Good HC Kitchen Knives

[WyoNonSmith]

My hunting camp is a great group of guys who love good food and drink in addition to superb waterfowl hunting. This summer we are remodelling the kitchen into a gourmet's dream. Over the years I have made do with the old crappy knives up there and with a wustof set that someone brought up there.

But, I am a classically trained purist at heart. In a former life, I made my living using my knives as a chef daily. For years I hungered for a good, straightforward, old-school high carbon chefs knife. Now that I feel can afford such indulgences, I bought a custom made knife to my specs from MS James Rodebaugh and had to cajole him into making it. It is a thing of beauty and I use it nightly as the best knife I have held in my hand.

So here's the thing: I want at least one good high carbon knife, hand-forged as a gift to the camp (and myself). I don't want to wait 3 years for one, and I know Rodebaugh won't make another. Nor do I love the guys at the camp to enough to spend the big bucks...I'm thinking no more than $300.

With that in mind, who makes good culinary knives, french style preferred but not completely necessary? I know I have seen some great knifemakers sites, but I can't find them now. I want a good solid working blade and a comfortable handle (I'm not above micarta and such). And yes, I have no problem maintaining a good knife, but I want one that I don't have to sharpen constantly. I am hereby open to ideas>

 

[kimjune01]

I feel that production kitchen knives perform very well for their price. Have you considered Shun or masamoto?
http://www.japanese-knife.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

I have no first hand experience with his work, but L. R. Harner "Butch" here in this forum has always impressed me as knowing what he is talking about and making awesome culinary knives. I'll bet he could do something really good without a huge wait.

www.harnerknives.com

 

[flatgrinder]

This one is highly recommended, it'll be the best $54 you've ever spent:

http://www.japanwoodworker.com/product.asp?s=JapanWoodworker&pf_id=05.008.170&dept_id=13170

you won't have to wait, and you'll have change left over for other things.

 

[deker]

I have no first hand experience with his work, but L. R. Harner "Butch" here in this forum has always impressed me as knowing what he is talking about and making awesome culinary knives. I'll bet he could do something really good without a huge wait.

www.harnerknives.com

I second the motion to talk to Butch. His kitchen knives have been given a lot of review by professional chefs and he has paid a lot of attention to their feedback.

-d

 

[scottickes]

I only know about Mr. Harners work from seeing it here. I have no first hand knowledge of it, but WOW, he sure makes them beautifully. The designs appear to be extremely user friendly. I have only made one butcher knife so far, but when I begin to make more, I aspire to achieve the reaction from my potential clients that his work causes in me. His work is inspiring!

Ickie

 

[magneto]

Butch would be my choice as a maker and CPM 10v would be my steel of choice from him for my "gift".

 

[DrThunder88]

This one is highly recommended, it'll be the best $54 you've ever spent:

http://www.japanwoodworker.com/product.asp?s=JapanWoodworker&pf_id=05.008.170&dept_id=13170

you won't have to wait, and you'll have change left over for other things.

The Tosogata Hocho Santoku is also quite a bargain. It's also a laminated blade but using pure wrought iron to sandwich the steel instead of the wrought iron/nickel steel combo. I love mine. I just took a small, paper-thin sliver of skin off my finger tip and I love the knife even more for it.

 

[Jos]

Murray Carter makes nice kitchen knives.

 

[SteelSlaver]

So here's the thing: I want at least one good high carbon knife, hand-forged as a gift to the camp (and myself). ...I'm thinking no more than $300.

With that in mind, who makes good culinary knives, french style preferred but not completely necessary? I know I have seen some great knifemakers sites

The man is not looking for a production knife. He is looking for a custom knife. That means a knife for him and his desires and needs. A maker to work with him to satisfy this desire. Thats what we do. I think as Knifemakers and a forum community we should look within ourselves for the member here most suited to helping the guy satisfy his desire. The one that comes to my mind, is Butch, both for the looks of his knives as well as his contributions to the group. I think he may use mostly a high grade stainless, but, I am sure he could do a wonderful job with high carbon. I have no idea what his prices maybe. I do believe he is an excellent maker and a good man.

 

[deker]

The man is not looking for a production knife. He is looking for a custom knife. That means a knife for him and his desires and needs. A maker to work with him to satisfy this desire. Thats what we do. I think as Knifemakers and a forum community we should look within ourselves for the member here most suited to helping the guy satisfy his desire. The one that comes to my mind, is Butch, both for the looks of his knives as well as his contributions to the group. I think he may use mostly a high grade stainless, but, I am sure he could do a wonderful job with high carbon. I have no idea what his prices maybe. I do believe he is an excellent maker and a good man.

Amen! I can speak from first hand experience as Butch lives about 10 minutes from me. His work is top-notch. While it's true that he works mostly in CPM stainless steels, I've seen him do some high-carbon stuff before as well. I've even been known to forge down high carbon stock for him to work with.

I'd drop him an email or PM...if nothing else the votes of confidence from so many folks above should be enough to at least warrant checking his stuff out.

-d

 

[butcher_block]

its not carbon steel but
i think that the CPMs30V in this blade look nice
this blade is just 7 inch and just .074 thick at the spine

if you like i can talk with you and see just what you may be looking for
even if that means i have to make a trip over to dekers shop and have him pound be out a bar

 

[deker]

even if that means i have to make a trip over to dekers shop and have him pound be out a bar

You know, I keep trying to get Butch to put a hammer to hot steel, but it never works....

I can work out the steel side for just about anything you need, damascus included.

-d

 

[j22knife]

Here's a couple of makers that I've bought custom knives from - that might fit your bill:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=491302

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=477939

I can recommend them highly.

 

[joe9knives]

I think butcher_blocks knives or blgoode's knives are what I would choose. They both have nice kitchen designs. Seems like they always have good feedback on the forums also.