Dang. The knife that my Mom used everyday for the last 35 years broke today.

Silas

Silas

Joined
Jul 22, 2004
Messages
2,628
Stopped by my parents house today and could tell she was sad.

She told me to look on top of the counter and there laid the paring knife that she had used everyday for the last 35 years. The blade, which was about as thick as two pieces of paper, had snapped off at the handle.

It's no telling how many thousands of tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, apples, cucumbers, onions, etc had been cut/prepared with that knife.

:(

Anyone else have a similar sad story.
 
Why don't you get her a new knife to use? That will make her happier, not sad. It's always sad losing a well loved knife as it's become a big part of your life. I can understand her sadness as I've lost a couple of good knives. She would love something new to use for the next 35 years.
 
BladeChick777 said:
Why don't you get her a new knife to use? That will make her happier, not sad. It's always sad losing a well loved knife as it's become a big part of your life. I can understand her sadness as I've lost a couple of good knives. She would love something new to use for the next 35 years.
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This.

If you wanted to go more expensive you could probably even get the handle from your mom's knife and get a custom maker to use it and just replace the blade.
 
BladeChick777 said:
Why don't you get her a new knife to use? That will make her happier, not sad. It's always sad losing a well loved knife as it's become a big part of your life. I can understand her sadness as I've lost a couple of good knives. She would love something new to use for the next 35 years.
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Yeah I've been looking but she probably has 10 other knives similar size. The only difference between them and the one she loved was the blade thickness. It was literally about as thick as a razor blade. It would flex like spring steel. All of her other ones are around a 1/16th of an inch thick or thicker.


Maybe someone here could help me find one.

Blade thickness is at the most razor blade thick.

4.5" +/- blade length.

.5" blade height.

Micarta or wood handle.
 
I've got a few of my grandmother's paring knives, that my grandfather used to take into work to sharpen. (He was a machinist.)

Still going strong!
 
Let your mom morn the loss of her knife, it meant more to her than just a knife. She probably remembered all the delicious meals she prepared for your family for all those years. Rushing to buy another knife would be like having a long time pet pass on and others suggesting a new one right away. In due time she may want to shop for another, I suggest an antique store, many times you can find old serviceable knives from estates, perhaps she may find one very similar to what she lost.
 
Final Option said:
Let your mom morn the loss of her knife, it meant more to her than just a knife. She probably remembered all the delicious meals she prepared for your family for all those years. Rushing to buy another knife would be like having a long time pet pass on and others suggesting a new one right away. In due time she may want to shop for another, I suggest an antique store, many times you can find old serviceable knives from estates, perhaps she may find one very similar to what she lost.
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I understand where you are going with your thoughts and will say that I had looked at it from that point of view myself.

I was also thinking that now every time she is spending time in the kitchen she will be reminded of how much she misses "her old knife" because all of her other knives are inferior to it. That would/could just extend any grief.

I think I found a custom one that fits the measurements of her original. I won't force it on her. I'll just hand it to her.
 
Get a hold of Joe Carlton at this link. He is always selling paring knives and makes a point of telling how he flexes them 90 degrees back and forth without breaking. His knives will be VERY thin. I haven't gotten one from him yet, but I suspect his are excellent. Let me know how you make out, as I need to order several also.
Don aka Sonnydaze
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1229674-8-quot-Gyuto-in-Pink-Ivory!!!
 
Silas,

If you are the fella that called me on the phone earlier today, when she gets the new knife, if it does not become her favorite, then send me the pieces of her old one and I will do my best to duplicate it for her. either with a new handle of her choice, or possibly the old one.
 
Buy a Japanese flush cut saw from "that cheap import hardware store" and use the saw blade to make her a couple more. It's thin, flexible and cheap. The steel's fine for paring work. Should work pretty well.
 
Joe Calton said:
Silas,

If you are the fella that called me on the phone earlier today, when she gets the new knife, if it does not become her favorite, then send me the pieces of her old one and I will do my best to duplicate it for her. either with a new handle of her choice, or possibly the old one.
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I am that fella and that is one heck of an offer. :thumbup:

Everyone in the family cringed a little when we found out her knife had broke.

I showed her a picture of the knife I ordered from your website today and she is excited about it.


I may look into seeing if you could reproduce her original even if she falls in love with this new one, which I'm sure she will.

Thanks again
 
Well the new knife from Joe Calton arrived yesterday, super fast shipping.

First word that comes to mind is Amazing. I plan to order myself one, and maybe one for another family member, in the not too distant future.

It really is nice. She is very happy.

It was funny watching my Mom run around the kitchen looking for things to cut up. It was like watching an infomercial.

Thanks again Joe.
 
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