The Bee - Folding knife Collection

Since the Laguiole knife appeared in the 1820s, the fly has been decorated with motifs that are as varied as they are diverse. Each craftsman carved a motif into the fly of the knife that reflected his inspiration and talent. Thus one finds very old knives decorated with scallops, four-leaf clovers or even animal heads.

The bee motif only became the standard after 1909. Forge de Laguiole® preserves and maintains this tradition and produces models with traditional but also personalised flies.

To this day, there is a heated debate about which of these insects is depicted on Laguiole knives.
The bee is Napoleon’s imperial symbol. According to legend, its presence on the knives is a tribute to the courage of the people of Laguiole by Emperor Napoleon himself.
Others see it mainly as highlighting the bee in gratitude for its important service, essential for farmers to cultivate the lush pastures of the Aubrac plateau. Others say that it is a fly because, after all, it is the one that is seen flying around the herds of cows…

Whether it is a fly or a bee remains a mystery, but one thing is certain: the presence of a bee or a fly does not guarantee the authenticity of your Laguiole knife. In the past, the bee was more likely to be replaced by flowers, animal heads or other symbols made by the knifemaker at his own discretion.

Whether it is a fly or a bee remains a mystery, but one thing is certain: the presence of a bee or a fly does not guarantee the authenticity of your Laguiole knife. In the past, the bee was more likely to be replaced by flowers, animal heads or other symbols made by the knifemaker at his own discretion.