Today, we'll take a look at a knife that's absolutely beautiful, and links the modern with the traditional in a super compelling way: The Fontenille Pataud Le Thiers Nature knife.
I was amused by your comment “France is becoming a force in knife making” . France was a force in knife making before America existed! You probably should check out the Claude Dozorme Le Thiers Secret. Very similar to this knife, but held together with screws, ball bearing pivot (single caged roller bearing) and ball bearing locking system!
I am so glad that you got a look at this knife! I visited the Fontenille Pataud factory last summer, and any fan of knives who is travelling in France should make it a destination- put it on your list Nick! Le Thiers, where they are located, is the city where most of the great knife makers of France are, and close by there is a Relais & Chateau called Le Codignat, where you can stay for the price of a motel in the Bay Area, but it is a 12th century castle! That is how I convinced my wife to go for a day of knife appointments… While at Fontenille Pataud, I purchased the Gentleman, which is a little bit bigger than the nature, with Juniper scales. They smell amazing, especially if you are a fan of gin. Yann Delarboulas, the CEO, gave us a tour of the production facility and recomended a great place for lunch- he is a class act. You are right, the knife drove me nuts falling sideways in my pocket, but recently I bought a leather sleeve with a clip from DP steel and leather that is a beautiful solution for all of my no-clip traditional knives. The two handed opening is perfect for many occasions- my favorite is a French picnic with bread, cheese and fruit. As Stefan Schmalhaus says, “slow down and enjoy the French moment”!
You didn't really mention that these knives are made by hand by craftsmen in a workshop (you can look up videos of how Fontenille Pataud knives are made).
It's a little amusing that over here in the EU we have to put up with inflated prices for USA made knives like the Benchmade models and the reverse is also true. These knives start at 154 Euro over on this side of the Atlantic (that model is 184 Euro IIRC). Can we split the difference and everyone (who likes knives at least) walks away happy?
X P i felt it with spyderco. A delica for 50 box, okay, I’ll take it. Here it’s 80-100, I mean vg10 steel, frn handle... cmon, at least step up the materials if you gonna put that price point. And it’s not only the prices that goes up, they aren’t available, there is like 5 ultra tech out of 100 models in stores here...
I've been looking at Frontenille knives for years and I'm so glad you finally reviewed one!!! Thank you soo much! My Dad has carried traditional form them for 30years now and I've been looking to get one for my self, but a little more modernized.
Really Happy to see this review. Yesterday I ordered one (the 7.5 cm version) and I was really anxious about my choice. Now I know and I am relaxed. THANK YOU Nick.....
Great review! I love my French knives (Mongin, Laguiole from la forge or Fontenille-Pataud, Robert David in Thiers, etc). All beautifully executed with superb designs.
I'm sure it is my selective bias, but I'm constantly amazed at how often you put out a review of a knife I bought recently! I got the teak burl option. Totally agree with your review, except that I think a pocked clip is unnecessary and would spoil the sleek lines - maybe they should offer it as an option?
That is a really nice knife. Not having a pocket clip is a plus for me. Don't mind having to use two hands to open it. The size is no problem for me. I carried a large folding Hunter for years and this is small by comparison . The steel is fine. The only thing I would change is the loop at the end . It goes well with the design , I just have nonuse for it. All in all , I find it to be a very handsome knife. A true Gentleman's Knife. Great review.
Oh yeah! I so enjoy the fact that you felt this French style knife warrants a review as not to long ago I got bit by the Laguiole bug and purchased about 15 that will remain in my collection. Through my search for buying these stunning toothpick like knives I found LAGUIOLE IMPORTS in Florida to offer the best selection and price range in a multitude of styles. Free shipping via USPS Priority Mail is factored into the price and they ship promptly, same day in some cases. No need to buy overseas as I did originally and deal with currency exchange and a 2 week wait. I have some beauties in everything from exotic wood to horn and bone. Once you have one in hand you will be in love, I promise
Great review Nick. Really surprised me when you compared it to a Buck 110, because the first thing I thought of was the Buck 500 "Duke" - similar bolster and scale appearance. A bit pricey for me but definitely an attractive piece.
On a different video Nick said the sharp flicker on a certain knife should be filed down. Can someone suggest a metal file to dull a knive's sharp flicker tab or sharp jimping? Thanks
My mother bough me one of these at a knife shop near the louvre for my brithday. She has good taste in knives (or at least the guys at the shop did!) The older ones just have "handmade in france" stamped near the pivot they don't say blade steel. Im not typically into traditional but this one hits a nice spot for me.
The Douk-Douk is another example of heinous etching all over the blade. Opinels are pretty clean but bring ugliest handles on a knife to such a level as to make the Z-hunter seem classy.
14C28N is a relatively inexpensive steel, but it gets extremely sharp and is easy to sharpen and is quite hard. For cutting paper and opening letters it is excellent. Just don't hit a staple with it or it will almost certainly ding or fold over. It is really a pretty good choice for this type of knife, but the cost should be lowered accordingly I think.
The Teflon washer doesn’t bother me on a budget disassemble able knife, but on a pinned knife, I’d rather have no washers at all. Otherwise, I love this! There are smaller sizes available. Many French makes offer these levels of choice and options etc. Look at Robert David, for example.
I don't know if they could have put a clip on it that wouldn't take away from the beauty. I'm a clip guy myself but she sure is a beautiful knife. Thanks Nick ;)
Nick. Can't wait for the disassembly video. Oh wait. Side note if you review more French Knives can we have a stranger do them in an Inspector Clusoe voice? "Zeece knelve ees the bimb"
Thanks for the review, agree with your assessment apart from the pocketclip. How can you have a knife like that and want to vandalise it in such a new world way ? Snob you're not, Teflon washers though and at that price. Loved the Uncle Randy thing.
I think they went with Teflon bushings because it IS a pinned construction. They know most people will not be able to tell until they have had it in their hands for a long while.
Nick, you should really look up the history on this make. The one you have now is not representative of Fontenille Pataud, although i'm happy you finally got your hands on one. Traditionly they have a cross, made of points, whitch the (sheep)-hearders could stick in the the ground while praying,as they were away from home. On some the hand carving is amazing. A Fontenille is also not meant to be snapped shut! You close it carefully so as not to damage the blade. A true gentelmans knife. Almost all are nailnick. It makes an excellent steak knife btw. Pardon my French eh.
"Nick, you should really look up the history on this make. The one you have now is not representative of Fontenille Pataud, although i'm happy you finally got your hands on one. Traditionly they have a cross, made of points, whitch the (sheep)-hearders could stick in the the ground while praying,as they were away from home. On some the hand carving is amazing." You're taking about a traditional Laguiole style knife which this is not.
On the true Laguiole style pattern you have to watch for blade rap and set the blade down with carefully. They can't all be flippers and come with a clip, one of the few times I will part ways with you opinion.
@@NickShabazz They list it by closed length on the website instead of blade length. The blade length on the Nature Pocket is 7.5cm (17.5cm total length-10cm closed length=7.5cm blade length), which is 2.95."
Sometimes I wish you uploaded in mono so that I would be listening out of both channels, since this video is like all right channel. good video, but m'audio
charly Prunier Not as traditional as you might think. It was developed in the 1970s to create a unique pattern which will be related to the town Thiers. It was kind of a reaction to the Laguiole, which give a huge benefit to the equal named town although most of the knives are made in Thiers. Up to now you have to present your new knife to a Commission, If you want to call it a Le Thiers. They will inspect it and only if you meet the standarts of quality and more inportant the general lines of the pattern you get their permission. And it's a registered trademark, other than Laguiole
These are beautiful knives. You just need to upgrade to the RWL-34, which is more than sufficient for needs to which this gentleman folder was designed.
I like the lines. The only drawback, and it's a deal breaker for me, is the HUGE etched branding on the blade. It's gauche, like gold plating a Ferrari hubcap and wearing it as a necklace.
There are Damascus versions that either have no logo or mask it with the blade treatment. I might get one myself, some of their stabilized wood is gorgeous.
@@damyr WG has made it clear with the Battle Pass (priced 2.6 times what a comparable pass costs on a AAA title) that it has come time for Free to Play accounts to pay up or piss off. Use your premium time to go into tier 1 - 3 fights and seal club new players into quitting and damage their revenue stream.
@@jacknemo8021 nah, no loss for me, cause my wallet is closed since long time ago, anyway. Tho, I'm still pretty curious how it all gonna play out in the future.
but.... they DO have a smaller 3" version that's also customizable and looks pretty much the same (AND is slightly cheaper). it's called, drumroll, the Le Thiers Pocket! lol
I love this knife but you have to by direct from the maker in France. A friend has one and I LOVE it but its a bit much for my budget. Also importing knives into Canada can be problematic and I'd hate to throw that kind of money down the drain just to see the it termed prohibited and then destroyed or end up in some boarder agents pocket.😒
It's expensive because it was made by hand in France by a craftsman (you can look up videos of how Fontenille Pataud knives are made). As a traditional, it wouldn't have been unusual for the blade to be an even less expensive carbon steel.
A pocket clip would look vile on this beautiful knife - where is your soul? Agreed though that the teflon washer is wrong. A gentleman, by the way, opens and closes his pocket knife with both hands. Unlike a thug, or a common workman.
$200 for 14c28n.... 😳😬😬😬😬she’s pretty... but the smarts aren’t there at all. And Teflon ... and no torx construction .... she’s pretty on the outside but that’s it. There’s a lot of pretty out there to contend with. I could NEVER justify 14c28n for that price with no torx bits.
A solution to most of your issues: m.ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xEyaguuUZBs.html Slip with a clip. Also European. The Germans and French get along, right? Link to review by the ineffable Advanced Knife Bro. Of course now we're talking closer to $300 all in for 14c28n...
It's expensive because it was made by hand in France by a craftsman (you can look up videos of how Fontenille Pataud knives are made). It's not a hard use knife (so it's pretty unlikely the Teflon would somehow get damaged) and Teflon washers cause less wear on internal surfaces over time than PB washers. As custom makers like Jason Guthrie and others have shown, Teflon washers are preferable over PB washers when they're done right.
You and your pocket clips, a pocket clip on that knife would ruin the beauty of the knife. Pocket clips are ugly and uncomfortable . I have carried pocket knives with no clip for the last fifty years and not lost one yet. Good review apart from that. Cheers.
They do a 3" blade option as well. It's the 10cm version. Otherwise I generally agree with your analysis. 14C28 is mediocre steel and at $200 one should be able to expect better. That's is one major downfall for me.
