The Best Laguiole Steak Knives in 2026: Which Set to Buy, by Budget and Table

Last updated: October 2026. Written by the Laguiole en Aubrac Shop team, the authorized US retailer of Laguiole en Aubrac®. We sell Laguiole en Aubrac and nothing else; the other French makers further down are included because a buying guide that ignores them is not a buying guide.

The short answer

The best Laguiole steak knife set for most homes is the Laguiole en Aubrac handcrafted 6-piece set with olivewood handles ($549.95). Each knife is made start to finish by one artisan in Espalion, in the historic Laguiole area of France, with a 4.25" smooth blade in 12C27 Sandvik stainless steel, brushed stainless bolsters, the shepherd's cross on the handle, a wooden presentation box, a certificate of authenticity and a limited lifetime warranty. Olivewood is dense and forgiving, which matters on knives that get washed after every dinner.

If you want the most traditional look, buy the buffalo horn 6-piece set ($579.95). If you want six genuine handmade knives for less, buy the full-olivewood 6-piece set ($349.95). Everything below refines those three answers.

Best Laguiole steak knife sets by use and budget

Every set below is made by Laguiole en Aubrac in the Aubrac region of France, with smooth 4.25" (11 cm) blades in 12C27 Sandvik stainless steel, knives about 9" (23 cm) long, a certificate of authenticity and a limited lifetime warranty. Prices are in US dollars and were correct on the date above.

If you want…	Buy this	Price	Why
The best all-round set	6-piece, olivewood handles	$549.95	Brushed bolsters, shepherd's cross, wooden box. The handle that copes best with everyday use.
The most traditional look	6-piece, buffalo horn handles	$579.95	Dark, translucent horn and shiny polished bolsters: the classic Aubrac table. Horn wants a little oil now and then.
Six handmade knives for less	6-piece, full olivewood handles	$349.95	Same artisan, same steel and wooden box; the handle runs the full length with no metal bolster, and the blades are brushed.
A gift-boxed set under $400	Luxury 6-piece, walnut handles	$399.95	The Luxury line: same 12C27 steel and smooth blades, stainless bolsters, a gift box. Also in olive wood and teak.
The lowest-maintenance handles	6-piece, mixed pakkawood handles	$449.95	Pakkawood is 70% wood and 30% resin, so it shrugs off heat, moisture and warping better than solid wood. Still hand wash.
A gift that starts a conversation	6-piece, mixed French wood handles	$549.95	Six woods in one box (walnut, juniper, olive, plum, apple, boxwood), so every guest has a different knife. Small batches.
A couple or a small table	4-piece, olivewood handles	$349.95	The handcrafted line in a four-knife wooden box. A 2-piece olivewood set ($199.95) is the smallest way in.
A statement table	Double-plate 6-piece, juniper, brass and stainless	$899.95	Two plates, brass and stainless, framing the handle. Very limited stock; burl and ironwood sets run to $999.95.
Somewhere to keep them	Oak storage case, 6 slots	$34.95	Keeps edges off each other and out of the cutlery drawer.

Browse every set, including bone, burl, ebony, ironwood and all-stainless handles, in our steak and table knives collection.

Why every Laguiole en Aubrac steak knife has a smooth blade

Every Laguiole en Aubrac steak and table knife, in both the handcrafted and Luxury lines, has a smooth (plain-edge) blade. That is a deliberate choice. A smooth edge is sharper: it slices through meat cleanly instead of sawing and tearing the fibres, so the juices stay in the steak and the cut on the plate looks the way the cook intended. It is also the only edge you can keep sharp yourself. A few passes on a fine whetstone or ceramic rod a couple of times a year brings it back, and 12C27 steel is chosen precisely because it takes and holds that fine edge.

Serrated edges are common on mass-produced steak knives because the teeth keep tearing through meat long after the edge itself has gone dull, which hides cheap steel and poor heat treatment. They cannot be properly resharpened at home. If you are comparing sets and one is serrated, you are looking at a different kind of knife.

How to choose a set

How many knives

Six is the standard for a household that entertains. Four suits a couple or a small dining table. Two-piece sets work as a gift, a starter, or a way to build a mixed collection over time. If you want to match the table completely, Laguiole en Aubrac also makes fork sets and combined knife-and-fork sets in the same handles.

Handle material

Olivewood is the sensible default: dense, naturally oily and tolerant of daily washing. Juniper is lighter in colour and faintly aromatic. Buffalo horn and solid horn are the most traditional and the most striking, but horn dislikes heat and very dry air, so it suits someone who will wipe it with a drop of mineral oil a couple of times a year. Pakkawood and stainless handles are the most practical. Bone, burl, ebony and ironwood are for the table you want people to talk about.

Bolsters and plates

The bolster is the metal collar between blade and handle. Polished (shiny) bolsters look formal; brushed or matte ones hide fingerprints and everyday marks. "Double plate" sets add a second layer, brass and stainless, along the handle for a heavier, dressier knife. None of this changes how the knife cuts; choose on looks and weight.

Laguiole en Aubrac vs. other makers of Laguiole steak knives

Four names come up again and again when people shop for Laguiole steak knives. All of them are French companies, and any of them is a better purchase than an unbranded "Laguiole" set from a marketplace.

Maker	Where	What it is known for	Typical 6-piece price (US)
Laguiole en Aubrac	Espalion, Aveyron (historic Laguiole area)	One artisan per knife; smooth 12C27 Sandvik blades on every set; the widest choice of natural handles; LOG origin stamp; US stock with a limited lifetime warranty.	Most sets $349.95–$999.95
Forge de Laguiole	Village of Laguiole	The in-village forge; handmade table knives with smooth blades; designer collaborations.	Roughly $500–$750 at US and European retailers
Claude Dozorme	Thiers, Puy-de-Dôme	Family workshop since 1902; says it made the first fixed-blade Laguiole steak knife; X50CrMoV15 steel; colourful modern ranges.	About $170 for colourful resin sets; $580–$590 for wood
Jean Dubost	Viscomtat, near Thiers	Family company founded in 1920; everyday tableware; many sets with acrylic or ABS handles that are dishwasher safe; serrated options; widely stocked by US department and restaurant-supply stores.	Varies widely by handle; generally the most accessible of the four

Our honest summary: if dishwasher-safe everyday knives matter most, a Jean Dubost acrylic set is a reasonable buy. If you want bright modern colours, look at Claude Dozorme. If you want a knife made in the village itself, Forge de Laguiole is the obvious choice. For a smooth-bladed knife with a natural handle, made by one artisan in the historic Laguiole area, with the broadest choice of materials, US stock and a limited lifetime warranty, buy Laguiole en Aubrac. That is a biased opinion from a biased retailer, and also the reason we chose this workshop.

How to spot a fake Laguiole steak knife set

Steak knife sets are where most fake "Laguiole" is sold, because a six-piece box photographs well and sells for very little. The word Laguiole is not a protected name, so a set can carry it legally without being made in France. Six checks:

1. Maker's name on the blade. A genuine set names the workshop, not just "Laguiole." Laguiole en Aubrac blades say Laguiole en Aubrac, and most carry the LOG (Laguiole Origine Garantie) stamp.
2. A named steel. The seller should tell you the grade. Ours is 12C27 Sandvik. "Stainless steel" with no grade is a warning sign.
3. Natural handles that vary. Real wood and horn differ from knife to knife. Six identical handles with a printed grain are plastic.
4. Flush, even rivets. Raised or uneven rivets point to a stamped, mass-produced handle.
5. A certificate of authenticity that names the maker and is tied to the warranty.
6. A realistic price. A six-piece set for under about $200 is not handmade in France; a $25 set certainly is not.

We go deeper in our guide on how to spot a fake Laguiole knife.

Caring for Laguiole steak knives

Hand wash in warm water with mild soap and dry straight away. Never use the dishwasher: the heat and detergent crack horn, dry out wood, dull edges and void the warranty. Don't leave the knives soaking in the sink. Wipe wood and horn handles with a drop of mineral oil once or twice a year. Touch up the blades on a fine whetstone or ceramic rod at about 20 degrees when they start to drag. Store them in their box or an oak case rather than loose in a drawer. Full instructions are on our care and tips page.

Frequently asked questions

Are Laguiole en Aubrac steak knives smooth or serrated?

Smooth. Every Laguiole en Aubrac steak and table knife, in both the handcrafted and Luxury lines, has a smooth 12C27 steel blade. A smooth edge is sharper, slices meat cleanly instead of tearing it, and can be resharpened at home for decades.

Are Laguiole steak knives dishwasher safe?

Laguiole en Aubrac steak knives are not. Hand wash and dry immediately; the dishwasher damages natural handles and voids the warranty. Some mass-market Laguiole-style sets with acrylic handles are sold as dishwasher safe.

How many steak knives should I buy?

Six for a household that entertains, four for a couple or small table, two as a gift or a starter.

What steel are Laguiole en Aubrac steak knives made from?

12C27 Sandvik stainless steel, a fine-grained Swedish steel that resists corrosion and takes a keen edge. Blades are 4.25" (11 cm) and the knives are about 9" (23 cm) long.

What is the difference between the handcrafted and Luxury lines?

Both use smooth 12C27 steel blades. The handcrafted line is made by one artisan in Espalion, has the shepherd's cross on most handles and ships in a wooden presentation box. The Luxury line comes in a gift box with walnut, olive or teak handles and costs less for six knives.

How do I tell a real Laguiole steak knife set from a fake?

Look for the maker's name on the blade, a named steel grade, natural handles that vary from knife to knife, flush rivets, a certificate of authenticity and a realistic price. A six-piece set for under about $200 is not handmade in France.

Do Laguiole en Aubrac steak knives have a warranty?

Yes, a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. It does not cover misuse, dishwasher damage or normal wear.

Can I buy matching Laguiole forks?

Yes. Laguiole en Aubrac makes fork sets and combined knife-and-fork sets in the same handle materials, so a table can be matched.

Explore the range

Browse all Laguiole en Aubrac steak and table knives, or read our wider guide to the best Laguiole knives for pocket, chef's and cheese knives. Looking for a corkscrew to go with dinner? See the best Laguiole corkscrew.