The history of TB-Outdoor, knifemakers in Thiers since 1648
For over 13 generations, Tarrerias-Bonjean has upheld the tradition and expertise of high-end cutlery in Thiers, France.
At Tarrerias-Bonjean, we are proud of our heritage as a supplier of excellence to the French Armed Forces. Our commitment to quality, technical expertise, and robustness reflects our passion for products that support military personnel in their defense missions.
Join us on this adventure and discover our range of outdoor knives, designed with the highest standards to offer you freedom, security, and confidence, wherever you go and whatever the circumstances.
TB-Outdoor and TB-1648 are the two brands of the TB group: TB-Outdoor for adventure, the field, and the tactical world; TB-1648 for our kitchen and tableware ranges.
It's a postcard titled
"Picturesque Thiers: The cutlers"
(estimated date 1919)
At that time, professional photographers traveled across France to photograph traditional trades, towns and villages, and tourist sites to create postcards (the main travel souvenirs at the time). This is the oldest visual record we have of our history. This photograph was taken in 1919 in our workshop (which we called a "rouet") in the village of Moulin Neuf, on the banks of the Durolle River (which can be glimpsed beneath the trees outside the windows). The "master grinders," lying on planks, manually perform the grinding operation, that is, beveling (creating a "V") the blades by rubbing them against large stone grinding wheels, using only their arms and the weight of their upper bodies. The grinding wheels are powered by the current of the river.
We can distinguish a small dog lying on the legs of a grinder to keep its master warm. The central figure, seated, is JOSEPH TARRERIAS (8th generation cutler), and in the door frame in the background: his wife, also a cutler. We can see an 11-year-old girl, blurred, in the very foreground who was doing manual polishing (a gentler operation to make the blades shine). This is MARIE BONJEAN (daughter of 11 generations of cutlers). In 1926, she would marry LUCIEN TARRERIAS (son of JOSEPH) and work with him. Together, they would found the company TARRERIAS-BONJEAN (TB), thus joining their two family names... forever. Their son GEORGES TARRERIAS would marry ANDREE BOUTERIGE in 1965, and they would work together. Their children, Carole and Eric TARRERIAS, are the current managers of the company... and the 13th generation of cutlers
Claude Tarrerias, the first member of the Tarrerias lineage to be listed as a cutler, began his illustrious career. His son, Jean, would perpetuate the cutlery tradition.
1648
The family dedicated themselves to the art and mastery of cutlery, and the departmental archives record Claude Tarrerias as a master knife grinder in Celles-sur-Durolle. Since then, successive generations of the Tarrerias family have nurtured and preserved the ancient tradition of cutlery making.
In the marriage contract of Jean Tarrerias (son of Claude Tarrerias) dating from 1646, mention is made of his activity as a cutler.
1962
Victor Lucien Tarrerias, the ninth generation of cutlers, created the Tarrerias Bonjean cutlery company with his wife Marie Bonjean, thus injecting an industrial dimension into the manufacture of knives.
1989
The future is secure. In 1989, Eric Tarrerias joined the family business, while his sister, Carole Tarrerias, joined them a few years later, as well as her husband Stéphane Guillaumont.
1998
The era of industrial independence. By integrating the entire knife manufacturing process within the company, from the steel coil to the polishing of the finished product, Tarrerias Bonjean takes up the challenge of creating a knife where all the steps are carried out in one place.
2001
Tarrerias Bonjean's subsidiary, the Générale de Découpe company, headed by Stéphane Guillaumont, has obtained the prestigious EPV (Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant) label, a mark of recognition from the State distinguishing French companies with outstanding artisanal and industrial know-how.
2007
Tarrerias Bonjean becomes the first French cutlery company to obtain ISO 9001 version 2000 certification. This standard establishes requirements for the implementation of a quality management system aimed at continuously improving customer satisfaction and providing compliant products and services.
2016
Faced with the company's continued growth, the owners, Carole and Eric Tarrerias, were forced to relocate. They left their historic "Brûlé" site in Celles-sur-Durolle to move into a new building in Pommier Chansonnière, La Monnerie-le-Montel. With 1,300 m² of office space and 4,700 m² of storage, this move also provided an opportunity to introduce automated order preparation technology (PTS).
2022
The company Tarrerias Bonjean continues its expansion, marked in 2022 by the inauguration of a new warehouse, an extension of the building constructed in 2016. This development is part of the company's ecological transition, symbolized by the installation of solar panels on the roof of the new warehouse.
Tarrerias Bonjean, in the circle of the Henokiens
We are immensely honored to announce that Tarrerias Bonjean has joined the prestigious Henokiens, an association of family businesses with a history spanning over two centuries. Founded in 1981, this international association is distinguished by its rigorous membership standards: only family businesses managed by descendants of the founders and continuing to operate from their original headquarters are eligible. This exclusivity makes it a very select club, where continuity and family succession are paramount.
Tarrerias Bonjean: a story that spans the ages
In 2017, Tarrerias-Bonjean, in partnership with military expert Philippe PEROTTI, launched the C.A.C.® (Combat Assistance Campagne) knife. Selected by the Ministry Of Defense, this folding knife is destined to become the new field knife of the French armed forces.
Equipped with robust and reliable mechanics in all circumstances, each part of the C.A.C.® benefits from the most recent technological advances. Without a doubt, the C.A.C.® will mark an important milestone in the history of knives that equipped French soldiers.
A commitment to the future
Today, under the leadership of the 13th generation, represented by Eric and Carole Tarrerias, Tarrerias Bonjean continues to innovate, as evidenced by the creation of Evercut® technology, which revolutionizes blade durability. At every stage of our development, we emphasize continuous improvement, creativity, and respect for the environment, with a focus on sustainability and performance.
With our entry into the Henokiens circle, we celebrate more than 440 years of history, an uninterrupted cutlery tradition and a future that we continue to build with passion and determination.
Tarrerias Bonjean is more than a company, it is a family story that continues, an exceptional know-how, and today, a pride to be a member of the Henokiens.
A prestigious recognition
The Henokiens symbolize excellence and longevity in the business world. Being part of this association testifies to an unwavering commitment to family heritage and the ability to endure through the centuries while innovating. By joining this association, Tarrerias Bonjean shows that its values of excellence, transmission, and innovation are recognized at an international level. It is a tribute to our longevity and our expertise, passed down from generation to generation for more than four centuries.
