cutlery Your favorite kitchen knifes...
- Thread starter The Hot Pepper
- Start date
..... Hattori's.....
My father-in-law just bestowed on me this set of knives he bought in Germany 30 years ago, while in the U.S. Army. They've never been out of the box. I'm not a chef or knife connoisseur, but a quick Google Search revealed these to be of some high quality, certainly too good for me! So, now I have some questions.
What essential tools/stones/oil do I need to keep these in good condition? I'd like to keep it simple, which is why I'm asking about "essential" items.
What about cutting boards? Which should I consider, and which should I avoid?
I'm not sure I will be able to watch every video on sharpening, so can you recommend the best one for my situation? I'm really jazzed about these.
Thanks. Here are the knives.
What essential tools/stones/oil do I need to keep these in good condition? I'd like to keep it simple, which is why I'm asking about "essential" items.
What about cutting boards? Which should I consider, and which should I avoid?
I'm not sure I will be able to watch every video on sharpening, so can you recommend the best one for my situation? I'm really jazzed about these.
Thanks. Here are the knives.
DesertPod said:This to show how cheap good knives are today, of course nothing fancy as jap sale today with VG10 steel plus enclosed Damascus.
All bought at the local market and they are heat treated 8CR13MoV a Chinese stainless steel good up to 58-60RC or so. The cleavage is branded Metaltex and cost $7.50 about 2 years ago, I even cut chicken bone with it and doesn’t appear to lose much edge (guess is a 25º cutting angle).
The set of 3 knives was bought a month ago under the name of Chicago Cutlery with similar steel and heat treated very sharp (not honed to a fine degree tho), but overall a nice forged piece, paid $15.00 for the set with full plastic sheath ! Too early to say how long will they be retaining the edge.- Interesting, similar looks to the Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Cuisine II where the visible tang is on each side of the handle.
But one day I’ll buy some of those fancy Japanese cutters…
I love my Japanese blades but there is something to be said for function being the ultimate equalizer.. This little guy, started life as a chicago cutlery steak knife, I believe. . I picked it up at a second hand shop for 25 Cents and put a wicked sharp edge on it with my waterstones. In its previous life, it was abused and had the first inch or so of the blade reshaped , unintentionally I am guessing , by someone going a bit gonzo with a power sharpener. Now it is my go to utility blade for a lot of fine tasks because it is sharp, flexible, and I like that the spine is straight and doesn't drop down to the tip like many utility or paring knives do. It sits quite happily next to my shuns in my knife roll.
we are in the middle of re-staining our cabinets and my knives are out in the garage. I will have to take some pics when they are back in their kitchen drawer. I really like my 8 inch Tojiro gyuto the best followed by my Shun premier santoku.
I've watched allot of videos on youtube and decided to go with the 1000/6000 grit combo stone and I practiced with my old knives until I could put a razor sharp edge. Now maintaining an edge on my Japanese knives are no problem. I went the route with all the other sharpeing methods and have all the "gadgets" to put a quick edge on a dull knife but nothing beats the stones and sharpening them by hand. In fact I can now put a better edge on my knives than our local knife shop can. I had them sharpen one of my knives and I can do a better job. Nice set you have !!!PHB said:Knifes Porn !! Yeah my favourite, after guitars !!
So my favourite are Takeda Knifes :
These are not mine, I'm too lazy to take a pic of my Takeda (drinking my first coffee of the morning).
And my favourite stones :
I got 1K to 16K (I will buy the 32K when I'll have money). They are the best synthetic stones I've ever tried so far.
I like my knives to be made in the US or Europe, as the quality is top notch. Of course you pay more but they can last a lifetime, which can save you money in the long run, especially considering inflation. They tend to make full tang knives, and use better quality steel and craftsmanship. The best steel is typically American and German.
I collect knives, and once I buy a new camera(mine petered out recently) I will have to post some pics. My favorites are ones that have been made by individual makers here in the US who make them by hand, and are one of a kind. I got some bad a$$ bowies that will make you drool if your a knife fan.
.
I collect knives, and once I buy a new camera(mine petered out recently) I will have to post some pics. My favorites are ones that have been made by individual makers here in the US who make them by hand, and are one of a kind. I got some bad a$$ bowies that will make you drool if your a knife fan.
.
I love my shun.
My wife's parents are from Japan and these have been in the kitchen for decades. Funny thing is there are knives given as gifts from Japan long ago in unopened boxes all over the basement.
These are the first knives I've ever seen that are only sharpened on one side. This is the unsharpened side
This is the sharpened side
These guys are wicked sharp
The bigger one is also really thick. Its the heaviest knife I've ever used
These are the first knives I've ever seen that are only sharpened on one side. This is the unsharpened side
This is the sharpened side
These guys are wicked sharp
The bigger one is also really thick. Its the heaviest knife I've ever used
I recently bought a knife at the rec of SmokenFire, and love it, and it's sharpened from one side too ...
I dream of owning a real custom made Kramer!!!! He is a true artist from smelting to actuall production of your custom blade his knives stand alone I'm currently on his mailing list for a chance to purchase a blade and look forward to my purchase as of now I have shun,wusthof, and an old set of Pierre santini wooden handle carving knives.SanDiegoPepper said:
Hmmm nice resurrection turbo, and stunning knives I am going to have to work through this thread. I have a set of global's I've had for 18 years now, still going strong, but thinking that an upgrade may be in order, as my wife and I are competing for them these days, and I don't want it to get ugly 
Seriously, we have so many damn kitchen related hobbies, we put in a big kitchen with a 4 metre island, and between the yoghurt makers, dehydrators, preserve bottles still to label, gadgets and produce from the garden, I have about a square foot to play with...
Seriously, we have so many damn kitchen related hobbies, we put in a big kitchen with a 4 metre island, and between the yoghurt makers, dehydrators, preserve bottles still to label, gadgets and produce from the garden, I have about a square foot to play with...
If I'm not mistaken those knives are used for fish only with the one side like the sushi chefs use. The thicker one is used to filet the fish and the longer one for sashimi/sushi.turbo said:My wife's parents are from Japan and these have been in the kitchen for decades. Funny thing is there are knives given as gifts from Japan long ago in unopened boxes all over the basement.
These are the first knives I've ever seen that are only sharpened on one side. This is the unsharpened side
This is the sharpened side
These guys are wicked sharp
The bigger one is also really thick. Its the heaviest knife I've ever used
Well then.
Here ya' go.
All stainless chinese cleaver.
Tora Blades Sirupate Khukuri.
Bliss Knife Works Damascus Mini Cleaver.
A 'thang of beauty!
Posty up y'all!
Here ya' go.
All stainless chinese cleaver.
Tora Blades Sirupate Khukuri.
Bliss Knife Works Damascus Mini Cleaver.
A 'thang of beauty!
Posty up y'all!
My sweethearts:
I don't use them. I just drool a lot.
I don't use them. I just drool a lot.
Paulky.
Beautiful damascus.
But I'd have to use them.
Who in the hell takes a porn star out for dinner and a movie?
And only expects to cuddle afterward?
Get your shit straight sailor!
Beautiful damascus.
But I'd have to use them.
Who in the hell takes a porn star out for dinner and a movie?
And only expects to cuddle afterward?
Get your shit straight sailor!
Ok, I am fully aware of the ridicule this post will probably cause..... just layin' it out there up front!
You know, different knives for different purposes. I have steel knives and I love every last one of them. Well, no, that's not entirely true - one only stays because it's handy to have a knife you don't care about from time to time. My favorite knives for general cooking are ceramic. And not super-expensive. If I broke one (hasn't happened yet), I wouldn't be upset but just go get another. They are sharp, sharp, sharp. I have to be careful not to cut myself. Easy peasy to slice a tomato super-thin. Go through meat lickety-split. Peel an apple and almost get only the skin? Fine and dandy.
I have super sharp steel knives, too, but my ceramic knives are just fun to cut with. I suppose it's a combo of sharpness plus the shape of the handle and probably how light they are, given the small size of my hands and a touch of arthritis. Yep, the steel comes out for dealing with bones and large items, but the ceramic has its place.
You know, different knives for different purposes. I have steel knives and I love every last one of them. Well, no, that's not entirely true - one only stays because it's handy to have a knife you don't care about from time to time. My favorite knives for general cooking are ceramic. And not super-expensive. If I broke one (hasn't happened yet), I wouldn't be upset but just go get another. They are sharp, sharp, sharp. I have to be careful not to cut myself. Easy peasy to slice a tomato super-thin. Go through meat lickety-split. Peel an apple and almost get only the skin? Fine and dandy.
I have super sharp steel knives, too, but my ceramic knives are just fun to cut with. I suppose it's a combo of sharpness plus the shape of the handle and probably how light they are, given the small size of my hands and a touch of arthritis. Yep, the steel comes out for dealing with bones and large items, but the ceramic has its place.
texas blues said:
I have no defense here.....
....but let me clear this up a bit......
Porn stars ask to cuddle with ME.
