Its spear point and flexible blade will separate breast meat from breastbone like nobody's business.

The fact that the Laguiole knife is a centuries-old and centuries-celebrated French shepherd's knife is just a bonus. There may be no finer gift for the waterfowler, but proceed with caution.

Laguiole is not a brand, but a style of knife and a knife-making region. Knockoffs abound.

If heritage and authenticity matter, go for laguiole french knives hunting knives .