FINEST Antique EL TEJON French Butcher Coup de Grace Killing Knife withBone Grips

Please read our Terms below for details. PLEASE NOTE: We take our photos in natural light outdoors and as a result there are sometimes reflections or shadows or glare shown in the blades.

In person none of these exist; we will say so in the description if it may be otherwise. This is an incredibly rare old French-made butcher's knife, in even rarer superb condition--EXCELLENT--produced by the maker Au Diamant, whose glass-cutter logo was one of the oldest registered in the Thiers, France's knife-making capital. As you can see, however, it does not bear the Au Diamond logo and instead is marked in Spanish with the name "El Tejon, " which means "The Badger, " as well as with the image of a badger. Because Au Diamant was one of the first French makers to recognize the opportunities of the growing South American markets, where the extractions of natural resources like timber, silver, gold and other metals were creating vast wealth but little in the way of industrial competition. Eventually many makers would follow suit and make cutlery for this market but this knife is a VERY early example, dating to sometime in the mid-late 1800's. More famous for their straight razors, they never exported their wares into the English-speaking USA (I picked this one up in Buenos Aires myself), which is a shame because every one of their knives I've seen was superb. Used for delivering a humane but fatal coup de grace to livestock at a slaughterhouse or in a butcher shop, it was hand-forged with a stiff and strong carbon steel blade that measures 8" (the knife is 12.5" overall) and has beautiful (bovine) bone handle scales, mounted with a single large birdseye rivet flanked by two smaller iron pins over a full tang and bolstered at both ends of handle in iron.

As you can plainly see, though, the star of this piece is the long blood groove running down the length of the its blade, indicating the knife was made specifically for inflicting the fatal "coup de grace" on livestock. A valued collector's item though it certainly is, it would be an utter shame if such a fine knife were not to find some use. If you're someone who hunts or raises livestock, you will be especially interested in such a piece.

As you can see from the photos, it is just a stunning knife, having been smoothed over by the passing of many years and the touch of many hands, giving it a lustre and patina that are just incredible. Of course, the knife is great for far more than just killing. Its blade is RAZOR sharp in a way that most chefs have never seen--one could literally shave with it. Used as a slicer or butcher knife, it's fully capable of trimming and cutting meats or anything else, and you'll find that its fine carbon steel blade will take and keep a keen edge unlike anything in stainless steel. It will continue to deliver a lifetime of outstanding service in any kitchen, amateur or professional, equal in performance to its beauty. The blade and handles are free of any cracks or looseness (rare for this kind of knife, especially considering its age which is WELL over 125 years old). Its edge is convex, not concave, like a bayonet, and this kind of cutting geometry is capable of taking a SCARY sharp edge, which it already has. Please be very careful when using it. When you use a knife like this, it feels like an extension of your hand, not a mere object that you're holding. If you've never used a carbon steel knife before, you're in for a treat. Experienced chefs know that only a true carbon steel blade can consistently attain the razor-sharp edge that makes cooking a true pleasure you must wipe the knife after every use to avoid stains and rusting, but will be richly rewarded with superior performance!

In this perfect size, it's the ideal kitchen knife for a wide variety of tasks for man or woman, large hands or small. Whether you're a collector seeking a fine specimen to display amongst your finest cutlery items or a professional chef in need of the finest tools, you know how desirable a knife like this is.

An instant heirloom for user and collector alike. Our store's inventory is searchable using the search field or may be browsed by clicking on categories, with each option found on the left side of the store's homepage.

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We'd like to sell'em cheaper.. But MY WIFE won't let me!! The item "FINEST Antique EL TEJON French Butcher Coup de Grace Killing Knife withBone Grips" is in sale since Friday, December 7, 2018.

This item is in the category "Collectibles\Kitchen & Home\Kitchenware\Utensils\Cutlery". The seller is "ralph1396" and is located in Los Angeles, California. This item can be shipped worldwide.

Country/Region of Manufacture: France