Spyderco Forums

Not the full story of course.
Found this information on the forum a few years back.

Note: The back ground on the first photo I posted is the same information; Google translated to France.

Spyderco Laguiole

Spyderco produced a Laguiole "style" knife about 8 years ago. It was a front lock folder designed by Dennis LeMaire. We produced it in Seki. Steel was GIN-1. We designed our own "bee" for the traditional look. Quality was excellent. Came in Plain or serrated. Custom made leather sheath also had the "bee" embossed on the sheath.

It was/is IMO the best quality Laguiole ever to hit the market. We actually lost quite a bit of $ in the project.

Dealer support wasn't there and the model was dropped. One of the Spyderco crew just purchased one of the remaining pcs at the last Spyderco "Crew sale" last week.

They were, however, quite expensive. As I remember, Over $130 retail + sheath.

sal

***********************

Denis Lemaire was an creative French Canadian cutlery designer, maker, and friend of Spyderco. In the early '90s Spyderco made a French-style Laguiole model which Denis had engineered and designed. He was adept at producing innovative concepts and was well-acquainted with French influenced cutlery designs. A folder named the AKMA was one of his inventions and is produced today by Florinox Cutlery of Thiers, France.

The Spyderco Laguiole debuted as a high-tech version of a time-honored design. It featured:

~ A front lock (developed by Al Mar and Harvey McBurnette), the first ever lock-back Laguiole
~ A handle of black Micarta with brass liners
~ Blade steel was G-2
~ The traditional Laguiole "bee" found its' appearance underwent a subtle, buggy make-over
~ Notably absent were the Spyderco round hole and a pocket clip
~ Notably present, Spyderco serrations
~ It came with a tooled leather belt sheath
~ Spyderco's French design was manufactured under the Ramco label in Seki City, Japan
The Laguiole was discontinued in 1995-1996 and the MSRP at that time was $119.95, the sheath $19.95.

Strange knife, a French design, Americanized with serrations and made in Japan....

JoyceCo

The Spyderco Ramco/Laguiole

http://www.sagemarine.us/img/sage17_large.jpg

Thanks to all, all very interesting.
I would like to share with you all the posts that I found in the forum and they help us understand more about RAMCO/LAGUIOLE so as to have a more precise idea. Probably the mold no longer exists if we read the posts in chronology, Sal I think that once he returns from his work commitments he will tell us something more, I can't wait thanks again!

This is one guy of my grail knives. Hope I can get one at some point. I've been to Thiers and have several Laguiole's I purchased there. But what I really want is Spyderco's spin on it.

I bought a Laguiole in Paris, in 2009. It is a slip-joint type knife, and while beautiful, is a simpler blade than the one shown above. The one pictured by the OP, in what looks like a catalog entry with "Spyderco, Inc." appears to be a back lock, which certainly shows that Spyderco introduced an improved design of the original. The OP notes that it is nevertheless "not considered a Spyderco." Posts from Sal and others made it clear that the knife wasn't branded Spyderco so as to distinguish it from the unique, patented Spyderco look. But it is so cool that Spyderco thought so much of this knife that they wanted to make it, even if it wasn't destined to ever be a Spyderco!

Hic et nunc wrote: ↑

Wed May 28, 2025 2:14 pm

Hi Guys
I would like to ask a simple question, why on some blades the writing laguiole-ramco and on others ramco-laguiole? I am clearly talking about the spyderco laguiole, can any historian of the forum give me an answer?
I don't want to rekindle old discussions but when I read that the Spyderco Laguiole is not considered a Spyderco I browse through this catalog and read: "Spyerco INC." I become thoughtful, then folks, everyone thinks as they want
thanks again

I think they did it one way on the serrated and the other way on the plain edge. Why? I don't know, I wasn't there.

I also recall Sal saying in another thread that the tooling was destroyed when Ramco folded to prevent counterfeiters from obtaining and using it.

yablanowitz wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 07, 2025 12:25 pm

Hic et nunc wrote: ↑

Wed May 28, 2025 2:14 pm

Hi Guys
I would like to ask a simple question, why on some blades the writing laguiole-ramco and on others ramco-laguiole? I am clearly talking about the spyderco laguiole, can any historian of the forum give me an answer?
I don't want to rekindle old discussions but when I read that the Spyderco Laguiole is not considered a Spyderco I browse through this catalog and read: "Spyerco INC." I become thoughtful, then folks, everyone thinks as they want
thanks again

I think they did it one way on the serrated and the other way on the plain edge. Why? I don't know, I wasn't there.

I also recall Sal saying in another thread that the tooling was destroyed when Ramco folded to prevent counterfeiters from obtaining and using it.

Hi
I don't think it's as you say for the blade nomenclature, but thanks for the suggestion

Alternate explanation, perhaps they started out putting Laguiole first and their brand second and got corrected since it was Ramco's version of a Laguiole and not a true Laguiole. Like I said, I wasn't there. If that was the case, it might help date earlier production from later production, but the model didn't last long enough to matter to me. I'd still like to find a PE to pair with my SE.

yablanowitz wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 09, 2025 7:47 am

Alternate explanation, perhaps they started out putting Laguiole first and their brand second and got corrected since it was Ramco's version of a Laguiole and not a true Laguiole. Like I said, I wasn't there. If that was the case, it might help date earlier production from later production, but the model didn't last long enough to matter to me. I'd still like to find a PE to pair with my SE.

it might make sense!
for those interested on ebay they are selling at best offer a SE laguiole or a worker Sakai #1001

Hello everyone, I would not want this interesting discussion to expire, I hope that Sal has taken the right relaxation after the blade show, honestly I am very curious about what can strengthen this discussion with a contribution on a historical level to which Sal can only intervene.
But honestly the term "historical" can be misleading also because the phoenix rises from its ashes and in the end it is only an old story and a new tale that has its roots in Sal's knowledge.

any news?

What news are you seeking?

sal

sal wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 04, 2025 11:38 am

The model has an interesting history. I'm a bit snowed right now getting ready for the Blade show. I'll try to get it posted soon.

sal

Mr. Sal, I'm just asking for your contribution in terms of a story or anecdote if it hasn't been posted yet.
as you will surely have read I also expect a response or clarification on my post regarding the worker.

WORKER HISTORY

I thank you




Marco

Hi Marco,

I went through the thread and realized that the information about the model has been pretty much told on this thread. From Dennis LeMaire to the bee, to production in Japan, end. The maker of the model has long since passed away, and I haven't had contact with the Trading company for years so I don't know where that went. As to why the name switch on the blade, I don't know for sure. The owner of Ramco was driving the project and we sold it mostly to try to help him launch his brand. I would guess it was for the reason mentioned above to avoid confusion with the French made Laguiole, maybe even to avoid possible legal problems?

I'll tell you what I will do? I'll raffle one off.

Please send a check, money order or cashiers check made out to Denver Children's Hospital for $10 and send it to;

Spyderco
Attn: Wendy
820 Spyderco Way
Golden, Colorado 80403

We'll put your name in a hat for selection which Wendy will pull on the end of the month. I'm sure I still have some around, and we'll send the winner a knife and sheath. More donation means your name goes in the hat for each $10. Please write Laguiole on the check as I have another charity raffle going on at the same time.

sal

Mr Sal Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity to do something useful for a worthy cause.
Is this link correct?
children hospital colorado

I would like to ask you if you could highlight this post, so we can get many more views/memberships/donations and of course spread the word to everyone everywhere.

Hic et nunc wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 03, 2025 3:50 am

Mr Sal Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity to do something useful for a worthy cause.
Is this link correct?
children hospital colorado

I would like to ask you if you could highlight this post, so we can get many more views/memberships/donations and of course spread the word to everyone everywhere.

@TazKristi should be able to help.

Sal, another awesome raffle for a great cause, thanks!

Thank you for this opportunity and to help these children and their families, sal! Man, you are such a truly unique, precious, and honorable man! I and my family appreciate you!

Would you prefer one check per entry, Sal, or one check to cover all the entries?

One check to cover all of the entries is fine. Wendy will just put your name in for each $10.

sal

sal wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 04, 2025 9:43 am

One check to cover all of the entries is fine. Wendy will just put your name in for each $10.

sal

I think we are going to owe Wendy lunch for keeping track of all these raffles, entries, checks, drawling's, etc.