laguiole
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Shop
le laguiole
laguiole
laguiole
The landmark of the little village is the bull standing on the
market-place. It symbolizes the traditional consciousness
of its inhabitants. Laguiole has approximately 1200 resi-
dents, more than hundred are employed at the
FORGE DE LAGUIOLE.
Many shops in town are selling knives. The tourists, however, are mainly offered knives in-
dustrially fabricated in the Frensh town Thiers or even in Asia. The ignorance of the tourists is
often taken advantage of. Thus they buy a knife believing that it was forged and manufactured 
in Laguiole. The truth is that it often has been produced in the Far East and its material is only
worth 2 - 3 Dollars. The only thing the knives have in common is the character "LAGUIOLE"
imprinted on the blade.

Never had Calmels nor his heirs the brandname"LAGUIOLE" protected. This circumstance has
always attracted numerous imitators. Many knives, sunglasses, lighters and other articles badly
manufactured are offered with the name "LAGUIOLE", they all have nothing to do with the tra-
ditional product manufactured in the cuttlery of the village.
laguiole
However, people from Laguiole were not willing
to accept that manufactures from other regions
were producing this legendary knife. Therefore
the community founded the 
"ASSOCIATION COUTEAU DE LAGUIOLE"
in the early eighties.
The aim was to reestablish the knife production in Laguiole which would guarantee the old tra-
ditionel high quality. Besides it would help gaining a new economic reputation for the region.
Finally in 1987 the FORGE DE LAGUIOLE was founded. Until today it is the only local manu-
factory which forges blades and manufactures the knives according to the traditioal way.
The restaurant of Michel Bras is also situated
in Laguiole. He is one of the most innovative
cooks in France and highly decorated with
three stars. The restaurant and hotel owned by
Bras was designed by the renowned French
designer Eric Raffy. Not much later he even
created a prize winning pocket-knife for the
FORGE DE LAGUIOLE.
laguiole