Two, three really, pocket knives stand out in my mind as iconic marques. The relatively obscure Nontron, the well known Opinel and Laguiole. All made in France in the same region for hundreds of years. While Opinel has made minor updates to its classic style and Nontron can come across as almost archaic. Laguiole on the other hand is operating in both contemporary and historic eras. It’s worth noting that Laguiole is neither brand nor logo but a historic style that is manufactured all over the world. Some companies like Forge de Laguiole actually do make their knives in southern France and have done so for a very long time. The one pictured above is from Baladeo. They’ve been around since 1995 and offer classic designs at very affordable prices.
The first pocket knives I remember owning were an Opinel No 5 and a basic Laguiole folder. I liked them from the start and still own a couple. Their relatively ancient design remains appealing but the lack of a pocket clip can be a hassle with modern carry habits and updated and exotic materials are fun.
This Baladeo Laguiole is a good example of exploring new territory while not leaving behind the style the knife is known for. It’s just a hair too big to call it unintimidating but it also doesn’t look tactical. I haven’t put it through it’s paces yet but the metal seems good and G10 scales are typically durable. At under $20 its worth using for every day carry considering it’s replaceable and the pocket clip makes it far more useable than more traditional models. Sometimes updating is good. Especially in terms of design thinking, where we don’t just evolve aesthetics, but solve problems. Mess with classics all you want just don’t forget their history.
Currently easy to find on both Amazon and eBay.
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