The Comeback Of Faure Le Page

From making firearms for monarchs to being the latest purveyor of luxury leather goods, the three-century-old French heritage brand has undergone one heck of a rebirth.

Faure Le Page (say “forhay le pah-je”) was the master gunsmith to the French court, with roots dating back to 1717. Every French king since Louis XV carried its ceremonial swords and pistols. And during the first and second French Revolutions, it earned its place in history by siding with the masses, supplying them with guns and ammunition.

But in the early 20th century, as guns faded from daily life in France, the brand shifted to leather hunting accessories for a niche clientele. Its vintage creations, like Napoleon’s vermeil sabre, became the treasures of museums and auction houses. And it was in those settings that FLP caught the attention of Augustin de Buffevent, now its artistic director.

“I was told Faure Le Page has a fantastic heritage and it was high time it made a comeback. I flew back to Paris to learn more about it, and as I dug, I kept finding diamonds,” de Buffevent says.