Hand-Chiselled Double-Plate Laguiole Knives

Malachite, ram's horn and snakewood

Malachite, a copper mineral, shows bands of green that curve across the stone, buffed here to a glassy shine. Ram's horn will look familiar to anyone who has admired a hand-carved shepherd's crook at a country show, and here it is polished to bring out its layered tones. Snakewood, polished in the same way, has dark flecks scattered over reddish-brown wood. Each makes a fancy pocket knife in its own way: vivid green stone, warm horn or richly marked wood.

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Watch the ram's horn double-plate knife

See the hand-chiselled plates and the polished ram's horn handle up close.

View this ram's horn knife

Why double plates matter

The doubled plates are chiselled by hand, so a band of fine metalwork runs along the handle and draws the eye each time you turn the knife over. On several of these models the chiselled plates come with a Damascus blade as well. For anyone choosing a quality pocket knife, that chiselled band is what to look at first, even before the blade is open. To compare the options in more depth, read How to Choose a Double-Plates Laguiole Pocket Knife.

Single blade or corkscrew?

Since every knife here has chiselled double plates, your first pick is the handle, then what folds into it. One blade keeps the outline clean and simple. A corkscrew model lets you open a bottle at the table without hunting for a separate opener. Then consider the finish: stone and horn are given a polish, while a good number of woods are left with a soft satin sheen. Whatever you pick, the maker's name, Laguiole en Aubrac, is marked on the blade.

Double-plate knife questions

Instructions for looking after your knife come with it. Hand-wash it, dry it immediately and keep the dishwasher strictly for crockery.