Fred Perrin FPBGK — La Griffe Black, 440 Steel Stonewash, Double Grind

The object

La Griffe fits in one sentence: a knife so short it disappears, held by a ring that keeps the hand locked to the tool. The ring is not decoration — it is the whole principle. It keeps you in control of the object even when the fingers loosen, and it gives an immediate reference for orienting it without looking. 118 mm overall, 48 g: you forget it is there, which is the point.

The story

The concept dates from the late 1980s. Fred Perrin, then working among other things at height, wanted a compact tool that stayed safe and reachable. He experimented with ring-handled shapes, and the principle evolved into a small knife carried close to the body. La Griffe appeared in the early 1990s. Thirty years on it has been made in steel, G10, titanium, carbon fibre, damascus and folding versions, and interpreted by international manufacturers. A simple idea that has crossed decades without losing its clarity.

Technical details

440 steel blade, black stonewash finish, double grind. Edge length 40 mm, 3 mm thick, overall length 118 mm. Weight 48 g. Kydex sheath and paracord included.

Uses

La Griffe is made for short, precise tasks where control of the tool matters more than blade length: opening, starting a cut, freeing something. The stonewash finish has a practical merit as well as an aesthetic one: it absorbs the marks of use and keeps its look over the years.

Care

A fixed blade with no mechanism asks for nothing beyond wiping it after wet use. The black finish wears at the friction points in the sheath: that is normal, and it is what gives a carried Griffe its look. Sharpen both grinds at the original angle on a fine stone.

Legal notice. Age-restricted item (18+). Carrying a knife in public without a legitimate reason is an offence in France and in most European countries. Fixed blades, neck-carry knives and ring-handled designs are specifically restricted in several of them. Check the law that applies where the order is delivered before purchasing.