Laguiole Pocket Knives

Classic, double-plate or Damascus: choosing your Laguiole

A classic model sticks to the traditional design, which makes it a simple way to pick a Laguiole folding knife purely by wood or horn. Hand-chiseled double plates go a step further, and Laguiole en Aubrac counts them as the most elaborate construction in its range. A Damascus blade has a rippled pattern all its own, which you see each time you open the knife. All three are handmade in France, which leaves you free to choose on looks alone.

Wood handle pocket knives in olive wood, juniper or ebony

With a wood handle pocket knife, how it looks and feels in your hand comes down to the wood. Olive wood runs from pale gold to honey brown, crossed by dark, wavy veins, and its satin finish keeps a natural feel. Juniper's grain is dotted with little knots, and it's satin-finished as well. Ebony is polished, and its dense, fine grain is very dark, often close to jet black. No two pieces of wood share the same grain, so a wooden pocket knife from this range will always differ a little from the photo. To compare woods, horns and stones, read Knife Handle Materials.

Handmade pocket knives from France

Nothing in law protects the Laguiole name, so any factory can put it on its knives. Laguiole en Aubrac makes its handmade pocket knives in France, with its name marked on every blade, so there's no doubt who made yours. Each one keeps the long, slender lines of a traditional pocket knife, with a blade that folds away into the handle. That shape is shared by many French pocket knives, which is why the maker's name matters so much.

Questions about Laguiole knives

What makes Laguiole knives special?

Their shape is easy to recognize: a slim, curved handle with a blade that folds into it. The ones on this page are handmade in France by Laguiole en Aubrac, with handles in plenty of woods and horns, and with a single blade or a corkscrew. The range runs from classic models to Damascus blades and pieces made once, never to be repeated.

Are Laguiole knives good?

That's down to the maker, because any factory is free to call a knife Laguiole. A Laguiole en Aubrac pocket knife is handmade in France, with its maker's name shown on the blade. You can choose its handle from woods, horns and other materials, each finished to suit the material, satin or polished.

What is the best pocket knife with a wood handle?

The one whose wood you'll enjoy holding every day. Satin-finished juniper and olive wood are the lighter choices, while polished ebony is almost black. Each Laguiole en Aubrac wood handle pocket knife is handmade in France, and because wood grain never repeats, yours won't look exactly like anyone else's.

Where are Laguiole knives made?

Laguiole knives come from many places, since the style isn't tied to one maker, and plenty are factory-made. Every knife on this page, on the other hand, is handmade in France by Laguiole en Aubrac, whichever handle, blade or series you pick.

Care instructions come with your order: hand wash the knife, dry it right away and keep wood or horn well away from any dishwasher.