Laguiole Purplewood Pocket Knife - 12cm, Prestige Collection

A genuine Laguiole knife made in the ancestral fashion is an every day companion

Under normal use your knife has a lifetime guarantee

Handle Care

A folding knife should be wiped, never washed !

• Horntip, Horn, Stag Horn and Ivory Handles:

Those are natural materials used to make the knives. If possible, avoid getting the handles wet and avoid washing them with water (beyond a quick wipe with a damp cloth), or there is a risk of the handle splitting.
Horn is composed of keratin similar to feathers and finger nails. This is one of the reasons why it offers a great variety of colours and that this material requires minimum care.

• French Wood or Exotic Wood Handles:

Wooden handles can withstand cold limited water. Nevertheless they still have to be considered as fragile materials.
If your knife handle becomes dry or/and dull, apply olive oil with a soft cloth on it

• Stainless Steel, Carbon Fiber, Aluminium and Acrylic Handles:

These materials are hardwearing and thus recommended for people who need a "rough and ready" outdoor knife or whose hobby is fishing for example.They are more resistant to water and to getting wet than the aforementioned natural handled knifes.
In any case, they have to be wipped after use and the mechanism needs to be cared of.
We strongly advise against using the dishwasher to clean any folding knives.

Blade Care

• Stainless Steel Blade:

Contrary to the traditional blade which blackens, stainless steel blades remain clean whatever use you make of them.
12C27 or 14C28N stainless steel are up-market steels. It is easy to grind whether by professionals or by private individuals.
After use wipe the blade with a damp cloth and dry it. Avoid using scotch brite, it can scratch the blade.

• Damascus Blade:

In case of regular use, wash it after every use to keep its moiré look. If you do not use your knife for a long time, grease your blade to avoid any deterioration in its beauty. A neutral grease such as the silicon grease used in plumbing is preferable.
Damascus blade care is identical to the other blades. In order to clean it, wipe the blade with a wet cloth and dry it. Avoid using scotch brite, it can scratch the blade.

Blade Sharpening

There are 2 different complementary methods for sharpening your knife: 
- honing to restore the edge
- grinding to maintain the edge

During both operation you need to keep a 20-30° angle (a blade must not be scratched!)
Press hard and regularly (faster movements does not improve the quality of the sharpening ; it only increases the risks to cut oneself or scratch/chip the blade!)
These methods can be done in a few minutes but need some practice. Before sharpening your brand new Laguiole knife, try to practice with an old knife.

• Honing:

The honing is done on a whetstone or an electric grindstone (grindstone needs to be perfectly round).
Before use, the whetstone has to be submerged in water for about ten minutes. A coarse-grained stone is used for gardening tools and a medium-grained stone for knives.
Make a movement as if you wished to cut a thin slice out of the stone (keeping the same angle). Do this movement again alternating one side of the blade with the other. Wet the stone regularly during the grinding.
Fixing the stone on a workbench using two clamps (contrary to what is shown on the picture below) will free both hands and make the honing easier.

• Grinding:

The grinding is made with a magnetized steel with a 25cm long bit and a hilt. Wether it is round, oval or flat, you will do the same movements.The movement is identical to the one with the whetstone. Going from the top of the bit with the bottom of the knife's blade do as if you wished to cut the steel towards the hilt. Do this movement again alternating one size of the blade with the other.

Mechanism Care

It is necessary to oil regularly the moving parts of any folding knife as much as it is for a car engine. It will prevent it from a premature wear.
You can use a multi-use oil or a WD 40 oil. With the blade folded closed, put a drop of oil between the blade and the spring at the blade axle. Open and close the blade, then wipe off the surplus oil.

Bolsters Care

• Solid Brass Bolsters

To leave a Laguiole knife in a leather sheath for an extended period of time without using the knife will oxidize the brass bolsters. This is simply due to the chemical agents used in the tanning process of the leather.
To give the oxidized brass bolsters their original shine, wet a rag with some “ metal polish (Ouator or Miror brands are recommended) and elbow grease will do the rest!

• Stainless Steel Bolsters

No care is needed for knives with stainless steel bolsters.

• For any Knife

Avoid having your knife in your pocket along with other metallic objects such as keys, coins... It might scratch the handle and the metallic parts of your knife

Folding knives: 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13cm?

Whenever we give the size of a Laguiole folding knife, we mean the size of the handle measured in centimetres.
We propose several sizes of knife : 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 cm. (other sizes are available in the Collection range: 15 cm, 17 cm.)
The choice of the knife's size is easy to make and varies according to whether it is for a man, woman or child.
The knife size conditions the price, the weight and most of all the good handhold

How to choose one's knife size?

For women:

The 11 cm Laguiole knife is the ideal handle size for a regular use
To carry your knife in your handbag and make use of it during picnics or when travelling, the 10cm is a good compromise between its weight, size and handle size

For men:

12 cm is the ideal size for a Laguiole knife
The 13cm size is meant for men with large hands
The 11cm size is not very nice in case of regular use

For children:

12 cm is the ideal size for a Laguiole knife
In former days, families used to offer the first Laguiole knife the day of the solemn communion. This gift was the symbol of the change from chilhood to adulthood.
For safety reasons, you could be tempted to choose a small size handle for your child. Beware, all knives have the same "dangerousness". To cut oneself is an experience we all got one day and in most cases the consequences are benign. The dangerous aspect comes from the blade tip and all knife blades are pointed.
Take into consideration the fact that your child is going to grow up... and very quickly!

The corresponding dimensions

Size for Folding Knives	Total Length	Blade Length
Laguiole 8 cm handle lenght	14,50 cm	6,50 cm
Laguiole 9 cm handle lenght	16,60 cm	7,50 cm
Laguiole 10 cm handle lenght	18,70 cm	8,70 cm
Laguiole 11 cm handle lenght	19,90 cm	8,90 cm
Laguiole 12 cm handle lenght	22 cm	10 cm
Laguiole 13 cm handle lenght	24,20 cm	11,20 cm
Laguiole 15 cm handle lenght	28,20 cm	13,20 cm

 

Sizes for Tableware Cutlery	Total Length	Handle Length
Table knife	23,30 cm	12 cm
Table fork	21,50 cm	12 cm
Table soup spoon	22,30 cm	12 cm
Dessert-cheese knife	19,50 cm	11 cm
Dessert fork	17,20 cm	9 cm
Dessert Spoon	16,70 cm	9 cm
Cheese knife	24 cm	12 cm
Salad Set	25,80 cm	12 cm
Butter knife or spreader	17,80 cm	10 cm