COUTEAU BASQUE

Workshop-Boutique open all year round, Monday to Friday, 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm. Exhibition of regional knives. On-line sales.

Couteau basque is the Basque cutlery company that makes the authentic Basque knife and its forged steel blade.

Anglet in the Basque Country

The Basque Country is known for its Bayonne ham, its pelota games on village pediments, its Mauléon espadrilles and its Espelette chilli pepper, but did you know that cutlers have been working there since the 13th century?
In the 14th and 15th centuries, they had a great reputation, especially for their penknives and quills, mentioned in the inventories of the nobility. But they had their moment of glory with the invention, in the 16th century, of the bayonet, a weapon which was first called the "Bayonne knife". The fusiliers regiment, under Louis XIV, was the first to be armed with these bayonets.
The master cutlers of Bayonne were affiliated for several centuries with the corporation of the Faures (blacksmiths in Gascon), one of the three most important corporations in the city, before creating their own corporation in 1693
320 years later, Christophe Lauduique, craftsman cutler, perpetuates the tradition of knives from the Basque Country. This experienced collector, who created the workshop Lames de Sames-Couteaux du Pays Basque in Anglet, entered the world of cutlery by publishing two books which have become reference works for all lovers of beautiful blades: "Couteaux pliants de nos provinces" Volume 1 and Volume 2. Today, he makes many models from the Basque Country and presents a unique collection of more than 1000 regional knives free of charge in France
Kittof (Christophe in Basque) has naturally specialised in the manufacture of so-called "two-nail" knives. These simple but high quality knives were already found in the 14th century all over the Pyrenees. The advantage of these folding knives without spring is essentially in their price. Even if these creations remain artisanal, the simplicity of their manufacture allows a reasonable cost for a daily use and it is of great importance for this craftsman, who defines himself as a cutler of the People. Don't see any political message in this, but a will to make knives for all. Another interest of these traditional folding knives is their lightness, between 40 and 50 grams for a medium-sized knife, which allows it to be "forgotten" at the bottom of a pocket