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...The quality and detail of these knives is stunning! Each knife is handmade and features hand filework on the blade backs and backsprings.
The file-work is unique to each knife making any knife you get from Fontenille-Pataud a one-of-a-kind work of art.
What Makes Fontenille knives different? Fontenille-Pataud is a well known maker of some of the finest handmade knives in France.
All of their knives are made in their workshop in Thiers. These knives are sold throughout Europe and the United States, but not sold through mass merchandisers, discounters or large outlets.
They are unique in their exclusive approach to cutlery. Most cutlers produce a wide range of quality (cheap, better and best!) Fontenilles' commitment is to make only the best quality and skip the "economy" knives.
Thier team is comprised of 8 skilled workers and apprentices. Gilles Steinberg, owner and master craftsman, manages the group. Keeping the company's size small and employing only the best cutlers keeps the quality and exclusiveness of these knives at a premium level.
There are many "facts" that surround the legend of the Laguiole knife. Gentlemen of differing opinions still argue many of these points.
For example, most mass-produced knives tout the "bee" as a tribute to Napoleon. As legend reports, the bee was affixed to the knife in tribute to Napoleon and the Battle at Waterloo in 1815.
But the traditional Laguiole knife most likely originated from a mix of two knives. One was a local knife called a "Capuchadou" which sported a fixed blade. The other was a "Navajas", a Spanish folding blade knife that was introduced in the region by local workers in 1830. The hybrid creation had its own technical needs, using a springhead for the folding mechanism.
The most likely explanation of the bee or fly is the evolution of the knife's springhead. This came into fashion at the end of World War II. The "fly" is a technical term used by knife manufacturers in Thiers. The "fly" designates the part of the spring that becomes compressed during the forging of the spring itself.
The original 1830-1940 Laguiole knives were usually made without any bee or fly emblem. However, the end of the springhead appeared in the form of a triangle, often with "wings" at each side.
There are a variety of handcrafted knives that use the technical fly/bee spring. This denotes a cutler's technical term versus a decoration.
Perhaps the easiest answer is a typical sales/marketing answer:
Which would you rather have a beautiful bee or an annoying fly?
The Shepherd's Cross bespeaks of another legend. Many years ago, the Shepherd was reported to pray at the end of each day. He would stab his knife into the earth, exposing the cross and would pray.
They may have done this but the more likely story is the fact that the cross is the traditional way for the knife maker to sign his work. The artisan would embellish the handle with 6-8 inlays of brass or stainless wire. The most classic technique is done in the shape of the cross. Antique Laguiole knives from the turn of the century often have no decorative rivets.
Here are some tips from Gilles Stienberg about recognizing the features of a high-quality Laguiole knife:
"Today, it is more difficult to truly discern the quality of a knife but the following tips provide a good guide:
1. The knife has a pleasing aesthetic appearance, "weighs" or "balances" in the hand and is comfortable to grip.
2. The blade opens easily and is perpendicular to the spring. (Hold it in front of you and squint upwards along the length --- you should see a straight line.)
3. When the blade closes, it should not knock or catch against the base of the spring. It should also slide easily back into place.
4. The plates covering the sleeve of the knife should be well fitted. Check that there aren't any little spaces between the plates and the bolster corners (the metal edges at the top and tail of the knife).
5. The decorated part of the spring should be well embedded in the crux of the blade so that your finger doesn't catch on it when the blade is open. A decoration should be different on each knife - even if the same design is used - since these small irregularities are a statement to the handcrafting of the knife.
6. The blade should open and close with a smart "click". This demonstrates that the calibration of the mechanism is fine-tuned.
7. There shouldn't be any sideways "shift" in the plane of the blade. A plain-handled knife (without bolsters) will probably show signs of this after it had been used for a period of time.
8. The "fly" or "bee" should form an integral part of a spring which has been "fly forged" and hand chased (technical terms). It should not be welded."
If you are looking for a very special gift or a knife for your own collection these knives will not disappoint.
I guarantee you will be delighted with the fine quality of these beautiful knives!
Please check out our growing inventory of Fontenille-Pataud knives.
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