What did you buy today?

[Nice65]

I was in Brantôme for the first time in maybe ten or twelve years and found a new knife shop, so bought a little pocket knife made in Saint-Estèphe, near to Nontron (the shop belongs to the manufacturer but also sells some mass-produced knives).

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I love the French and Italian knife shops. It used to be almost every town had one, I hope that’s still the case?

It’s a classic, your purchase, so French. And authentic saucisson to cut too

 

[Keith_Beef]

I love the French and Italian knife shops. It used to be almost every town had one, I hope that’s still the case?

It’s a classic, your purchase, so French. And authentic saucisson to cut too

Many towns no longer have the old fashioned ironmonger that would sell garden tools, household goods and pocket knives. But usually the tobacconist (combined with bookmaker and often café-bar) has a small selection of pocket knives: Opinel and Victorinox and dedicated pipe-smoker's knife and cigar cutter, for the most part, but sometimes "novelty" knives, too.

Many small, rural towns will have a hunting, shooting and fishing shop with a selection of Muela and Puma hunting knives.

But over the past twenty years or so there has been a big increase in the number of craft knifemakers. Paris still has a few dedicated knife shops. Kindal sadly dwindled away to a shadow of its former self and moved from its big shop near the old Paris opera house to take a small shop near Saint Lazare station, but there are lots of small shops in seaside towns or inland tourist destinations.

Sometimes these are shared art and craft type places, like the one in Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche, where a basket weaver, a knifemaker, several painters, papercrafters, woodworkers and jewellers all present their work together and take turns at being present in the shop.

 

[Pattree]

That’s an interesting knife.
Is it a swivel lock?

 

[Nice65]

Many towns no longer have the old fashioned ironmonger that would sell garden tools, household goods and pocket knives. But usually the tobacconist (combined with bookmaker and often café-bar) has a small selection of pocket knives: Opinel and Victorinox and dedicated pipe-smoker's knife and cigar cutter, for the most part, but sometimes "novelty" knives, too.

Many small, rural towns will have a hunting, shooting and fishing shop with a selection of Muela and Puma hunting knives.

But over the past twenty years or so there has been a big increase in the number of craft knifemakers. Paris still has a few dedicated knife shops. Kindal sadly dwindled away to a shadow of its former self and moved from its big shop near the old Paris opera house to take a small shop near Saint Lazare station, but there are lots of small shops in seaside towns or inland tourist destinations.

Sometimes these are shared art and craft type places, like the one in Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche, where a basket weaver, a knifemaker, several painters, papercrafters, woodworkers and jewellers all present their work together and take turns at being present in the shop.

Ahh, Le Tabac. Also a shop of interest and curiosities, French cigarettes and tobaccos, Gitanes in paper packets, Rizla in many types, neat little lighters and matches made of waxed thread with a strike anywhere head. I loved those dark little shops more than the knife shops to be honest.

 

[Pattree]

UK used to have knife shops in most bigger towns. Most hardware shops and sports shops sold the Rogers range at the very least.

Your Pérgorde has a rustic elegance to it. Hope it’s as useful as it looks.

 

[Keith_Beef]

UK used to have knife shops in most bigger towns. Most hardware shops and sports shops sold the Rogers range at the very least.

Your Pérgorde has a rustic elegance to it. Hope it’s as useful as it looks.

I grew up in Sheffield... There was one knife shop, Morton's on West Street. It was said that nobody needed a knife shop, because everybody had a cousin or friend who worked in a factory and could get a knife that way.

Then there was Dawson's fishing tackle shop on Holme Lane, where I first saw Marttiini knives when I was about 10, and wanted a puukko ever since... I eventually got one after I'd turned 30 and now I make them.

Incidentally, there was a Marttiini in the shop in Brantôme... the woman serving was astounded that I recognised it and knew the factory just from seeing it at an odd angle hanging in the corner. But then again, she's been working there for two weeks, and doesn't know much about the bought-in stock, yet.

 

[Ozmundo]

A dozen 9in alu tent pins for a tenner plus some reflective para cord.