The Alpin knife, also known as the Savoyard, Mountaineer, alpinist or even Saint-Bernard was born towards the end of the nineteenth century.
Its exact origin is unknown but we can find a similar model in the other side of the Alps in Italy.
The first Alpin brand was registered by Rivière-Caburol in 1905.
It was the main competitor of the famous Opinel, born in the same region and at the same time.
The knife is simple. A Yatagan blade with a half-stop, a spring for the slipjoint system and the handle, that can be with or without bolsters, is made of 2 wooden side.
The first ones were using larch wood, but other woods appeared when all the production was finally transferred to Thiers, like other regional knives.
We also saw cattle horn and even acrylic in some cheaper models.
Coming from Thiers, its diffusion was wider than just the Alps and it was even sold in North-Africa.
The Alpin knife still has modern interpretations and is still a very simple and appreciated knife.
Find some on http://knives-of-france.com
