Coutellerie du Maine-Anjou

A qualified cutlery craftsman, this is my first “real job” explains Antoine Faucheux. Before leaving for Thiers to train for 2 years at the Manufacture de Coutellerie Cognet, he grew up in the village of Chémeré le Roi, in the oven of his parents' bakery where he learned a love of manual work.

His neighbours at the time, agricultural mechanics (Maurice and Odile to their friends) welcomed him every Wednesday. It was there that he “drilled holes in steel, made swords that he couldn’t lift and came back covered in oil and his pockets full of scrap metal.”

Then much later, he passed a Bac L at the Saint-Michel high school in Château-Gontier and then took the road to Le Mans to begin studying nursing.

Realizing this, he finally decides to make his madeleine a profession!

Head to Thiers (a flagship city for French artisanal cutlery) to obtain a CAP I.C.C. ( Cutting and Surgical Instruments) and to acquire ancestral know-how and techniques allowing him to practice his passion today. From heat treatment of blades to assembly of wooden handles and other materials, including cutting, knife manufacturing requires mastery of many areas.

It was in 2012, for a competition between apprentices, that Antoine created the Anjou large folding knife that we all know. And even if it didn't win the competition, this knife with its very particular shape is still there for our greatest pleasure!

Then, officially graduated and a young father, a choice had to be made.

>Stay in Thiers to work in the company that trained Antoine

> Return to Mayenne so that his wife can work in the association that trained him?

The decision was made in July, Marie, Antoine's wife, was offered a contract in Mayenne. Heading for Château Gontier!

It is with the desire to showcase our creations and share our know-how that we looked for the city that would welcome us.

No jobs in cutlery in Mayenne, only one option: in September 2012 I created Coutellerie du Maine-Anjou within Coodémarrage 53 (activity and employment cooperative in Laval).

The first years were dedicated to building the business in a department where this profession had disappeared for around 40 years.

At the beginning, the activity is essentially based on sharpening. Then in 2014, Antoine set up his workshop in Fromentières in the basement of his house.

2016, the range of artisanal cutlery is expanding!

To accompany the large folding “Anjou”, Antoine decided to think about two other knife models.


>The table knife
> The slicer

Designed for lovers of cooking and good food, these fine and elegant knives enhance tables and meals with friends and family!

2017, Paris here we come!

It is with the desire to discover new horizons and pass on our know-how that Coutellerie du Maine-Anjou decided to set sail for our beautiful capital in 2017.


We are arriving at L'Etablisienne, a Parisian creative workshop, to offer 1-hour and 3-hour courses. Since then, we have continued to go there one weekend a month to allow you to make your Anjou grand pliant there.

In 2018, the range expanded again and the workshop moved!


The workshop in Fromentières was starting to have its limits in terms of space, and in April 2018, the workshop moved to the Neuville lock, in La Roche Neuville. The first year, more than 5,000 people came through the workshop door!


The year 2018 was a year full of new things. That year, Coutellerie du Maine-Anjou expanded its range and released the first small folding knives and paring knives.

In December 2020, the Coutellerie du Maine-Anjou - Angers store opens its doors and we begin a new adventure!

HAS the Angevin boutique, we also offer manufacturing and sharpening courses as well as the sale of our range of artisanal knives.

At the end of 2024, we will move into our new workshop in the village of St Sulpice 53200