Exquisite kitchen knives and other objects of desire......

[lurker]

I've just looked at the Kin Knifes linky
Is it my failing memory or are they based in the same town/street as a well known woodwork tool shop??

As regards to British Knifes.
My mum gave me a carver, fork & steel that was a wedding present nearly 60 years ago.
The "plastic handles" disintegrated ages ago & the tools never used since. I've re-handled & they work great! the knife is 'kin sharp!!

So........ I think the answer is much the same as chisels - go to car boots find good (older the better) makes & fettle.

Regards sharpening: a butcher friend showed me how to use the steel, quite simple once you get the hang of it.

 

[mickthetree]

I have to say, I have always fancied owning a descent kitchen knife, but I have to settle for my £10 all metal stainless steel jobbie from Tescos for the past 4 years. Its been ok.

but I got one of thesefor christmas.

Re ground the bevel on my knife with a dished oilstone, then took it to the ozitech furi and I have never used a better knife.

a couple of swipes on the ozi every day and its stupidly sharp.

I love cooking and use my knife everyday on everything, from opening a plastic packet to slicing potatos wafer thin for potato dauphinoise.

I'm prepared to spend some good dosh on some ashley iles chisels or a nice clifton plane (at some point) , as I do believe they take a better edge and make paring through a piece of oak easier. But I honestly cant see how a £600 knife can "cut" a piece of beef any better than my £10 one.

They do look nice though :wink:

 

[Harbo]

Bugbear - it's the 12cm SD which I keep for cutting tomatoes:

http://nipponkitchen.com/acatalog/SD_Range.html

It's not a bad knife but needs more sharpening than my basic Wantanabes.

I have 3 types of knives:
A mixture of Europeans in a block that any body can use.
A collection of Japanese that only I use.
A few custom made that nobody has used!
Sad really?

I started into knives a few years ago including collecting bits to make them but with all the adverse knife publicity I went off the idea.

I did however order a Randall knife over 4 years ago - you fix the price when you order. They have a very long waiting list and will not increase production as it is a family firm. People used to buy and sell on at double their bought price?
Mines due for delivery in March - delayed from last December?

http://www.randallknives.com/

Rod

 

[bugbear]

Bugbear - it's the 12cm SD which I keep for cutting tomatoes:

http://nipponkitchen.com/acatalog/SD_Range.html

It's not a bad knife but needs more sharpening than my basic Wantanabes.

I think the Tojiro SD is the same as the DP except for the bevel.

Your Wantanabes should be anything but "basic" if the prices on that site and accurate (and fair).

edit; I've looked round the site; I see that some of his basic knives are at much more affordable prices.

BugBear

 

[bugbear]

I've just looked at the Kin Knifes linky
Is it my failing memory or are they based in the same town/street as a well known woodwork tool shop??

Yep. Read here:

http://www.kinknives.com/2contact.htm

BugBear

 

[bugbear]

But I honestly cant see how a £600 knife can "cut" a piece of beef any better than my £10 one.

Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tErF8Lnlf3M

Note the lack of slicing motion to get the knife through - it's what called a push cut. Straight down.

Also note the lack of deflection in the tomato - the knife makes the cut without any noticable drag.

Impressive. IMHO.

BugBear

 

[TrimTheKing]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tErF8Lnlf3M

Christ on a bike! I wouldn't be putting my fingers anywhere near the blade on that bad boy, even to wipe it clean!!!

 

[lurker]

Not THAT impressed!

Like all edged tools they are only as good as the person who last sharpened them.

 

[Harbo]

Bugbear - I see that they have gone up in price somewhat - $315 for the set of 8.

When I bought mine he used to sell them on Ebay and I do not think I spent more that £70? I gave some of them away as I already had some of the styles/types.

I also have one of these:

This but with Ebony handle and Damascus Blue Steel

This with Ebony handle (not the small one)

Bought these a few years ago and pretty sure I did not pay more than £200?

Jumped off the slope!

Rod

 

[lurker]

I reckon this is another "bloke thing" - I like good & sharp knives in the kitchen.

SWMBO just uses the first one at hand which is rarely the one for the job

Just to expand ( and go off topic :roll: )- I keep meaning to make some sort of drawer organiser for the decent knives.
Maybe a tray with slots - any ideas /examples??

 

[mickthetree]

yeah, fair doos, that is pretty blooming sharp!!

Lurker, this is the inside of our kitchen drawer.

Works a treat.

 

[Racers]

Hi,

I have one that is just two strips with slots cut in for the handle and blade, but when the wife slams the draw they slide forwards, so an end stop might be good, but then the knives might get stuck in it.


Pete

 

[mickthetree]

After seeing that chap slice through that tomato, I couldn't resist the temptationto show what my tesco special can do.

 

[Vormulac]

I use Global knives - they're the only decent quality ones I own, but of the many I have tried over the years I just find the balance and comfort of the handles to be better than anything else. Just my opinion, natch.

 

[woodbloke]

Cheap and nasty Sabatier's here...nothing fancy - Rob

 

[big soft moose]

for two years we've had an unbranded set that i picked up in homestore and more for a fiver

however these have now been given to my lil sis, and swimbo has spent over 200 notes on a set of scanpan kitchen knives.

 

[dedee]

It may be heresy but for slicing fruit and veg I prefer a serrated knife, a kitchen devil which I've had for at least 20 years - never sharpened.

For raw meat ( cutting into chunks) I often use kitchen scissors. For cooked meat a Sainbury's special does it for me.


Andy

 

[paulm]

I popped in here today as I was nearby for a meeting anyway.

Loads of beautiful stuff including those rather pricy handmade ones, but even better in real life than the pictures.

Didn't have the rather more modest Kai Shun chef's knife I was looking for though to add to the two sizes I already have, and I was lucky to escape with my wallet intact !!!

Cheers, Paul

 

[Harbo]

deedee - you must have strong hands?


Rod

 

[Harbo]

deedee - you must have strong hands?


Rod