knife, wonderful window! Is that corner building as old as it looks?
Jolipapa said:
Spent last week atmy daughter's home and had a day in Auxerre, nearest large town. Could not get home without visiting the cutler (the red corner shop) Gouvernois and get a local Auxerrois! The pattern is common to the Tiré-droit, with a spear instead of a sheepsfoot.

Gouvernaire.jpg



Auxerrois-2.jpg


Auxerrois-1.jpg
Click to expand...
 
scrteened porch said:
Sorry, I had to copy it yet again. Beautiful knife, wonderful window! Is that corner building as old as it looks?
Click to expand...
Yes, there are many houses like this one dating from middle-age, they have seen the hundred year war and the fight between Louis XI and Charles the Bold of Burgundy. Auxerre is a very old little town, with intricated streets, used to be healthy thanks to wine and farming, and in the past for printing works and wood floating on the Yonne river. Today it is best known for the football team.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auxerre#/media/File:FR-89-Auxerre23.JPG

The shop is mainly a hardware / gardening shop but there is a very fine knives display inside. It seems the Opinel prehistoric repro did not seduce much people and I had to fight hard against the charms of the stag Douris-Chastel pionnier and navettes! :rolleyes:
Auxerre-2.jpg

Auxerre-3.jpg
 
Forgive the quick pictures as I have a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old to play with soon. I just got home from work and thought I would show a few, ok, more than a few, pictures of my recent French beauties.















 
Couple of good looking knifes, Brett! I've been interested in Lagioules and tempted to pick one up a few times, but never pulled the trigger. 9cm looks like just the right size, too (and if I recall, that's usually on the smaller end for those, isn't it?).
 
Thanks Barrett. I could be wrong but I believe a few makers make an 8 cm as well. The 9, I believe, is the more common small version. Im still in the process of learning more about these.

I debated it for a for months. It just seemed to small from various pics. The handle height compared to the width is certainly different than I am used to. However, the width is what saved it for me. If was thin I do not believe I would like these as much.

Over all I really am impressed by these. The only critic towards the negative is the half stop, if it is even called that in these, doesn't allign in the postion on each.

Im really glad I picked these up. I plan to get another pattern later.
 
KBA said:
Thanks Barrett. I could be wrong but I believe a few makers make an 8 cm as well. The 9, I believe, is the more common small version. Im still in the process of learning more about these.

I debated it for a for months. It just seemed to small from various pics. The handle height compared to the width is certainly different than I am used to. However, the width is what saved it for me. If was thin I do not believe I would like these as much.

Over all I really am impressed by these. The only critic towards the negative is the half stop, if it is even called that in these, doesn't allign in the postion on each.

Im really glad I picked these up. I plan to get another pattern later.
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Laguiole as most peasant knives were primarily used for cutting bread, in the fields or down in the coal mines for lunch, then home for dinner. At lunch the bread served of plate, and in the evening, the slice of bread would be as large as the soup plate, and the broth was poured on it, and sometimes at the end of the plate a bit of wine. So the usual size was over 12cm, for two reasons, this allowed to cut a large slice of bread in one time and also because on a large blade, if a part gets dull, there is enough sharp remaining.
Then way of life changed and the Lag became civilized, and 12cm and 11 the "norm", with smaller (9cm) for the ladies ( though I know some ladies who sport a full 12 in their handbag :rolleyes:)
If you look at most French knives, you will see that they often go around 12cm long. Me-Myself-I, when for the first time I discovered US knives patterns, I found them smallish (changed my mind since).
7cm Lag are certainly scarce, 8 as well - for the maker this size is meant for children -. Some manufacturers have a 9cm in their range. But if sufficiently loud voices ask for smaller Lags, they will produce some. The Aveyronnais are not deaf and like some other mountaineers, they can ear a coin ring a mile away! :D
Oh there' no half stop on Lags - that is usually (I would be unable to count the exact number of Lag maker)!

ps I dig the Lag, but they are so many other patterns, don't you forget them, please!
 
Thank you for the great info. I thought I had read that information in another (or even this thread) but could not remember.

As to the "half stop" I wasn't sure. The spring tension certainly kicks in where a half stop would be.

While these may traditionlly be a peasant knife I am extremely impressed and plan to carry these for the more formal occasion.

Thanks again for the info. I dont mind the smaller woman size ;):D

EDIT: What is the pattern in post 222? It is next on the list. :D
 
Hello! Sorry to disapoint (all of) you but all the Laguioles on the displays in the back are not French! Bougna knives are made in Pakistan. Here in Switzerland I often come across stands like these on markets, the average price is around $20-30. Also watch out for the brand "L´Eclair" who are also made in Asia. Un bonjour de Villeneuve, Michel Droz.
 
Thank you for your interest. This is a special pattern made for the shop, but it is a way between a tonneau (barrel) and a tiré-droit (pulled straight) with a pen blade instead of a sheepshoot. It is 9,5cm and they are made with/without corkscrew. (I prefer without, it is more streamlined). fairly heavy for the size.(89g - 3,14 ounce) The stainless blade cuts and cuts and...:)
tonneau (always with cs)
couteau_tonneau_tire_bouchon_corne_noire_ferme.jpg

Tiré-droit
018-500500-001-tir%C3%A9-droit-1P-corne-pressee-couteau-poche_article.jpg

pochePaysan01.jpg



ps here is a rare Lady's LAG
zLAGLADY-CN_1.jpg
 
Michel Droz said:
Hello! Sorry to disapoint (all of) you but all the Laguioles on the displays in the back are not French! Bougna knives are made in Pakistan. Here in Switzerland I often come across stands like these on markets, the average price is around $20-30. Also watch out for the brand "L´Eclair" who are also made in Asia. Un bonjour de Villeneuve, Michel Droz.
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Thank you! You don't need to go to Switzerland to find thes B...S..t! On a lot of markets and in a lot of tobacconist you can locate them. Alas... The name is not protected. Though, you check the knife, the difference is clearly visible. Now it is up to you. Do you want a quality knife or a cheap one??
A clue to distinguish fakes and French made. The French made have always the nails in the middle and aligned.
 
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Jolipapa said:
Thank you for your interest. This is a special pattern made for the shop, but it is a way between a tonneau (barrel) and a tiré-droit (pulled straight) with a pen blade instead of a sheepshoot. It is 9,5cm and they are made with/without corkscrew. (I prefer without, it is more streamlined). fairly heavy for the size.(89g - 3,14 ounce) The stainless blade cuts and cuts and...:)
tonneau (always with cs)
Click to expand...

Interesting. They certainly are an attactive knife. Does the shop have an online website or a way of contact? My knife funds are completely depleted at the moment, but I would appreciate a pm/email on how I may acquire one in the future.

Thank you again for the education. :thumbup:
 
It just jumps back to my mind, Antoine Monteiro (coutellerie du Barry à Laguiole) makes smaller Lags (9cm -10cm) with forged or soldered fly, reasonably priced (depending of the handle cover, stainless or carbon blade.
 
Dating of the end of XIXth century, an Aurillac (
Aurillac
) made by the genuine cutler, Vigier. The cutlery still exists under the Destannes name since the beginning of the XXth cent.
Half stop, three bolsters, beveled blade, certainly no cheap at the time.
Aurillac-Vigier.jpg


the shape since has evolved in a more rounded pattern
imp_photo_491_1238145158-510x510.jpg


From Burgundy further North, the Charlois (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charolais,_France)
Franc-Mada.jpg
 
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