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How to choose the right Laguiole knife?
Choosing an authentic Laguiole knife requires taking into account several criteria: the type of knife (with or without corkscrew), the size of the handle, the materials used and the artisanal finishes.
In this guide to buying the Laguiole knife, we explain how to select the most suitable model for your use or the gift you want to give.
The Laguiole knife, born in the nineteenth century in the village of Laguiole in Aubrac, is today one of the most prestigious symbols of artisanal French cutlery.
Laguiole Folding knife 1 piece or 2 pieces: which one to choose?
When choosing your Laguiole folding knife, you can opt for two main versions:
The Laguiole 1-piece knife without corkscrew
The Laguiole 2-piece knife with corkscrew
These two models correspond to different uses.
The Laguiole folding knife 1 piece: the traditional version
The Laguiole 1-piece knife is the original version of the Laguiole.
This model has only a folding blade, without a corkscrew. It particularly appeals to lovers of traditional Laguiole knives and purists of French cutlery.
Thanks to its sleek design, it retains all the purity of the authentic Laguiole line and offers an excellent grip.
The Laguiole 1-piece is often considered the most faithful version of the historic knife.
See all our Laguiole folding knives 1 piece HERE
The Laguiole 2-piece folding knife with corkscrew
The Laguiole 2-piece knife has a blade and a corkscrew integrated into the handle.
This version is particularly appreciated for its practicality, especially during meals or wine tastings.
Historically, the corkscrew was added to the Laguiole knife around 1880, when many inhabitants of the Aveyron – called the Rouergats – went to Paris to work as lemonade makers and café makers.
To make their work easier, they had a corkscrew added to their knife.
Today, the Laguiole 2-piece knife has become a versatile and very popular knife.
See all our Laguiole folding knives 2 pieces HERE
What size should I choose for a Laguiole folding knife?
The different sizes of Laguiole knives
When choosing a Laguiole folding knife, it is important to select the handle size that best suits your use and grip.
Laguiole knives are generally available in several sizes:
8 cm, 9 cm, 10 cm, 11 cm, 12 cm, 13 cm and 14 cm for the largest models.
The size indicated always corresponds to the length of the closed knife, i.e. the size of the handle of the Laguiole knife.
Size matching of a Laguiole knife
Here are some points of reference to better understand the dimensions of a Laguiole folding knife :
Laguiole knife 10 cm :
10 cm closed – 8.5 cm blade – i.e. about 18.5 cm openLaguiole knife 12 cm :
12 cm closed – 10 cm blade – i.e. about 22 cm openLaguiole knife 14 cm :
14 cm closed – 12 cm blade – i.e. about 26 cm open
These dimensions allow you to better visualize the actual size of the Laguiole knife once opened.
The 12 cm size: the most common Laguiole knife
The Laguiole 12 cm knife is the most common size.
It is generally suitable for both men and women and offers an excellent balance between comfort of grip and practicality.
This size is often considered the ideal size for everyday use.
Laguiole small knives: 10 cm and 11 cm
Laguiole knives 10 cm or 11 cm are particularly suitable:
to little hands
easy transport
for discreet everyday use
They fit easily into a pocket, small purse, or purse.
These cuts are also often associated with a thinner and more elegant Laguiole knife, sometimes considered more feminine.
Laguiole large knives: 13 cm and 14 cm
The Laguiole 13 cm and 14 cm knives are intended for people with large hands or looking for a larger grip.
Thanks to their longer handles, they offer excellent stability and optimal cutting comfort.
These large models are particularly attractive to lovers of robust and imposing Laguiole knives.
What materials and finishes of a Laguiole knife?
Noble materials for your Laguiole knife
All our Laguiole knives are shaped, chiseled and guilloché with care by our artisan cutlers. Each piece is made from noble and natural materials, selected with the utmost care for their quality and aesthetics.
Whether mineral, vegetable or animal-based, these exceptional materials make it possible to obtain a unique Laguiole knife that is elegant, durable and authentic at the same time.
In the expert hands of our craftsmen, each material reveals all its beauty and gives your knife an incomparable character.
Many finishes to personalise your Laguiole knife
When creating your custom Laguiole knife, you can choose from different handcrafted finishes to create a model that suits you.
Depending on your preferences, your knife can be made:
with bolsters or without bolsters known as full handle
with central bolster
with double or triple plates
- with guilloché plates
with coloured spacers
with guilloché spring
with spiral spring
with custom fly
Every detail contributes to the elegance and originality of your knife.
To better understand the different parts, we invite you to consult our section “Composition of a Laguiole knife”.
The more elaborate and personalized your knife is, the more unique and rare it becomes.
Personalised engraving of your Laguiole knife
To go even further in personalization, we offer you the laser engraving of your Laguiole knife.
You can add:
a text
a date
a first name
a symbol
- a coat of arms
Depending on the model chosen, we offer different fonts, symbols and locations for engraving.
- on the blade
- inside the spring
- on a flat fly
- on the spring in 3D
This customization makes it possible to create a unique Laguiole knife, ideal for offering or marking an important moment.
A Laguiole knife in your image
Thanks to the many options of materials, finishes and engravings, you can create a fully personalized Laguiole knife, which reflects your style or that of the person to whom you want to give it.
Richard and Véronique are of course at your disposal by email to advise you and assist you in your choice.
Beware of the Laguioles, who are not Laguioles!
Authentic Laguiole knife: how to recognize a real Laguiole?
The authentic Laguiole knife is one of the most emblematic symbols of French cutlery. Born in the nineteenth century in the village of Laguiole in Aubrac, this folding knife is now recognized throughout the world for its elegance, quality and craftsmanship.
Faced with its success, many industrial copies have invaded the market. It is therefore essential to know how to recognize a real Laguiole knife in order to avoid imitations.
How to recognize an authentic Laguiole knife?
To buy an authentic Laguiole knife, several things must be checked:
✔ manufacturing in France
✔ the quality of the materials
✔ the quality of the guilloché and finishes
✔ The reputation of the manufacturer
✔ the presence of a certificate of authenticity
A real artisanal Laguiole knife is usually handcrafted by a cutler who carries out the assembly, guilloché and finishing with great precision.
The two historic manufacturing centres
The manufacture of French Laguiole knives is mainly concentrated in two regions:
Laguiole, the historic cradle of the knife
Thiers, capital of French cutlery
In these regions, some workshops perpetuate a unique artisanal know-how, where each knife is made and adjusted by hand.
Why a real Laguiole has a certain price
The price of an authentic Laguiole knife depends on several factors:
the quality of the steel of the blade
The noble materials of the handle
Artisanal finishing
manufacturing time
An artisanal Laguiole knife requires several hours of work and great expertise.
This is why a price that is too low is often a sign of industrial manufacturing or foreign imports.
Buy a real Laguiole knife on a trusted site
To be sure to buy an authentic Laguiole knife, it is recommended to go through a specialized and recognized site.
Since 1997, the Laguiole.com site has been offering authentic Laguiole knives, accompanied by a certificate and made according to the tradition of French cutlery.
Richard and Véronique are also available to advise you to help you choose the Laguiole knife that suits you.