Auriou: Page 2

Michel Auriou (pronounced OR - RE - YOU) is a 4th generation rasp maker based in his small factory (Forge de Saint Juery) near Albi in South West France.

Michel leads a small highly skilled team of artisan blackmiths/grinders, stitchers and apprentices to try to satisfy the world wide demand for his tools. Making rasps by hand is virtually a lost art and Michel Auriou is probably the only maker left in the world who does all the processes for making a hand cut rasp in house. 

These are guaranteed genuine Auriou rasps entirely made by skilled, fully employed, Auriou artisans under the guidance of Michel Auriou. They include cabinet, modellers, ½ round (The HOG), rat tail, tapered flat combination (ALBI rasps), chairmakers and curved ironing rasps. Most of these are available in right or left handed versions and come with fitted French walnut handles in a protective wallet.

Michel Auriou contends that the grading system used to identify the "stitch" or "grain" of Auriou rasps and rifflers was devised by himself. It is now copied elsewhere. Auriou Toolworks is not part of a bigger holding company and therefore it's survival in these turbulent economic times and of copycat product lines is a testament to the lasting quality of the tools and of Michel's pugnaciousness.

September 2021 saw the relaunch of the some of the Chris Pye Carving tool sets which have been absent from the market place for nearly 3 years. The much admired Auriou drawknives should return in early 2022.