1840-1880?, Laguiole ,Massoptier ?with Trocar, fly,

[JoeCanada42]

Hi everyone, just picked up this beauty last Sunday from an antique store/ garage sale. cost a whole 8 $.

My first though was it was close to a Navaja,
then I thought it could be a sailors knife with a marlin spike, and clasp.
then I found the partly legible markings on the blade would stand for Laguiole , Massoptier

So this is a Laguiole knife, and the spike would be a trocar or awl.. for puncturing livestocks stomachs... i wonder if that was just an excuse to validate carrying a much more intimidating weapon. like the markings on some stilettos..

I could hardly find any photos of antique laguioles, if you have please share.

I could find no info on the Massoptier, except for some new modern company in the 80's. apparently all the original knife makers closed down around world war 1.

I see a fly, not a bee.

as for the Sheppard's cross , on mine it is not the cross with a long base, to me it looks more like the five dots of the portuguese, like the 5 shields on the flag / coins..

please share any thoughts.
thanks

I added the watch chain to the knife, it snaps closed and locks open tight, i can see why these knives won rewards.