Laguiole Hummingbird Pocket Knife from France

September 15, 2007

When you think of a bird knife, you usually only have two types of knives in mind.  The most obvious would be the standard bird hunting knives such as the Case Ducks Unlimited Knife we recently featured.  And if you are up on your knives, the Byrd Series of knives from Spyderco may have come to mind with their bird named knives such as the Finch Crow and Cara Cara pocket knife.  But this offering from Laguiole of France is undoubtedly the most unique knife of the bunch and truly embodies the name bird knife.

The Laguiole Colibri (hummingbird) is very aptly named as its side view has the unmistakable form of a hummingbird.  Although the handle is available in a number of materials including a beautiful ebony and ones in blue and licorice plexiglass, the multi-colored stamina wood handle offering really rounds out the look of the knife. 

Laguiole knives are hand made in France in Thiers in Auvergne and come complete with a certificate of origin to certify that this is not one of the many knock-offs of this storied company.  Knifemakers have been a part of the history of Thiers since the 15th century and many of the knife craftsmen in this region have eschewed the latest machinery in an effort to carry on the traditional knife making legacy of the region.  This spirit is shared by Laguiole who have continued their tradition of excellence for over 150 years.