The Ride to my Knife

Story and Photos by ITN European Reporter Herve’ Rebollo.

Salut à toi, American rider,

I hope that you have noted that I am a very young old biker. More precisely, since last 28^th May 2024, I’m a young rider of 60.

And this year, I was especially spoiled by my family and friends for my birthday: great restaurants, nice gifts… And especially one of them: a cutlery and blacksmithing course to make my own knife. Incredible, right?!

This course would take place in the magnificent village of ESTAING, at CHRISTOPHE LACAZE’s workshop.

All right. After calling Christophe, we decided to set the date for our working day at the beginning of September.

On a sunny Friday morning, I first left the Paris’ suburbs to join the great South crossing magnificent villages.

First stage was the city of Bourges, in center France, where I wanted to have a night in the fabulous hotel Bourbon.

And having a diner in its incredible restaurant located in a former medieval church deconsecrated.

As usual in France, roads were pleasant and beautiful.

And then, at the end of this sunny Sunday, came the old village of ESTAING.

Estaing is a commune in the AVEYRON department in the OCCITANIE Region of Southern France. The D’Estaing family, first mentioned in writings in 1028, was one of the most powerful families of the Rouergue from the 13th to the 18th century, making the village known throughout France (Rouergue is a former province of France, corresponding roughly with the modern department of Aveyron. During the Middle Ages Rouergue changed hands a number of times; its rulers included England, Armagnac and Languedoc).

Located in the north of the Aveyron department, Estaing (population less than 800) is considered one of the most picturesque villages in France.

It is one of the ten villages of Aveyron that are part of the association “The most beautiful villages of France”.

The village is very quiet during the winter months; it is in the summer that it shows the most signs of life. Lying at 320 meters above sea level, the winters are cool and the summers are hot and dry.

The bridge over the river Lot in Estaing has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela since the site’s designation in 1998.

Arriving in the village, it was very easy to find the CHRISTOPHE LACAZE’s workshop.

At the end of my road this day, I so was happy knowing that I was going to meet the French jeweler of the knife.

The craft of cutlery came to Christophe by chance … Int the 80’s he studied general mechanics fitting and locksmithing, then to automotive mechanics and electronic, there was nothing to direct him at that time toward the cutlery of art …

His fate has pushed him toward cutlery by looking for a job following a few months of unemployment in mechanics. It was at that time in 1989 that he began his new work at the Forege de Laguiole. The knife was in full expansion on the heights of Aubrac. After a few years of apprenticeship in traditional and industrial cutlery, it was in 1996 that he decided to set up his own cutlery to set up his own cutlery workshop.

The passion of a profession is born … Over the years Christophe has perfected himself, evolved and become passionate about moving towards superior quality and begin to create knives made entirely by hand, forging his blades, making his engravings and chiselings. Then day by day a quality and a perfect finish of his knives have become a priority for him.

Today…
He’s now specialized in the creation of premium knives in luxury, his knives become a fashion accessory for men as you can afford a beautiful watch or a beautiful pen. Christophe imagines, creates and makes art knives as well as fashion accessories for women or men such as unique art jewelry or high-end writing instruments. A modern design design combined with the choice of the material and the knife then becomes a jewel that will also be appreciated by the ladies …

And it was with that kind of great craftsman that was going to spend one day to produce my own knife. So excited!!

And, on this sunny Monday morning, we start to work… from scratch.

First the engraving, with a file. Difficult, tiring. Under the benevolent eye of Christophe and with his wise advice.

Then comes the choice of materials. Antlers (this product does not come from hunting).

And as the hours go by, in the precision of the master’s gestures, the work progresses.

And noon, it was time for French meal on the Lot river (I was exhausted).

A good local beer to accompany a great traditional French dish: a duck breast. One of the great specialties of the area (one of the best I have ever eaten in my life). Duck breast packs a rich flavor like steak but is leaner like chicken or turkey when prepared properly.

Then, came the time to go back to the workshop.

And gradually, step by step…

Work is moving forward.

The knife is starting to appear…

The assembly of the parts is approaching …

Christophe had forged the blade (which I chose in carbon and not in stainless steel) the day before. This work had taken him three hours.

Then comes the stage of polishing the staghorn which will change color and go from brown to white-gray.

And finally the polishing of the blade which requires a good ten minutes with the grinding wheel.

And the final result is simply amazing.

It was a particularly successful day. Christophe is a master in his art and a most pleasant man. I spent a day out of time in a very beautiful place. I wish everyone to have such an experience.

I now have the immense pleasure of owning a magnificent knife, unique in the world, that I would have made myself (the truth is that Christophe did 95% of the work and that for the remaining 5%, he spent his time correcting my many mistakes – lol).

And after a last night in the apartment just above the workshop…

It was time to go home on this Tuesday morning. And of course, to make a stop in Laguiole to take the traditional photo near the famous bull on the main street (remember this former post: GO SOUTH!! – Iron Trader News ). And finally, this 4 days trip permited me to ride my motobike on 2000km of tiny roads. Not too bad.