Buying knives

I like little and often when it comes to sharpening. I've a 3000 grit Japanese waterstone sitting in water on in the kitchen, I give my knives three runs either side after every use. I won't have a perfect V edge as my angle isn't going to be perfect every time but it'll be close enough and given the little and often approach it doesn't matter if I'm not always perfect. I probably have a dodgy convex grind but they are always screaming sharp. I like 3000 grit as it gives a micro serration which helps my less than perfect grind.

Feisar wrote:

Can I respectfully ask, what's the whole thing behind getting a butcher to sharpen knives?

I wouldn't, most butcher knives are softer steel that is made to be tough, but deform if hitting bone.
They will steel often to straighten up the edge, but most butchers are not dedicated knife sharpeners.

If you have expensive Japanese knives, Patrick Brennan knife maker can sharpen them, Jay in Kilkenny Knives and Tool can do it, I can do a job on it, or any custom knife makers would know how (Jamie at Triscele Forge for example).

Other option is (as Feisar does) getting a 1,000 grit water stone and a 6,000 grit stone (combo stones are available).
Have a go yourself on a cheap beater to get a feel for it, angles don't have to be exact.
A nice convex edge is ideal for kitchen use.

Permanent soaker stones can be kept in the toilet cistern, I am told

Masala wrote: »

Hi

Am looking at getting a set of knives just for myself in the kitchen. I enjoy cooking at the weekend etc and am always complaining at the quality of knives I have in the cutlery drawer.

So.. looking at something that I can wash and store away just for me ... no lending out!!!

Am talking about preparing chicken, vegetables (including butternut squash ) etc.

Any ideas of what to get or where?? Will Amazon sent knives in the post????

Looking at spending €100-€150 on a good 3-4 piece set.

Many thanks

Victorinox fibrox should be doable at that price nisbets.ie do next day and were cheaper than Amazon for me.

Repeated from previous posts, but solid starter kits don't have to be costly.

I always recommend a good bread knife / carver, a Chef's knife, and a couple good paring knives.
There are others that are useful, but that's the core set.

Fish filleting knives, cleavers, spreaders...all optional (unless you do have a need for a specific tool, or just want a huge lamb Splitter because...)

I like McDonnells.ie or Nisbets.ie for my working knives.

1) Bread knife carver - I like the F. Dick Utility
https://www.mcdonnells.ie/products/p...tility-knife-1

2) Chef's 8"

https://www.mcdonnells.ie/products/p...ic-chefs-knife



Chef's 10"

https://www.mcdonnells.ie/products/p...-chefs-knife-1

3) Paring knife - straight

https://www.mcdonnells.ie/products/p...-kitchen-knife

Paring Knife - Tourne (very useful)

https://www.mcdonnells.ie/products/p...eeling-knife-2

If you don't want to put the extra effort sometimes required into the care and maintenance of a Japanese knife, I would be inclined to go French or German.

Generally built a bit heavier, softer steel, stainless, if going in a dishwasher get the moulded plastic handles!

The likes of F.Dick, Victorinox, Forschner, Old Hickory (carbon steel so will rust), Sabatier....

Also, the likes of Henckels and Wusthoff are making Japanesey knives, similar designs but in stainless steels, so a bit higher grade option, without going all in on a Cowry-X steel handcrafted job from a master maker.

A Kramer by Zwilling is still €240 - €400 quid, but a very nice Chef's knife can be had for under €100.


If you were to go to Victorinox level €50 quid would set them up with possibly a couple of knives (Bread and Chef's).



€27.40



€24.00

Kai for around €70.00, Kai own Shun, Zero Tolerance, Kershaw...



Zwilling for around €50



Have a look on https://www.knivesandtools.co.uk/ and https://www.nisbets.ie/kitchenware-a...knives/_/a33-2

Finally do not get one of those coarse ribbed steels, any polished steel rod like a hydraulic shaft or a long screwdriver will do in a pinch, and doesn't cause excessive wear.
The unglazed portion of ceramic on the arse of a coffee mug will touch up an edge, stones will eventually be needed to sharpen (or wet and dry sandpaper on a flat surface will do the job).

Feisar wrote: »

Deise Musashi seems to have it covered there in fairness.

It's a fair comment but many of the links in that post are dead and I don't recognise any of the brands that McDonnells.ie have for sale. Nisbets.ie are out of stock on a lot of things too. I've read back a good few pages here and there are a lot of UK based sites which I don't want to buy from at the moment due to extra charges and delivery issues.

Arnotts is looking like a good option for me at the moment, I am struggling to find another Irish site with brands I know about.

EDIT - will spend some time researching the brands on the McDonnells site but if it's not Zwilling or Wusthof then I've never heard of it.

Wusthof would be my choice. Available here at competitive prices. https://www.sweeneyorourke.com/ebstore/so/

I've bought a few bits from https://www.knivesandtools.ie/ and the shipping has been fast even over Christmas.
I got a handy size De Buyer mineral B wok, to go with my frying pan, love the steel pans.



I'm avoiding the UK sites now (which is a pity but the VAT and postage are ruining it).

https://www.knivesandtools.ie/en/ct/kitchen-knives.htm

budgemook wrote: »

https://www.nisbets.ie/victorinox-serrated-bread-knife-black-215mm/c666

Looking for a quality bread knife. Any thoughts on this guy?

Hard to go wrong with victorianox for quality and value. Good knives

Sharpening serrations, if they are round, can be done with a steel rod impregnated with diamond dust.
The Spyderco triangle sharpmaker rods will also work.

I have the CRKT Veff sharpener for this job, but Lidl and Aldi often do similar little rod sharpeners.







Often a run on a belt sander at the back of the serrations will bring an edge back.

I have seen specialised files that were used for cutting and refreshing serrated blades back in the day, but never seen one for sale (didn't do much looking either).

https://www.wikihow.com/Sharpen-Serrated-Knives

https://www.crkt.com/knife-sharpening/

budgemook wrote: »

I am struggling to decide between the bread knife I linked above and this "larding knife". I'm not sure what the difference is really, except it's a tenner more and longer. I wouldn't mind the longer blade but is it suitable for bread? Can't really find much info online.

https://www.nisbets.ie/victorinox-fibrox-larding-knife-serrated-blade-305mm/c683

EDIT: actually no, this one is way too long for me.