The word Laguiole (“LAYULL”), being the name of a village, was never allowed to be registered as a trademark. Therefore products bearing the name Laguiole are made by a number of different manufacturers in France. Some are located in the Their city and two others in the village of Laguiole, where the knife was “historically” conceived some 200 years ago. However, some Laguiole products originate from different countries and in this case, the quality of the components and workmanship can vary greatly. Laguiole Durand has been family owned and operated for the last 30 years. They are one of two craft knife makers located in the town of Laguiole, France. The company is recognized as a living heritage workshop by the French state for excellence of their tradition and know-how. The bee was Napoleon Bonaparte's imperial seal. Local legend says that the right to use the bee was offered to the town of Laguiole as a token of his gratitude for their courage during battle. Honoré Durand is recognized by the French State as a Master Craftsman. Christophe Durand has earned a Craftsman recognition. Both brothers own and operate the company today. A majority of their components are made in-house, including the blades, springs, plates and bolsters and leather sheaths. The corkscrews and rivets are currently sourced from within France. Each knife is made from start to finish by one cutler. This includes the assembly, shaping and polishing. There are between 100 and 200 production steps per knife and some models bear the makers initials on the inside of the knife spring. They are the only maker in Laguiole, France to have an in-house Damascus steel forge. The blade material is made of Sandvik12C27, or 14C28. 12C27 holds an excellent edge, has a hardness rating of 54-61 and offer great corrosion resistance. 14C28 is an updated version of 12C27 and offers the same great benefits, but with a hardness rating of 55-62. This makes both knives ideal for high demand use.