Set of 2 Laguiole Steak Knives and 2 Forks

Olive, juniper or buffalo horn handles

Olive is a light, warm Mediterranean wood with a satin finish. Juniper, satin-finished too, runs from pale blond to honey, and its small knots differ on every handle. Buffalo horn takes a glossy black polish. No two raw horn plates share the same shade, so the workshop matches four plates that go together before it makes each set. Whatever you choose, all four pieces share one material. Prefer a satin wood finish? Choose olive or juniper. For a glossy black, go with buffalo horn. To compare more handles, read Knife Handle Materials.

Why buy knives and forks as a set

Buying knives and forks together means each fork is made to go with its knife. Here the fork's handle repeats the design and material of the knife's, so the two pieces in each pair look and feel made for each other. You cut with the steak knife and steady the meat with the fork, and at a table for two, you each hold an identical pair. The Laguiole name is open to any maker, and many mass-produced sets carry it, so check the blade: each knife here shows its maker, Laguiole en Aubrac.

Dinner knives and forks for two now, more later

These dinner knives and forks can grow with your table. Each handle you see here also comes as four or six steak knives and as six forks, so you can start with two place settings and fill out the table later without changing material. If you'd rather start with knives alone, every wood and horn handle here is available as a steak knife pair too. Natural wood and horn vary a little from one set to the next, so no two sets look exactly alike.

Silverware questions

What side does silverware go on?

For a simple dinner, forks belong on the plate's left side and knives on its right, cutting edge facing in. A spoon, if you need one, sits outside the knife. Pieces for later courses go closest to the plate, so you work from the outside in. With a set like this, each place has an identical Laguiole en Aubrac knife and fork.

How do you place silverware when you're finished?

In the US, the finished position is the knife and fork lying side by side across the plate, handles at about four o'clock, knife blade facing in and fork tines up. While you're still eating, rest the knife across the top edge of the plate instead. Because each fork in this set has a handle matching its knife, the two sit neatly together when you're done.

What is silverware made of?

Despite the name, most silverware sold today contains no silver. In the US the word covers any table knives, forks and spoons. These sets aren't silver either: their handles are made from natural wood or horn, among other materials, and Laguiole en Aubrac makes every knife and fork by hand in France.

Care instructions come with each delivery. Hand wash the knives and forks, dry them off without delay, and keep every wood-handled or horn-handled piece away from the dishwasher.