Definition: Laguiole

The winegrowers of Marcillac, a small vineyard in the Aveyron region, will long remember Monday, 14 May 2001. In less than a quarter of an hour, the 2001 vintage was completely destroyed by a hailstorm of rare violence.

We too had just arrived in Laguiole (pronounced Layole) a few minutes before the storm broke. Unloading our luggage in the pouring rain, we took refuge under the hotel's large glass roof to collect our thoughts. It was like a drum roll, with hailstones striking everywhere, making conversation impossible.

Once the calm returned, we walked on marbles to move the car to the garage, the temperature up there at 900 metres having dropped suddenly. After clearing a thick layer of hailstones from the windscreen, we realised that the damage was done.

Some would say: a knife is a knife, and nothing else. Here in Laguiole, a knife is not just a knife, it is a Laguiole, made to last. "Made to last" could be its motto.

In people's minds, a Laguiole is a renowned and original brand of cutlery and other corkscrews made using traditional methods. Unfortunately, as the name of a locality cannot be protected, this craft invented in Laguiole quickly became an industrial production, copied and developed everywhere, but especially in the Thiers basin, already renowned for the manufacture and almost exclusive distribution of corkscrew spirals.

Examine your "real fake Laguiole" and you will see that the only thing it has in common with Laguiole is the name. However, all models are decorated with the symbol of a fly or bee at one end. Like Chablis, Laguiole has become a misappropriated brand name. More Chablis is consumed in the USA, in the form of jug wine, than is produced in Chablis itself. All this table wine is produced locally and does not even contain Chardonnay, the only grape variety grown in Chablis.

It is even said that two Texan friends who meet up go for a drink at the local café. When ordering their Chablis, one of them exclaims: "Do you know what I've just learnt...? They also make Chablis in France".

So it was in Laguiole, a village of 1,300 inhabitants on the border between Aveyron and Cantal, that the famous little pocket knife was born around 1829.

It all began with the transformation of the "capouchadou", a small local dagger, into a folding knife created by the artisan cutler Pierre-Jean Calmels. Elegant, simple but useful, it quickly became an indispensable tool to always have with you, and it was enhanced according to necessity and exodus. For example, farmers in this region, where cattle breeding is highly developed, needed an awl (trocart) to save animals suffering from bloating (caused by young spring grass) following a digestive accident. The cutlery craftsmen added one.

Towards the end of^{the 19th} century, the people of Aveyron left for Paris in search of work. Very quickly, they moved from distributing coal to conquering the bistros. The Laguiole was then enhanced with a corkscrew. Interest in the Laguiole continued to grow and the models diversified into accessories and handles made of bone, horn or ivory for the most prestigious ones. But soon in Laguiole, on the Aubrac plateau, the production of the small knife was undermined by industrialists in the Thiers basin. The genuine Laguiole knife eked out a meagre existence.

In the mid-1980s, a new generation of cutlers took over the Laguiole knife, and in 1987, Forge de Laguiole was created to revive the Laguiole knife in its native land. Designer Philippe Stark designed a "signal" building, symbolising this renewal, combining tradition and modernity.

Today, Forge de Laguiole offers a wide range of traditional knives that meet the criteria of origin and quality defined by the LAGUIOLE ORIGINE GARANTIE collective mark. Only a few companies that comply with the specifications are authorised to use this mark.

The creation of a Laguiole Origine Garantie knife is the synthesis of four successive crafts:

• forging and cutting the metal parts
• working and preparing the handles
• assembly
• polishing and sharpening.

It should also be noted that Forge de Laguiole decorates its handles with the "shepherd's cross", in reference to a tradition in the mountain pastures: shepherds, who were always far from places of worship, would plant their knives in the ground and pray before the cross on their Laguiole knives.

Many locals take their Laguiole knives out of their pockets when they sit down to eat. Even in restaurants, your own Laguiole knife is considered better than a table knife, which usually has a poor blade. It is true that a Laguiole knife with a sharp blade adds value to the quality of a dish being cut.

A visit to the astonishing Forge de Laguiole is captivating, and the design of the building is truly surprising. The workshops for around a hundred specialists follow one another in succession, with impressive craftsmanship, tirelessly repeating the gestures of yesteryear but with today's tools. A much-appreciated refinement when giving gifts is to have a first name, surname or any other commemorative inscription engraved on the blade in the characters of your choice. The recipient reacts very favourably to this personalised gift.

We met André Bras, the production manager, who is none other than the brother of the renowned restaurateur Michel Bras, holder of three stars in the Guide Rouge (Michelin), located nearby on the road to Aubrac. It is no surprise that he "imposes" on his guests a Laguiole model specially created by Forge de Laguiole.

The vast assortment of finished products, in a wide variety of finishes and handle types, including horn, bone, fine woods, stamina, ivory, precious metals and other fine materials, with or without marquetry, is sure to impress enthusiasts. Recent creations include the new collection designed by Studio Design W. of Wilmotte & Associés. Jean-Michel Wilmotte is an architect, urban planner and designer; his activities range from industrial design to architecture and he is working on more than a hundred projects in France and abroad (Europe, Korea, USA). One of his latest creations from 2004 is a table knife that combines clean lines with bright, fluorescent colours (blue, mauve, yellow, pink, fuchsia, lime green and red). These dazzling handles make them highly original objects. Jean-Michel Wilmotte has also created a new model of corkscrew, "Sommelier", with very clean lines and a very smooth mechanism. This new model has a conical screw and a blade with a bottle opener that is versatile for both right- and left-handed users. Nestled inside its special gift box, this model resembles a Riva boat. A sober, elegant and tapered line. In its "Créateurs" range of models, Forge de Laguiole offers exclusive designs by renowned designers: Philippe Stark, Yann Pennors, Eric Raffy, Laguiole du Routard, Sonia Rykiel,

Beautiful craftsmanship that appeals to outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, foodies, wine connoisseurs, hunters, mountaineers, not to mention cigar and pipe smokers and golfers.