Aurillac broomwood

Between this Au Sabot version of the Aurillac and the version by GR Knives (also available from Knives of France), there's no clear winner: they are both exceptional. However, the handle covers clearly steal the show with this Au Sabbot knife. The broom tree is a desert shrub that pops up with frequency in the Bible -Sheltering the Prophet Elijah when fleeing for his life in the wilderness. It is synonymous with providing shelter from the harsh sun of the Middle East. It has extraordinary grain structure, that surpasses snake wood in my personal opinion. On top of that it has that unparalleled juniper wood smell -like spicy pepper. The Aurillac is probably my favorite of the regional knife patterns. The spear point-meets-wharncliffe type blade is very practical. The handle shape is not only very comfortable in the hand, but provides an easy-open notch when opening the blade. Au Sabot are not high end French knives -they freely admit this on their website. However, while it may not have file-worked backsprings or other details prized among French knives, it has a simple, understated elegance that makes it no less a knife. My model had smooth pins and transitions, no gapping and featured a nice firm pull with an exceptionally ground blade. As a work tool, and even as a gentleman's knife, this knife will not disappoint. Why carry a Case Sodbuster, an Opinel #8 or even a Queen Mountain Man Trapper or GEC #23 when you could have this beautifully crafted piece of history in your pocket.