LAGUIOLE POCKET KNIVES | How It's Made

The genuine Laguiole knife is manufactured through 170 steps, manually made by expert craftsmen. Check out how they are made here!
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[@marled536]

My wife bought me one about 17 years ago in Provence. It went missing for almost a year. Then, while cleaning the roof gutters I found it inside the gutter. No rust anywhere and the wood handle was faded, but in good shape. I washed it, gave the handle a good coat of oil olive and it’s like new.

[@patricksanders858]

Any veg oil will turn rancid and get gummy. Mineral oil works perfectly.

[@Charlie-oc9yo]

How tf did the knife get on the roof????

[@yan8732]

@Charlie i also want to knal that. Especially how TF did the knife get into the gutter? Something stinks here and i can feel it bro!.

[@butlergl]

If you ever get up on a roof cleaning gutters or Christmas lights etc… it isn’t hard to drop a knife. I am pleased you found it.

[@bobbyhempel1513]

@@yan8732 I take it the two of you aren't do it yourselfers and pay people to do all of your maintenance and repairs on your home.

[@darrellterry1278]

As a collector of early case xx and Henry knives I'm very impressed with this manufacturer and would love to have one of these beautiful works of art.

[@EddVCR]

I absolutely love this show. I find it so relaxing as well as informative.

[@hotmalm]

Even if the information is incorrect many times😬

[@nr.17]

Good video. but as a knifemaker it bothered me that you did not explain tempering correctly. There is hardening heat treating = higher heat with quick oil or water quench to make the metal hard. Then separately there is tempering which is somewhat lower heat and then air dried - this is for relieving the built up stress and adding some flexibility/elasticity to the metal.

[@bobbyhempel1513]

Thank you now I don't have to leave that comment.

[@captianmorgan7627]

Yeah, the whole heat treating part of the video made no sense.

[@hrishikeshkartha6806]

first of all ,this isnt Damascus steel , its folded steel . Damascus hasnt been recreated , its been lost to us , secondly , folded steel doesnt bind the low carbon and high carbon steels " to a molecular level ", theyre merely mixed up , the irregular mixing is what gives them the colour , if they were mixed to a molecular level , there would be no pattern

[@bristleconepinus2378]

always buy one when i travel to France...Opinel as well.

[@hhiimmddoo]

Several things about the forging, grinding, heat treatment, and etching processes were incorrectly explained.

[@pierauspitz]

No to mention the "border area with Spain" statement. While the Spanish stylistic influence is pretty much agreed upon, Laguiole is located about 350km from the Spanish border... :D

[@mrkiky]

A couple of minutes in and I was already preparing a comment with what they got wrong. Then I just figured out there's no point... everything is wrong!

[@bubbaluvv]

Now imagine someone like me with little knife making knowledge. I wouldnt kno what was going on

[@williamsanders2808]

The Laguiole knife is originally a high-quality traditional Occitan pocket-knife, originally produced in the "knife-city" of Thiers where 70% of the French cutting tool production comes from, and in the small village of Laguiole, both located in the Massif central region of France. Laguiole in this instance does not refer to the French knife brand, but to a generic term that has become associated with a specific shape of a traditional knife common to this area. It was originally a farmers knife, so it was used for more than just cheese or meat cutting. They were made of good high carbon steel, not pattern welded or "Damascus" steel. They had wood or bone handles, and a plain spring, or one decorated with a flower motif. The "bee" on the knives was only introduced after World War II. Older Laguiole knives feature many kinds of decorated springs which don't necessarily feature insects.A little research before making a video makes for a better video. Your video is full of misconceptions and at least one myth.

[@dannydetonator]

Nice to knoe. Is there many compsnies msking it in France, maby Rhône-Alpes? I had one with balsa eood handle and a fly, without the level of intricacy along the spring shown in this vid. It had decorstions indicsting intricate hand work on one side, just not the Dsmascus steel pattern. At least couple of decades old. Police secréte confiscated it, bloody night raids.

[@williamsanders2808]

@@dannydetonator The Rhône-Alpes knives are somewhat different. But also similar to the Laguiole. Served the same purpose, but with a different, regional, design. Most knives made in France, in that time period, shared design points. Slip joint, possible corkscrew on the back. The Laguiole added a back spring, but the Rhône-Alpes knives were, and are, just slip joint knives.

[@andreasoulis]

oh my God ... yeah... me thought alike... then woke up hard pitying myself ...

[@mrkiky]

I think the narrator had no idea what he was narrating, like he didn't even see the footage before narrating. Skipping over all of the inaccuracies of the process, he even went as far as to say the bolster is "handmade" while clearly showing the guy putting a metal rod in a stamping machine. Also I get the feeling the footage is halfassed as well, showing us a failed weld and then a scrap billet. It's like the guy actually doing the welds was unavailable so an inexperienced guy took over in a "eh, good enough for the show" manner.

[@rzerizrz]

no matter this... skill of those workers is nice.. :)

[@Errcyco]

This process shares more common ground with making a croissant then a regular knife, interesting.

[@tituspullo9210]

😂😂😂

[@octaviom.v.t8374]

At the end of the day, cooking and metalworking are both just physics and chemistry

[@xanthpuns]

So who wants a thousand dollar pocket knife

[@phuckyoutube5927]

@@xanthpuns cheap shit won't cool and cool shit ain't cheap

[@wissemfekih3450]

than*

[@sterlingodeaghaidh5086]

Who else shouted "That is not Damascus!" when they said that it is a recreation of a Damascus blade? For those who are curious, that is pattern-welded steel not Damascus, Damascus is not multiple layers of steel forged together but rather a single billet, the patterning comes from the way the steel was cooled and should not have a sharp pattern but be finer in grain and have a wavy appearance.

[@Masterfighterx]

The pattern in real damascus can also be seen on some Honyaki knives made out of Blue steel, it's the alloys you see

[@jonathanfoster1477]

If people want to see what true historical damascus looked like search for wootz steel.

[@barrymore87]

experts.

[@beatbox20fmj]

I have 2 that my dad got for me while he was in France for work. Definitely closer to a work of art than a pocket knife.

[@Viktor_Johansson]

This is made in the same way a custom knife is made, every step by hand with regular workshop tools. Really cool!

[@thibaultdubaret9863]

don't be fooled, they only did that for the documentary, most of them are made in a very industrial way, by machines

[@vforvendetta6193]

This Laguiole is shit brand. dont get fooled.

[@bobbyhempel1513]

You only get this on the highest of their high end.

[@jaimevenegas5582]

Worked in a company that imported glass ware and flatware from Europe. I got a few sets of these knifes. They look nice it's my favorite steak knife

[@samziegler4957]

"this manufacturer handcrafts each component of his knives" that's some great narration to have over a set of laser cut springs.

[@mrkiky]

And the guy then putting a metal rod in a stamping machine. Well he must've handpressed the start button of the laser cutter at least.

[@hennyschuitert4623]

just bought a set of forks and knives from this brand,absolute great

[@jimaforwood743]

I got given an Opinel carbone 6 inch knife today for my birthday! I used to have a shotgun that had Damascus barrels! What a bute she was.

[@Basement_crusader]

Your shotgun barrels were anodized with a Damascus pattern. They were not Damascus steel as that is achieved through forging, of which gun barrels are not.

[@paulesterline5714]

@@Basement_crusader old ones were and if you get a custom gun there are still people that do Damascus guns. I am not one of those blacksmiths I do Damascus knives, but I do have a friend that has done gun barrels....

[@birbman9363]

@Nick B - Dana White's friend in Vegas makes Damascus guns today. It's literally on KZbin, he makes guns for presidents and celebrities using Damascus steel not a pattern.

[@paulesterline5714]

@@Basement_crusader BTW anodizing is for aluminum... I have never seen an aluminum gun barrel...

[@randyhoovers8597]

man, what a piece of art. I had one that I actually got in the city of laguiole but sadly lost only a couple weeks after.

[@raysmith2940]

I found one.

[@JONFATSARNOTT]

Waiting for my new ATM card. I'm getting one for me, for my birthday! Artistic and functional!

[@rodrigodias9925]

Nice knife! Btw 9:03 a polish gives my bone a shiny finish too

[@brien1254]

😂😂

[@LEARSIKCIGAM]

zing!

[@werewolflover8636]

These knives are from Aveyron where I live. The village where they’re made is called Laguiole and you can visit and see these knives being made by hand. While there’s many knives that carry the name “Laguiole” only a few are actually made here with many being cheap counterfeits from China! If you want one of these knives there’s many shops that sell them in Rodez.

[@PhillyPhill]

I have one and I like it. I use it as an everyday carry.

[@janibeg3247]

we were driving in France and somehow ended up in Laguiole for the night. Interesting place.

[@aick]

Seriously great knife, we've had ours for 20 years or more. There's no nonsense about "Damascus steel" going on with it, though. This is a very handy video for repairs, so thank you!

[@danielzan8355]

I'm very proud to have one Laguiole also have one "Faca Gaúcha" (Gaúcha knife), that is very traditional style here in Brazil, specially in the state of Rio Grande do Sul!

[@dannydetonator]

Can you tell me plz. what are the average money value of each of those? I'm thinking of buying some eventually. Any directions?

[@BradYaeger]

Own 2 authentic ones , though neither have the corkscrew, and they are awesome. The spring is extremely strong but that's good. Its unlikely to close by accident. Funny thing is I never carry them because I'd hate to lose them! The bone handle makes them very slippery and since I change into my work clothes every day I'm afraid it will slide out of my pocket and I wont notice. Very worth it if you are a collector. Nothing else like them. Even if not "official" the design is so unique.

[@michaelharrison2165]

Great video as always thanks for sharing! However I think it may have been produced some time ago, as the thick black horn- rimmed glasses worn by the operators kind of gives it away. However, its still interesting to see cutlers at work in the " old manner", so to speak. Thanks again for sharing!

[@marie-christinelange131]

BRAVO !!! MAGNIFIQUE

[@CrimeVid]

i have always liked the everyday Laguiole knife shape, never thought they looked very robust though, I don’t know about the top of the range ones though. The trouble is that everybody and his dog makes these and they are sold everywhere.

[@anoldgryphon]

I have several. They are the very best pocket knives.

[@Daddy007111]

That’s a beautiful knife. Now I want one.

[@TEFox]

It was probably just for the camera, but I like how old mate on the strop at the end was busy rolling the edge over on that knife with the strop rather than actually making it any sharper.

[@CreatorCade]

I see you like to shave with a straight razor too.

[@richardtilbrook9732]

I don’t think he’s actually sharpening it there, but stropping the knife to remove burrs from the edge. I’ve done the same thing when restoring old knives.

[@TEFox]

@@richardtilbrook9732 Nothing wrong with stropping to finish the edge, but that chap was holding the blade perpendicular to the strop, edge down!

[@maxmartin-yi4pf]

I have one and omg it is has such good quality

[@mohamedboughrara2986]

Vraiment un travail d,artisant, vous faites de beaux et tres pratique couteaux

[@Swearing0000]

A guys going to be very unhappy when the TSA takes it away from him at the airport...and puts it straight in their pocket.

[@gauravshah8448]

He can keep it in the luggage. I think it's not allowed only in carry-ons.

[@NathanChisholm041]

Ive got a couple of these knifes I use everyday at dinner time!

[@dkhooeh]

Should have known of these master pieces while in Marseillle, France. Awaits to own one.

[@cmi1172]

Beautiful knives!! I bought a beautiful laguiole en Aubrac knife from LAGUIOLE USA; best place to get Laguiole knives in the US.

[@matt-bs4bm]

Damn,it didn't stick well,,when he first hammered the billet,the billet opend up

[@michaelt.9372]

He didn’t grind down any of the coupons to remove mill scale or anything.

[@wamken619]

it hurt to see that, and I'm not even a knife maker

[@vforvendetta6193]

Because this shit brand doesn't really know how to Forge Steel. They only want that damascus pattern. Not the real quality out of it. They failed at that.

[@lexkiker]

I learned so much about a knife I didn’t even kno existed

[@paulfogarty7724]

..beautifull knives, but there are some new videos on Utube that reveal a lot of those romantic myths about the Laguiole knife to be deliberatly fabricated to give the knife a mistique. I was dissapointed to find this out but I'd rather know the truth. I have one myself I bought in 1999...annoying to think that the nice card that came with it telling the history / shepherds praying ect, was all pretty much ...French hogwash. I still love the knife itself though.

[@nickyd.4695]

Never realized they required so much work!!!

[@rosumarian1075]

its over 2000 $ that`s why pay so much attention to it

[@AngloSaxon1]

I have a lovely Laguiole knife given to me by my son. It has a corkscrew on the back.

[@OfUnreasonable]

If I ever get the money, I'll requisition one of these- but the handle will be made of my own bone. Make a truly unique item.

[@Duodenoify]

Beautiful knife.

[@CreatorCade]

My brother-in-law has one of these. I’ve always thought it was a beautiful knife but never knew much about it, I just thought the little bee was just a neat feature.

[@playadeldiablo]

I have my Laguiole sunglasses... love them...

[@pan_bev_nice5960]

gorgeous!!

[@eliasjarjoura445]

Where's the borax!!!!! 300 freakin layers! Flawless

[@desfiladerodenatersa]

Simply wooooonderfull!!!. Thank you

[@scopedbambi2382]

I had two of these from an auction, they were beautiful. Sadly both got stolen within just a few years of having them.

[@stevenjennings8347]

Awesome informational educational video experience Y'alls God Bless Ya 🙏

[@johndimarco7694]

Have 3, non Damascus steel, use them as I would any other knife, I have no complaints or issues. Been great knives for the many years I have owned them.

[@mammontustado9680]

3:17 I can't believe he just held that very hot steel rod with his bare hands

[@AjiraKimberly]

Given the amount of time and effort spent on the bee part, it's kind of sad that the bolsters are spot welded on, and cheap teflon washers are used.

[@tolga1cool]

I was thinking the exact same thing

[@FriedPi-mc5yt]

Spot welding is fine. It’s a pretty common manufacturing method and is proven to work. I could understand your problem if spot welding was a questionable construction method. But it’s been proven to work for a long time. High end custom knives use Teflon washers. There is nothing wrong with using them.

[@michellenich3172]

@@FriedPi-mc5yt there's nothing inherently wrong with Teflon washers but you'll just get better results that last longer with ball bearings

[@FriedPi-mc5yt]

@@michellenich3172 True. Bearings would make it run more smoothly. But I’m not sure if they would last longer or not. They are more subject to wear from grit and require a bit more attention than Teflon. The knife is not screwed together so you can’t disassemble it for maintenance. With Teflon washers you just flood the pivot with water and you’re good to go after a drop of oil. It’s harder to clean a bearing if you can’t take the knife apart.

[@Dash199t]

@@FriedPi-mc5yt Using a ballbearing in a slipjoint with a backspring is pretty useless, but still they could have used a hybrid teflon and copper washer system. Laguiole Knives often have such a bad fit and finish, that it is useless to put in any good material, because unaccurate manufacturing destroys the advantages anyway. I mean, who makes a knife blade and then grinds them uncooled (okay, 99.9% of all knifemakers do that, which is shit) or who uses pattern welding for a 350$ knife.. Unfortunately the reality for these knives, there are way better brands out there.

[@FamilyBrown88]

These really look like the type of knife that your every day shepherd can afford.

[@stuartjones7903]

I possess a few of these and they are superb knives for outdoors and for dinner ware they are seriously expensive but there is no such thing now as genuine Damascus as the steel recipe and ore called Wootz has long since gone gone so the pretty patterns on any Damascus blade is just for show

[@benewgillian6823]

There are many different grades of Laguioles knives , some requires much much less work . Even some shepherds/farmers/woodsmen use the cheaper versions of them in France , a bit like the classic Opinel knife number 8 , 7 or 9...

[@drxym]

Original Laguiole knives would have wood, horn or bone handles with regular steel. I'm sure these knives look very pretty with the damascus steel effect and fancy handles but it doesn't make them them any better and probably much less practical.

[@dhardhirdruha6916]

Beautiful

[@chamindadecosta3970]

The blade making process is called pattern welding. The world ran out of Damascus steel long, long time ago.

[@archievthapa3593]

Spectacular !!!

[@vladimirkovacevic1656]

awesome knife

[@josephclark271]

"...an extra fine edge is given..." I can attest to this. The top of my thumb is still healing.

[@sparrowsparrow7505]

Mine is merely the bane of apples and oranges.

[@andreasoulis]

My hi end model from Laguiole - an absolutely jewel of a pocket knife - and above all my wife's WEDDING PRESENT to me, in Gabon Ebony with silver inlay of a gorgeous ducks -shooting scene -and a mirror polished and curved along the back blade, FALL OFF from the hight of the living room's coffee table ( some 35 to 50 cm ) while proudly presenting it to friends and the blade BROKE IN THE MIDDLE - just like it was made out of GLASS and not Inox.... Since then I wrote countless e mails to the LAGUIOLE - explaining the circumstances and ASKING THEM TO FIX THE KNIFE - AT MY EXPENSES - AND AT ANY POSSIBLE COST !! I also explained - on every e mail, that the same blade is used on more models and if needed ( in case they were not making any longer that blade model) I WOULD NOT MIND BUYING ANOTHER DONOR KNIFE from them or even provide them with another similar model from my prized collection to use its identical blade. I only asked over and over , for them to properly replace the broken blade - WHATEVER THEY MIGHT WANTED TO CHARGE me for the repair .. Honestly, NEVER - NOT ONCE - some gentleman from the Laguiole - NO ONE - EVER - BOTHERED REPLYING JUST TWO WORDS - TO ANY OF MY e mails - out of politeness -forget about customer after sales service or the most elementary promotion of marketing principles.. JUST OUT OF A TRACE of self respect and a minimal NECESSITY TO BEEING DICENT - RESPECTFUL - TOWARDS YOUR OWN DAMN COMPANY -putting the daily food on your table .... Say a NO - we are sorry - don't have time - don't give a shit for our clients after you buy our products - anything would be better than not bothering to show a molecule of imitation of some kind of good will promotion ... such a disgrace - this company, even more , from the "traditionally most polite and "comme il faut - (or better faux)" France...

[@louiswarmoth7354]

You’re expecting far more of a people that are renowned for their ill mannered treatment of everyone than is realistic ! Another thing to keep in mind is these knives come from the same country that makes Renault autos and Evian (naive spelled backwards) water !

[@Big-Muskey]

This documentary has some glaring inaccuracies. The kiln is not used to straighten the steel. More importantly heating and rapidly cooling the steel is not tempering that's quenching.

[@christopherdean1326]

All "How it's Made" narration has "glaring inaccuracies", it's what they do! But that is still an epically beautiful knife, and I want one for my collection sooooo badly!!!

[@1969bogdi]

The process may be quenching, but the effect of that is tempering, so he’s not entirely wrong

[@yo.mama100]

@@1969bogdi no he's still wrong that would be quenching if he was tempering there is an extra step on the end of that you have to heat the knife back up after you've quenched it

[@joshm3484]

"This manufacturer hand crafts each component." Shows stamped sheet steel parts.

[@franciscofa7635]

Todo un arte su construcción de la navaja muy bonita

[@mattsprayberry0]

A knife is a knife made to cut with no matter what the material is.

[@calzackary1861]

Someone needs to fact check the narrator

[@bobbertbobby3975]

I know..they got sooooo much wrong since when is the nickle for adding flexibility? its to make the pattern...and the heating to normalize is actually for flattening the blade..hm...so much wrong.

[@waynepurcell6058]

This is patterned welded steel, NOT Wootz (Damascus)steel. Steel showing a pattern is not what makes it Wootz/Damascus, it's the elements that comprise it. What composes Wootz/Damascus steels were are still argued over and debated to this day. Did the raw Iron just have that good a mixture of elements? Were there additives? If there were additives how were they discovered and where did they come from? REAL modern Wootz/Damascus doesn't exist because we've lost the knowledge (and actually don't NEED that knowledge anymore beyond curiosities sake).

[@GolanvIgvyi]

As a blacksmith I take exception to your use of the word hand crafted. Using a machine to stamp parts is not hand crafting.

[@speedbuggy16v]

exactly

[@kriskabin]

These are high-class "toad stabbers!"

[@dannydetonator]

I guess i once had one of these. Not shure about the Languiole original brand stamp. It had some initials, didn't know this stuff then. I just found it on my travels trough France as a vendangiste. Very ergonomic, useful and beautiful artesany. I just don't like flies, but so might not my ememies. Yes, they can occur on the way trough the wild underbelly of France. In the end the secret police patrol confiscated it, same as the entire stock of my knifes before. About 15 of them, one by one. Might someone from Saint-Etienne [EDIT: Rhône-Alpes region] reads this: If you lost your knife in the little park - below the viaduct - at the foot of Opera Theatre-hill(?) in the summer of 2016, the Office de Police near the Prefecture most likely have it in their storage somewhere. Or, in some Police-Secrète officer's kitchen cupboard, damn them!

[@johnbradley1139]

The bolster is absolutely NOT spot-welded to the *BLADE*. That's the inner portion of the handle ("scales"). The blade rotates freely, has nothing welded to it, and never gets heated significantly (i.e., welded) after tempering, or it would ruin the temper. Sorry, you got that wrong.

[@DoctorTooploop]

"intense heat will help flatten them" this should be renamed to man doesn't understand metalurgy of knife making for 9 minutes and 58 seconds

[@pwulm5285]

Yeah, I caught that too and cringed.

[@nicholasstephenson573]

Soooo many inaccuracies.

[@felixcat9318]

Truly a thing of beauty as well as a very high quality piece of cutlery which would be a joy to own. Thank you for this excellent video of a master cutler of whom I was previously unaware. These pieces are of heirloom quality.

[@williamsanders2808]

It's called Damascus, but it is not. It is pattern welded steel. The actual Damascus process has been lost to time.

[@Badassblacksmith]

I was just about to make the same comment!

[@Griffin050A1t]

I WILL MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR MY BOYFRIEND FOR CHRISTMAS!

[@odeytayem8902]

Check out the Okapi knife. Looks so similar

[@KeillRandorr]

I've always liked the how its made series, but they didn't do their homework for this one. As a child i thought it was a bee but it turns out it is a fly or a horse fly.

[@violetviolet888]

No. It's a bee. Look up the video "Busting 6 Myths About Laguiole Knives"

[@mikekuczynski1552]

Nice

[@jedk9523]

Some of these knives are worth more than a 1976 Cadillac Sedan De Ville after its restored.

[@badbeetle2942]

I have been carrying a Laguiole (s) in my pocket for over 30 years.

[@paulketterer1748]

purchased my Laguiole in the Paris Shop next Center Pompidoux - boating a Flight to Nairobi the Security refuse boarding with the Knife - but offered to wrap it in a Jiffy bag and hand it bona fide to the Captain to retourn the precious piece at JKIA Nairobi ...it never arrived !

[@bigoz7]

Whoa 😳

[@baddonkey6876]

"Every piece is handmade" Immediately after saying that, "now we'll stamp some pieces"

[@minder01]

That's not Damascus though. It's a concoction of various metals that mimic the look of Damascus but none of the behavioural characteristics.

[@nitwimp]

are we just gonna not talk about 3:20

[@zhp500]

The correct term is Wootz steel, the process started in India long before it was brought to the middle east.

[@momohuihi6079]

Dope

[@bosesebi6685]

These guys in comments, noticing mistakes, are just like me when watching something about spinning reels. The thing I noticed here, is that beside shoving how they thin out the blade, sharpening wasnt explained.

[@kilikus822]

That description in the beginning. So the knife is Andorra, basically?

[@monke2823]

That dude does not believe in gloves haha

[@cacxa_chicken]

cool thing

[@Simple_Caster]

But the question is. Will it KEEEEEEEEL?

[@walshy2116]

3:18 I’d think that rod would be too hot to handle considering just a few inches up it’s glowing orange. Wow

[@Bobski-free]

damn never realised how good that lil knife i had was had it taken at the airport

[@SH1974]

I love damascus blades and I really love the Laguiole folders. But I'd NEVER buy a Laguiole with damascus blade. This 2 things just DON'T belong together! Not with the classical (not rust-proof) damascus and absolutely not with a powder metallurgy (inoxidable) damascus blade. My most used and most classical Laguiole knife isn't even stainless...

[@standupmoto]

👍🇦🇺 Thanks

[@SeanOHanlon]

I recently found out that my French Grandmother was Maquis and used this very kind of knife to "débarrasser" Nazi officers during WWII.