K Sabatier Jeune 12" Chef Knife Early Ideal Pattern Carbon Steel Ebony 1920-50s

Early Ideal pattern 12" chef knife from K Sabatier Jeune with hand forged after drop forged blade, forged tapered tang, ebony handle scales and brass post and disc rivets on an early production style small handle.

The Ideal pattern was developed in the early 1920s in the Thiers area by blending the full tang thin bolstered Canadian pattern with the form of the round ferruled cuisine massive 'Nogent style' and quickly became a popular design produced not just by Thiers makers but by knife makers outside of France in Germany and Britain as well as the United States. 

K Sabatier Jeune was an offshoot of the original K Sabatier company, at the time of the split there were two brothers running the company and the younger one left to form K Sabatier Jeune (younger). 

This knife had been sharpened in enough to make for a somewhat thick edge but not so much as to dramatically change its profile and height. It has been re-ground and thinned to bring it back to its original geometry, the ebony handles are solid and secure with no gaps and only one small crack, ebony is prone to cracking.

Dating this knife is a little tricky as the Jeune stamp didn't change much over the decades but the smaller handle and the post and disc rivets are a strong indication of 1920s to 50s manufacture as these rivets were not used after the 60s.