Laguiole en Aubrac Hunting Folding Knife L0514 - Solid Horn Tip

The big Laguiole, built for the field.

The L0514 Hunting Knife takes the timeless lines of the Laguiole – the yatagan blade, the curved "pistol" handle, the forged bee – and scales them up for real outdoor work. A thicker handle fills the hand for a secure grip, and a taller, 4 mm-thick blade handles substantial cuts at camp, on the hunt, or at the table.

This example is dressed in solid cow horn tip (pointe de corne) – the densest, most finely grained part of the horn – and finished with a hand-pierced openwork spring. Because every handle is cut from natural horn, no two knives look alike: the one in these photos is the one you receive.

The handle

The handle is full solid horn tip from end to end, with no metal bolsters, so the material itself is the star.

• Color and grain. Blond, translucent horn in creamy ivory, honey and soft dove-grey, with fine lengthwise striations that shimmer as the knife turns in the light.
• The horn tip. At the curved butt, the grain deepens into warm caramel and amber – the natural tip of the horn, a signature of genuine pointe de corne.
• Sculpted shoulder. Near the pivot, the horn is hand-carved into a stepped, faceted shoulder that echoes the classic Laguiole bolster line.
• Shepherd's cross (croix du berger). The front scale carries the traditional cross of small inlaid pins, set around a central rivet. Legend says shepherds on long suLaguiole en Aubrac Hunting Knife L0514 – Solid Horn Tip
• Clean reverse side. The back scale is left plain, with a single central pin, showing the horn's full figure.
• Hand-polished finish. The scales are buffed to a deep, glassy shine that feels warm and smooth in the hand.
• Openwork spine. Seen from above, the polished steel liners frame a pierced back spring with a repeating pattern of crescents and four-point crosses, cut and finished by hand.
• Forged bee. The bee (or fly) is forged in one piece with the spring and hand-chased with a file, with fine detailing on its wings.

The blade and mechanism

The blade is Sandvik 14C28N Swedish stainless steel, stamped on the reverse side of this knife. It is a fine-grained, nitrogen-alloyed steel known for taking a keen edge, holding it well, and resisting corrosion – a strong choice for a knife that will see blood, water and weather.

• Yatagan profile. The classic gently curved Laguiole shape, with a long belly for slicing and skinning and a fine point for detail work.
• Built for heavy use. About 3 cm tall and 4 mm thick at the spine, noticeably stouter than a standard Laguiole blade.
• Flat grind. Ground on both faces at roughly 22° to the edge, balancing clean cutting with an edge that does not roll quickly.
• Thumb rests. The bee and the top of the ricasso both serve as natural thumb rests for controlled cuts.
• Back-spring action. A traditional non-locking slip joint: the spring holds the blade firmly open or closed, with the satisfying snap Laguiole knives are known for. The spring is polished on the inside and forged as one piece with the bee.

Craftsmanship and origin

Each L0514 is made entirely by hand at the Laguiole en Aubrac workshops in Espalion, inside the historic Laguiole production zone of the Aveyron. Depending on the version, a single knife takes from 109 to 216 working steps, from forging the blade and spring to carving and polishing the horn.

Laguiole en Aubrac helped revive knifemaking on the Aubrac plateau, where the tradition had nearly died out, and runs its own forge so every metal part is made locally. The brand certifies its knives with the LOG (Laguiole Origine Garantie) mark, guaranteeing they were made in the knife's region of origin.

Care

• Clean and dry after use. Wipe the blade with a damp cloth and dry it fully, especially after cutting game or acidic foods.
• No dishwasher, no soaking. Water and heat can crack or warp natural horn.
• Feed the horn. Rub in a drop of neutral oil or wax now and then to keep it from drying out; avoid prolonged sun or heat.
• Oil the pivot. A tiny drop of oil at the pivot keeps the action smooth.
• Close it gently. Guide the blade shut with your fingers clear of the edge rather than letting the spring snap it closed.
  

Specifications:

• Handle: Solid Blond cow horn tip; no bolsters; sheperd cross of inlaid pins (front side)
• Blade: Yatagan shape, flat grind (-22 grades); Sandvik 14C28 SS, Mirror Polished finish
• Blade Length: 4.3-in (11 cm)
• Blade Height: 1.2-in (3 cm) / 0.16-in (4mm)
• Closed Length: 5.4-in (13.8 cm)
• Overall Length: 9.75-in (24.7 cm)
• Weight: 6.59 ounces (186.9 gr)
• Mechanism: Back spring, non-locking slip joint, two hand opening
• Spring and Bee Forged in one piece, hand-chased; openwork pierced spine
  
• Origin: Handmade in Espalion, Averyon, France (historic Laguiole zone) 

  
  

What's included

• Laguiole en Aubrac L0514 Hunting Knife, solid horn tip
  
• Leather case
• Certificate of authenticity