Bee Back Pistachio Wood Folding Knife

The Laguiole en Aubrac Bee Back is a folding knife with a full pistachio wood handle and a plain brushed finish.

What sets it apart is the bee at the back of the handle. It works the lock: press it to secure the blade once open, press it again to release the blade when you want to fold it away. The blade opens and closes with a forced-notch (crank) action, and you feel the firm resistance under your thumb.

Pistachio wood has strong, visible grain, so no two handles look alike. The wood sits in a full handle set between simple brushed stainless steel bolsters, which give the knife a clean outline and a secure hold in the hand.

The sandwich blade is 12C27 stainless steel and measures 8.5 cm (3.3 in). Open, the knife is 20 cm (7.9 in) long, a size that suits cutting up a picnic as well as everyday jobs. It is a pocket knife for people who like well-made things, and the kind you end up passing on.

Sold in a leather pouch stamped Laguiole en Aubrac.