montpellier – knives of France

All the wood handled friction folders, like Opinel, Capucin or even Nontron might have the blade stuck in the handle.

Wood is a living material and change in humidity or temperature might make it swell, or even dirt can be stuck in the mechanism.

Clog handle Nontron — Nontron No25 with clog handle

The “coup du savoyard” or Savoyard’s hit or tap is a simple technic to get it free, it is mainly used for Opinels (hence the Savoyard name) and it is even part of the quality checks at the end of manufacturing.

It is a technic known since the first Opinel (maybe before?) and the best way to get the blade free without damaging the knife like by trying to pry on the nail nick.

-For a recent Opinel, make sure that the lock ring is open (!!!)

-Hold the knife by the axis side

-Tap the other end on a hard surface. The best would be a wooden table, avoid any uneven or hard surface that would damage the handle, like concrete for example. Avoid also fragile surface like a glass table of course.

The blade should move a little, enough to be able to open it.

If it is still stuck, you can apply a bit of oil on the axis.

Now, the best way to avoid using that Savoyard’s tap is to take good care of the knife, always wipe the blade after use and store it in a dry place.

Find Opinel and Montpellier knives on http://knives-of-france.com

The Montpellier knife gets its name from the city seating in South of France, next to the Mediterranean Sea.

It was primarily a sailor knife, created around the seventeenth or eighteenth century.

The knife itself is really simple, a 2 pins friction folder, like a Capucin, no spring or locking system here, it can’t be simpler.

The blade shape is difficult to define, between a clip point and a wharncliff. The straight cutting edge is typical of the sailor knife, like a sheepfoot, mainly dedicated to cut ropes.

The handle is faceted, slightly trapezoidal and with sometimes a hole at the end to affix a lanyard

Very popular with the sailors, it was produced in big quantities by many manufacturers, including Soanen Mondanet, that became Cognet. It lost popularity at the beginning of the Twentieth century, replaced by slipjoint knives, more modern, and the type was forgotten.

But recently some old books and blades were found in the attic of Cognet’s workshop and the knife re-made.

The new version is faithful to the original with an XC75 carbon steel blade.

An interesting piece, remnant from the past and full of character.

Find some on http://knives-of-france.com