Sabatier

Sabatier is the brand name or makers mark used by several kitchen knife manufacturers. The name Sabatier is considered to imply a high quality knife produced in the Thiers region of France using a fully forged process. The knives of some of these manufacturers are highly regarded by professional and amateur cooks alike. There is some controversy over the originality, quality and authenticity of some of the manufacturers using the brand name.

Origins

The name originated in Thiers, France at the beginning of the 1800s. The area of Thiers has been associated with the cutlery industry since the Middle Agescite web
title = Official Site of the Cutlery Industry in Thiers: History…
url=http://www.coutellerie-thiers.com/uk/historique.htm
accessdate = 2007-12-20 ] . With the advent of the industrial age manufacturers began to consolidate their crafts or trades by creating brand or trade marks.

Early Controversy

Two separate families began using the name Sabatier to market their knives. The families do not appear to be related except by name and craft. Jean Sabatier of Le Moutier (lower Thiers) and Phillipe Sabatier of Bellevue (upper Thiers). There is much dispute who registered the trademark first with each citing evidence.

Brand Names

The use of the Sabatier name is an anomaly of "branding" because the name was used by many different companies before intellectual property or trademark laws were fully established in France. In order to distinguish between the various different makers of Sabatier knives, manufacturers are required to include a second word or symbol along with SABATIER. Over the years many marks were registered. In 1979, after the sale of the Moutier Sabatier brands to Cuisinox, the various holders of the brands formed an association to protect the brand name.

*K SABATIER
* SABATIER PERRIER
*65 SABATIER
*62 SABATIER
*France SABATIER Jeune K Garanti
*SABATIER Jeune Garanti with a bunch of grapes
*SABATIER Acier Fondu Garanti with a bunch of grapes
*France SABATIER Acier Fondu couronne K Garanti
*Véritable SABATIER France
*Professional SABATIER
*V SABATIER France
*V SABATIER Acier Fondu Garanti
*V SABATIER Extra Fin
*SABATIER 689 Couronné
*SABATIER Couronné
*SABATIER 589 Couronné
*SABATIER Trompette
*SABATIER Deg
*SABATIER****
*SabatieR
*SABATIER Trumpet France
*Sarry SABATIER
*Le vrai SABATIER
*Le seul SABATIER
*L’unique SABATIER 1ère qualité
*SABATIER with a stylised slicing disk
*SABATIER Lion
*SABATIER Diamant

Manufacturing Process

Among the many Sabatier manufacturers in Thiers, France, most provide high quality cutlery using traditional forging techniques that were developed in the area in the early and mid-1800s. Most of these manufacturers use a "fully forged" technique and a hand shapening and sharpening process using local skilled labor.

Fully forged means that three of the four parts to the knife (blade, bolster, tang and handle) are forged from a single piece of steel. In this process, a single piece (cylinder shaped billet) of steel is heated where the bolster will be, and squeezed from the ends to induce a bulge. Then, the entire piece is heated again and forged (stamped) to the shape of the blade, bolster, and tang using forging dies in one operation. Afterwards, a clipping tool is used to cut the forged piece to the rough shape of the knife. Finally, the handles are riveted on, and the final shaping and sharpening is done by hand.

Confusion Continues

There are many knife manufacturers using Sabatier as their brand, some Sabatier manufacturers are considered authentic, and some are simply using the reputation of the famous Sabatier name for marketing purposes. Generally speaking among connoisseurs of fine cutlery, only knives manufactured in Thiers, France from well established manufacturers from the 19th century are considered "genuine" Sabatier knives.

There are many manufacturers in the other countries that also use the Sabatier name on their products. However, these products are generally manufactured cheaply in mass production processes in China and other countries. These manufacturers generally use non-traditional and lower quality semi-forged and welded production techniques.

Companies selling Sabatier Knives

Sabatier brands have been sold on to many companies over the years. This is an attempt to link the present day owners to the brands.

ETS Sabatier Aîné & Perrier

Sabatier Aîné & Perrier claim to be the oldest Sabatier knife maker still in existence and operated by the descendants of Phillipe Sabatier of Bellevue, Thiers, France. They have operated for more than 150 years and have sold under the brand name [Sabatier-k] since 1834. First references to the mark "K" can be found in the town archives, engraved on the Silver Tablet of Cutlers, dated 7 June 1813 under number 231. (citation needed)

[http://www.sabatier-k.com/uk/index.php Company website]

Thiers Issard Sabatier

Thiers Issard Sabatier have manufactured the Sabatier****Elephant knives in Thiers since 1958.

Therias et L'Economie

Therias et L'Economie claim to have been manufacturing knives in Thiers since 1819. They sell Sabatier knives unde the brand L'Unique Sabatier as well as Mexeur & Cie.

[http://www.therias.com Company Website]

Rousselon Frères

Owners of the Mexeur Lion Sabatier make of knives since 1991, manufactured in Thiers. They claim the make was officially registered in 1812.

[http://www.rousselon.fr Company Website]

abatier Diamant

Manufacture the Sabatier Diamant brand in Thiers.

[http://www.sabatier.com Company Website]

Amefa Couzon Cuisinox

December 2005 Dutch company Amefa bought Frances second largest cutlery company Couzon, in turn the owner of Cuisinox. They own the Sabatier Trompette (or trumpet) brand. They have dropped the sabatier name however. Amefa in 2007 took over Richardson Sheffield which Owns the V Sabatier Range.

[http://www.amefa.com Company Website]

Citations

ee also

*Sabatier Aîné & Perrier
*Thiers Issard Sabatier

External links

* [http://www.coutellerie-thiers.com/uk/historique.htm Official site of the Cutlery Industry in Thiers]
* [http://www.couteaux-jfl.com/marques.htm Catalog of cutlery brands in Thiers]

References