Since the pandemic, we've seen a renaissance in traditional pocket knife collecting. The astronomical secondary market prices of U.S. made GEC knives attest to that. But with all the collecting frenzy and hype, there is one clear path: buy French knives. And of all the French artisanal cutlery companies, Fontenille Pataud takes the cake!

This 10.5cm (4 1/4 inch) handcrafted beauty is the best piece of cutlery i've ever handled. It is pocket knife perfection: it is jus the right size for everyday carry; the lock back design is rock solid and smooth as butter thanks to Teflon washers; the flat ground blade is so thin at the cutting edge it would almost put my Opinel to shame; the file work is simply magnificent and incomparable --even to its competitors; Laguiole en Aubrac or Gene David Arbalete; the polished finish looks like glass; and that buffalo bark... wow! It's like caramel in dark chocolate. I kept eyeing the exotic woods at first, but I am very glad I went with the Buffalo.

I will one day pass this knife down to my children. I don't see how any knife out there, short of an expensive custom, could top this.

Forget the GEC game. French knives are calling...