Laguiole Waiter's Corkscrew, Black

The appeal of Laguiole cutlery is  clear. Colourful handles, quirky details and a French country provenance  makes them a sought after addition to any table. Laguiole is actually the name of a village in the Aubrac Mountains of  the Aveyron region of France. It’s also the name of a cheese, and the  generic name for a folding knife. It’s not a brand name, which is why  you can find Laguiole style cutlery made all over the world, across a  range of price points. The original Laguiole knives were folding pocket knives with handles  crafted from horn or wood which were used by farmers and shepherds in  the early 1800s. Today’s versions feature the same slim profile,  although much of the production has moved outside the town of Laguiole  to other areas of France. The key distinguishing feature of Laguiole knives is the insect at  the top of the handle. Many people believe it’s a bee, a royal seal of  approval bestowed by Napoleon in gratitude for courageous fighting by  local soldiers. Others think it’s a horse fly, familiar to local  farmers. Whatever the story, it’s a charming detail and a good way to  assess the quality of a knife. The Jean Néron Coutellerie is located in Chabreloche, north of  Laguiole in the Puy-de-Dome, in south-central France. A third generation  family business, Jean Néron prides itself on producing cutlery  according to longstanding tradition, but practical enough to be used  every day – the colourful resin handles and inox stainless steel blades  of this range are dishwasher proof. Did you know – if you’re the recipient of the knife as a gift, it’s  customary to give a coin in response to avoid cutting the ties of the  friendship!