Laguiole Cutlery and Knives, Handmade in France by Laguiole en Aubrac

Laguiole is a folding knife first made in 1829 on the Aubrac plateau, in southern France. Laguiole en Aubrac produces it by hand in France, along with steak knives, cutlery and corkscrews that carry the same bee, its traditional emblem. Each of its knives carries the maker's name on the blade, and handles come in more than 50 materials, from olive wood to fossil mammoth ivory.

Laguiole is the name of a folding knife, and that name was never protected as a trademark, so a great deal of factory-made cutlery carries it. Laguiole en Aubrac makes its pieces by hand in France, marks its name on the blade of every knife and belongs to the Geographical Indication for the Laguiole knife. Read more on our page about Laguiole en Aubrac.

Because a Laguiole en Aubrac piece is made by hand in France, while much of the cheaper cutlery sold as Laguiole is factory-made under a name that was never protected. Its handles are cut from materials such as juniper, ebony or zebu horn tip, and on double-plate models the plates are chiselled by hand. Each piece also comes with its own numbered certificate of authenticity.

Laguiole en Aubrac cutlery is made by hand in France, by a maker the French state has awarded its Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (Living Heritage Company) label. Every knife has the maker's name on its blade and every piece comes with a numbered certificate. Steak knives, forks and spoons are sold by the set in matching handles, so you can build up a table set by set or go straight for a canteen of cutlery for six. Wash it by hand, dry it at once and never put wood or horn handles in the dishwasher.

Right here. Laguiole UK is run by Laguiole Export, an online retailer dedicated entirely to Laguiole en Aubrac, and sells Laguiole en Aubrac cutlery sets, steak knives, pocket knives and corkscrews, all made by hand in France. Each piece comes with its own numbered certificate, and we'll engrave a name or initials on a knife at no extra cost.

Start with the blade. A Laguiole en Aubrac knife carries its maker's name there, so a blade marked only with the word Laguiole says nothing about who made it. Check the bee as well: on these knives it is part of the construction and never added on afterwards. Each piece also arrives with its own numbered certificate of authenticity.