Taking into account the multitude of original and diverse production methods, this guide and explanation has been put together by four master artisans for use of the real lovers of Laguiole. This guide will provide you with the knowledge needed to distinguish the characteristics of a knife that is truly made in Laguiole using the most traditional methods of artisan craftsmanship. Never forget how the knives were instruments of precision and beauty, used by farmers, but also as proof a man had reached the age of maturity, a source of pride for maker and user, sign of a true piece of art.
On
the sprin
g
of this Laguiole, dating early 1900, you can see the neatly hand
forged bee or fly, sign of authenticity
| The Laguiole under a magnifying glass The most important stages of production | |
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Laiton=Brass Acier=Steel lame=blade ressort=spring Poincon=piercer Corne=Horn Mitre=Bolster Cloutage="nailing" Ajustage=Adjustment Guillochage=Adornment Polissage=Polish Lustrage=Shine
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Check the alignment, observe the bee carefully Main Criteria of quality of craftsmanship |
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perfect Alignment of blade&wrist . . . . . Bad alignment, bad dimensions between bee and bolster . . .. . Left: Bee had forged, one piece with spring Right:Soldered Bee, not as perfect. |
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Industrial Production -The stamping is done chain-wise in large series -Mechanical adjustment, not by h and, with general imprecision -Assembly lines realized by different individuals and stages -Machines and Mechanical devices work the spring and blade -1 hour production time
Artisan Production -Individual stamping -Manual adjusting "by the eye" -One artisan works one knife -Craft and art in working of the blade and spring
Return to the original: -The spring is the same as original, and polished inside, with its massive hand forged bee -The blade is carefully set not to damage the spring at closing -manual adjustment of the blade and spring -Las but not least: The nails in the handle form the cross, the shepard's rosary |
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THE RAW MATERIALS OF QUALITY: (Click to distinguish Laguiole quality) STEEL/ACIER HORN/CORNE BRASS/LAITON WOOD/BOIS 109 operations consitute an artisan one-piece-Laguiole, 166 for the 2-piece, 216 for three pieces. That is the trail human hands must follow to make a knife out of raw materials. This long trip makes all the difference between industrial production and traditional, artisan craftsmanship: the only way to guarantee that each Laguiole is unique! |
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