Queue de Poisson
QUEUE-DE-POISSON means exactly what it looks like. It is a slim knife that has its origins along the English Channel, where thousands of small weaving mills processed both ... know more
QUEUE-DE-POISSON means exactly what it looks like. It is a slim knife that has its origins along the English Channel, where thousands of small weaving mills processed both linen from France and fine, mainly English wool into fabrics of all qualities. The Hanseatic city of Bruges acquired particular importance in this regard. For people who worked with threads and fabrics, the other knives in the region were not very suitable. They needed slimmer knives with finer, thinner blades, and so the Queue-de-Poisson was created. The shape of its handle is no coincidence. It clearly refers to the ermine tails to be found in the Breton coat of arms, and it is said that in some cases it was also made with that third, middle point. It was originally created in the 19th century in the Lacroix cutlery manufactory; in simple quality as a working knife for weavers and textile workers, with fine handles made of bone, ivory or tortoiseshell for the bourgeoisie. Women always favoured it because the slim knife fits well in their handbags.
When the coutellerie Lacroix closed, the atelier and tools were sold to the well-known knife manufacturer Pradel in Thiers. When Pradel in turn closed its atelier, the traditional coutellerie Coupérier-Coursolle, located in the neighbourhood of our atelier in Thiers, took over the brand and the tools for its production. It is one of the few regional knives in France that is still made entirely using original carbon steel parts and traditional methods.
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