Laguiole

[Gardener]

If some laguiole table wear has the mouche emblem, the hexangonal stamp and the engraved middle section, is it likely to be the real deal?

I have seen something I would like to order but it is far less expensive than I thought it would be for genuine laguiole.

[Gardengirl]

Buyer beware! Whether or not a knife is genuine Laguiole can be debated for days.But if they're a good price and you like and will enjoy them, why not?  [:)]

Here's a link to an old but interesting article I came across some time ago: http://articles.latimes.com/1995-03-19/travel/tr-44771_1_laguiole-knife

There are stalls selling them at local markets, all with certificates of authenticity, but of dubious value. There are others on sale at an excellent kitchen shop; much dearer, but genuine? I don't know!

[Gardener]

The item I have seen will be a present,so I don't want it to fall apart after a day or two. They do look ok though.

I have been looking for a couple of days and found items that are well out of my price range and others that state they are laguiole but don't have any of what I thought was distinguishing features.

I think I will will risk it :)

[Clair]

[quote user="Gardener"]If some laguiole table wear has the mouche emblem, the hexangonal stamp and the engraved middle section, is it likely to be the real deal?

I have seen something I would like to order but it is far less expensive than I thought it would be for genuine laguiole.[/quote]

Some tips here: http://www.laguiole-en-aubrac.fr/francais/reconnaitre_laguiole.html

The price varies a lot according to the wood used for the handle (see here for the range).

If in doubt, you can order some online from one of the manufacturers in the Aubrac.

There is also some debate as to whether only those manufactured in the Aubrac are the real ones.

[pachapapa]

Often found locally as prizes in Village hall LOTO sessions, particularly In the Bocage Bressuirais.

The elegant boxes from the Pradel Luxinox range surface again at Vide Greniers at ludicrous prices.

For example bought together a Gateau and a Salad sets, nominally € 70 for a haggled € 7.

Fair enough if you order direct from Pradel you get an extra box free, hence the attraction to people organising LOTOs.

View range in link:

http://www.pradel-france.com/english/produits/collection.php?id_gamme=9

[Chancer]

There is no such thing as genuine Laguiole, it is a style that does not have a brevet and anyone can make it, one can draw a comparison with Cheddar cheese.

Until a few years ago there were no knifemakers in the village of Laguiole, most of the French production was and still is based at Thiers although by far the majority of coutelliers were just assembling chinese made parts. The one or perhaps two factorys now in Laguiole are there to exploit the tourist and export opportunity.

I had until recently a cheap Laguiole menagere, undoubtedly Chinese bought from Carrefour IIRC it gave me very good service for over 5 years but gradually the plastic handles cracked.

I have in the past few months bought 3 more upmarket "genuine" Pradel menageres, one for €6 at a rédérie the others for €30 for the two on Leboncoin and they are of excellent quality (I use them every day), they have the brass cappings on the handles not stainless, they dont sell for a lot second hand (usually they are unused having been kept for best) and I reckon they were reasonably priced when they were made and hence unlikely to be copied like some of the other coutelliers. I have however seen chonky "genuine" Pradel kitchen knives being sold at the markets.

I bought a set of all stainless ones off of ebay.fr and whilst cheap the finishing let them down and they felt cheap in the hand, I resold them on E-bay UK and the bidding went mad, I made a good profit which was not my intention and the buyer was delighted with them.