Brass-Bolster Laguiole Pocket Knives

Red heart, grapevine or pistachio wood

Red heart wood has a warm, reddish colour that sits beautifully beside brass. Grapevine wood is cut from vine stock, so its grain twists and knots like the gnarled vine it came from. Pistachio wood mixes honey tones with darker streaks. Each makes a small piece of craftwork you'll happily leave on display on the desk or by the fruit bowl. Because natural wood never repeats, your handle will carry its own grain, slightly different from the photograph.

Video · 0:45

Watch the red heart brass-bolster knife

See the golden brass bolsters and the warm red heart wood up close.

View this brass-bolster knife

Why brass bolsters?

Bolsters are the metal caps finishing each end of a Laguiole handle. Made in brass, they give the knife a warmer, more traditional look than silver-toned bolsters, while protecting the handle where it takes the most wear. Against a dark or reddish handle, that golden tone really stands out. Like any brass, the bolsters can slowly darken over time. If you're torn between brass and silver-toned bolsters, think about your home: brass looks right beside an oak dresser or a leather armchair. For a fuller comparison, read How to Choose a Brass Bolster Laguiole Pocket Knife.

A brass folding knife for home and garden

Use a brass folding knife for opening parcels, cutting twine in the greenhouse or slicing a pear at the garden table. Opt for a corkscrew version if there's often a bottle of red at Sunday lunch, and open it with the knife already in your hand. Single-blade and corkscrew models have the same golden brass bolsters. Whichever you choose, it's made by hand in France by Laguiole en Aubrac, whose name the blade carries.

Brass bolster questions

Care is simple, and the instructions in your order explain it: hand-wash the knife, dry it straight after and keep dishwashers well out of the picture.