Photo by the forge
Laguiole Le Fidèle: the forge and its knives
The forge introduces itself: its workshop, its signature and its knives
A portrait of the forge
In 1991 Isabelle and Yvan Boitel founded their firm in Thiers with a clear idea: respect the tradition, be bold in design and do not negotiate on quality. The name Le Fidèle, the faithful one, is no accident. It stands for reliability in material and workmanship as much as for loyalty to their own design conviction. In 2008 their son Thomas Boitel took over and expanded the international presence without leaving the craft foundation behind.
With about four employees Le Fidèle is one of the smaller forges. That is no drawback, as it allows every single knife to be checked personally. Two things make the signature. The firm's own 20/20 design, in which the shape of the bee, the handle and the proportions follow a distinct concept. And marquetry, an inlay technique in which wood, horn or other materials are fitted so precisely that the joins disappear to the naked eye. The bee here is not a copy of a historic model but a creation in its own right.
The range runs from the classic Laguiole through damascus versions to special editions in rare handle materials, together with hunting knives, steak knives and the Vendetta line. The Le Race series stands for restrained design, the DoDu line for a more playful reading of the classic shape. Because each knife is built individually, delivery times of six to twelve weeks are normal.
Inside the workshop
7These pictures were provided by the forge itself.
Two generations at one bench, in front of the sample boards of handle materials. These pieces decide what goes onto a knife.
Photo by the forge
A pale handle at the grinding wheel. The mask belongs to it: grinding bone and horn produces fine dust.
Photo by the forge
The workshop in daylight. At the pillar drills the holes for axle and rivets are made, accurate to a tenth of a millimetre.
Photo by the forgeNew and remarkable
9What the forge shows us: new models, special editions, arrangements from their own workshop.
Where the knives are made
Laguiole Le Fidèle
Everything about this forge, its history and its signature is on our page about the forge.
Have your Laguiole Le Fidèle knife examined
You already own a knife from this forge? We can examine it and issue an A.I.P.C.L. certificate of authenticity - no matter where you bought it.
You own a knife by Laguiole Le Fidèle? Then you can have it entered into the A.I.P.C.L. We check that it is genuine, and your knife receives its own number, its own page and its certificate - a proof that stays with it, even when it changes hands.
What we look at on a knife by Laguiole Le Fidèle
Every forge has its signature. With Laguiole Le Fidèle it is the hand worked spring and the guillochage, together with the natural handle materials this forge is known for. That is exactly what allows a knife to be identified, and it is what we examine in your photographs. If a question remains, we go to the forge itself.
How it works
You register your knife. Right here on aipcl.com, with no sign-up beforehand: name the forge and upload the photographs - open and closed, the bee, the spine, the blade with the forge mark, and if available the receipt or packaging. Then you pay the examination fee; we create your customer account along the way.
We examine it. We compare your knife with what we know from 30 years of trading with French forges, and when in doubt we ask the forge itself.
You get the result. If your knife is genuine it receives its own number, its page on aipcl.com and the certificate as a PDF. If it is not, we tell you that too.
What it costs
10.00 eurosor 15 CARMOS points from original-laguiole.de - what those are is explained there.
Examining and registering one knife costs 10.00 euros.
If the examination shows that your knife does not come from a French forge, we refund the amount, of course. You pay only for a certificate you actually receive.
You order and pay here on aipcl.com, by PayPal or by bank transfer in advance. With the payment you buy the examination, not the certificate; whether we issue it depends on the result of examining your photographs.
Order the examination (10.00 euros)