Le Thiers® knife
DISCOVERING LE THIERS® KNIFE
Beginnings of a both modern and timeless knife
Thiers city, capital of the cutlery industry
As the capital of French cutlery industry, the city of Thiers has been home to generations of cutlers for about six to eight centuries, who have built the reputation of French knives—particularly high-end artisanal knives, whose quality is now internationally recognized.
Cutlery, in all its forms, has attracted numerous cutlers and artisans to the Thiers region since the Middle Ages. The region has grown through the establishment of numerous workshops and businesses, covering everything from the procurement of materials to packaging, as well as all stages of manufacturing knives and cutlery—whether for the table, the kitchen, or the pocket.
Over the centuries, the cutlery industry has shaped Thiers’ identity and helped establish the reputation of its craftsmanship far beyond the region. Thus, inevitably, the knife has become the symbol of the city of Thiers.
Thus, by force of circumstance, the Knife has become the emblem of Thiers city.
In the early 1990s, knife makers from Thiers came together to symbolize this mastery and comprehensive expertise through a knife named after their town.
LE THIERS® knife, and the LE THIERS® knife Brotherhood which protects it, were born from the reflection of this entire profession.
1993-1994
LE THIERS® knife creation
LE THIERS® knife was created in July 1994 by the LE THIERS® Knife Brotherhood.
Initiated in 1993, the Brotherhood has set itself the goal of promoting the knife it designed in order to uphold the history and cutlery industry of Thiers, so dear to the hearts of its inhabitants.
The design, defined by a set of specifications, is registered with the INPI (National Institute of Industrial Property) and is the property of the Guild. This framework thus helps preserve the characteristics that define the identity of Thiers cutlery while allowing artisans genuine creative freedom.
LE THIERS® knife proudly bears the name of its city of origin, which, over time, has become the capital of cutlery—not only in France but also worldwide. It is designed to serve as a true ambassador for the region.
This knife combines the identity of Thiers with a contemporary aesthetic and design.
100% FRANCE, 100% THIERS
LE THIERS® knife values
Rules that govern the manufacture of a LE THIERS® knife are very strict.
Thus, a LE THIERS® knife can only be made in Thiers basin, by a cutler established in Thiers basin for since at least 5 years.
Cutler and knife must respect specific quality rules which make it a top-of-the-range product.
In order to guarantee authenticity and territoriality, all parts and the manufacturing must be carried out in Thiers basin.
Traceability is also an essential element during knives production and marketing in order to ensure their compliance with the specifications.
Before being able to launch any production, each cutler must present the prototype of his knife adaptation to the Council of Jurande.
This council, created specifically to ensure compliance with the unique characteristics of the knife and its values, is the only body authorized to approve the sale of a LE THIERS® knife. This approval guarantees that each knife retains the essential characteristics and manufacturing quality that define the LE THIERS® designation.
Every knife manufactured in accordance with these requirements thus contributes to promoting local craftsmanship. This requirement for traceability is fully in line with the tradition of cutlery-making in France, where the origin and mastery of the various stages of production play an essential role.
ONE DESIGN, ONE BRAND
LE THIERS® knife specificities
To be able to benefit from the LE THIERS® appellation, cutlers have precise functional specifications to respect. The objective is to be able to guarantee the consumer a quality product, with an easily identifiable style, and manufactured according to the requirements set by the Brotherhood at the origin of its creation.
To recognize a LE THIERS® knife, here are the features to pay attention to:
- the general shape of the knife which is slightly curved, with very pure lines.
The original version is recognizable among all thanks to its double wave and its handle with inverted slopes at the ends, higher towards the blade than at the end.
It is possible to adapt this shape to create your own interpretation, while of course adhering to the specifications.
The handle, in particular, is a key element of the model’s visual identity, while offering cutlers numerous possibilities for interpretation. This creative freedom illustrates the richness of Thiers cutlery and allows each workshop to express its own style and, ultimately, create its own design.
Thus, depending on the model, the handle can be crafted from different types of wood, natural materials, stainless steel, or contemporary materials. The choice of handle allows each creation to be personalized and offers opportunities to experiment with materials, colors, and finishes.
The blade, meanwhile, can be crafted from stainless steel, carbon steel for the more affordable pieces, or stainless Damascus steel and carbon Damascus steel for the most luxurious pieces.
The knife thus retains a common identity, while still being able to take on very different styles depending on its intended use and the manufacturer’s choices.
- Blade etching/marking with mention LE THIERS® followed with par + cutler’s name.
- The T. Punch, representing the French trademark, that must also be present on the knife.
In 25 years, LE THIERS® has become an emblematic knife of French cutlery that today shines internationally.
Its slender, slightly curved and double wave shape, the marking of the manufacturer’s name on the blade and the T. mark, are part of the knife and make it recognizable among all the others.
Whether it’s a table knife, a kitchen knife, or a pocket knife, the Le Thiers® knife comes in many different versions, each inspired by a different knife maker from Thiers, while always adhering to the specifications established by the Guild. This diversity reflects the vitality of Thiers’s cutlery industry and its ability to evolve its products and designs over the generations.
IN THE KITCHEN, ON TABLE AND IN THE POCKET
LE THIERS® knife by GOYON-CHAZEAU
At GOYON-CHAZEAU we enthusiastically respect values and specificities of the LE THIERS® knife and we ensure that they are respected.
We offer our own versions of the LE THIERS® knife, all validated by the Council of Jurande:
- For cooking, Le Thiers cuisine : 18 kitchen knives, meaning 18 blades suited to every need. Each kitchen knife is designed for a specific purpose, with a blade shape tailored to different cooking techniques.
The handle is available in olive wood or juniper wood; - For table, different ranges of LE THIERS® table knives and flatware, with wooden, acrylic, Paperstone handle or all in stainless steel, integrally forged, or forged with hollow handle or with full tang cut blade.
The handle thus offers a wide variety of options, ranging from traditional woods and horn to more contemporary materials. Depending on the line, our tableware is shipped in a cardboard box, a beechwood box, or an oak box. - For pocket, the lightweight LE THIERS® full handle (available in all-stainless steel or with a wooden handle), the remarkable Le Thiers Pirou with its “Château du Pirou” bee, and the exclusive LE THIERS® knives with damask blades, various finishes and handles made of rare materials.
At GOYON-CHAZEAU we respect with enthusiasm the values and specificities of Le Thiers® knife and we ensure that they are respected.
Discover our range of LE THIERS® knives in our partner stores or on our online cutlery shop and let yourself be seduced by knives and cutlery pieces LE THIERS® by GOYON-CHAZEAU. Each pocket knife thus combines the model’s distinctive character with GOYON-CHAZEAU’s unique interpretation.
This diversity of designs, along with the expansion into tableware, kitchen knives, and pocket knives, illustrates the richness and quality of Thiers cutlery and the craftsmanship of the artisans who keep this tradition alive.
True to its history, our cutlery workshop carries on this tradition while creating designs tailored to today’s needs and tastes.
Our approach is rooted in a long tradition of cutlery-making, while emphasizing contemporary designs and original combinations of materials.
Discover our range of LE THIERS® knives at our partner stores or on our online cutlery shop, and let yourself be captivated by our LE THIERS® knife and cutlery lines by GOYON-CHAZEAU.
Choosing a LE THIERS® knife from our collection means discovering a piece that combines Thiers’ heritage, artisanal craftsmanship, and creativity.
When you choose a LE THIERS® knife, you’re choosing the quality of 100% French craftsmanship—carefully crafted, blade by blade and handle by handle, to create unique pieces that remain true to the identity of Thiers and its cutlers.
