Indestructable kitchen knives?

T

tanto27

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Aug 16, 2010
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2 years ago we bought my Mom a set of Calphalon Katana knives and she has effectively destroyed them. I am apprehensive about getting her another set of goods knives but not sure if anybody has any opinions on other knives that are cheaper and get much better durability.

Thoughts. Inputs. Ideas.
 
How did she destroy them? Dishwasher? Banging around in the sink? Opening Cans? Destroy the handles or the blades?
Does she know how to handle knives and just not care? Or, is she ignorant as to the proper care and feeding of knives?
 
I would suggest getting a set of cheap kitchen knives at walmart or somewhere similar and don't worry if she ruins them.

Rich S
 
Chicago Cutlery makes decent enough knives for the money, we have been using our set for 5 years now.
 
Busse?

Joking aside, maybe education is the best course of action. There's no reason for her to be destroying her knives. Try to teach her proper knife habits. That's what I did with my mom (albeit her case wasn't nearly as severe). Now all of her knives are well cared for, and hair-whittling sharp.

Otherwise, you might as well get her these :D :
Easton_HH-SJTAC-MrSt_Set1.jpg

If she does manage to break them, it'll at least give the company a laugh when you send them in for warranty.

Phillip
 
Stamped victorinox always gets good reviews I had one before (chef's) it was a good performer took and held an edge a lot better than Chicago cutlery. I gave it to a friend that needed a knife.
 
She was trying to cut through an iron girder then slicing a tomato, right?

Could you define "destroyed"? Handle cracks, chipped edges, dull, bent, cracked in half?

I agree with educating her. Even cheap knives are hard to destroy. Sure, you might ruin a tip by using a steak knife as a screwdriver. But, just about any edge problems can be reground or repaired without losing the knife. Contact RichardJ or one of the other professional sharpeners on here. They could probably fix whatever problems she has created on the knives.
 
Looks like education would be the best course of action. She destroyed the blades in the dishwasher and they now have heavy pitting. I could probably try and regrind the blade but don't think it's worth my time.
 
tanto27 said:
2 years ago we bought my Mom a set of Calphalon Katana knives and she has effectively destroyed them. I am apprehensive about getting her another set of goods knives but not sure if anybody has any opinions on other knives that are cheaper and get much better durability.

Thoughts. Inputs. Ideas.
Click to expand...
Right now, Cold Steel is having a sale on its Long Hunter (7" stainless steel blade, black nylon handle) and Western Hunter (similar, but with a 6" blade) knives. Less than $20 each. I use them as kitchen knives and they are very strong and sharp. You may wish to get her one of each. BTW, they each come with a quality nylon sheath, so they will be handy to take along on picnics, travel, etc.
 
tanto27, give education a try. As much as I hate big box stores go to say a Sur la Table and price good knives then have the sales person explain to her why dishwasher=very bad. If she won't listen to you she might listen to some no account sales turd in a big box store. Does she empty the dishwasher? If so sharpen the Caphlons up and start putting them in the dishwasher blade up:p On second thought versus $$ trips to the ER and a divorce lawyer it might be cheaper to buy moderate knives and plan to replace them every few years.
+1 of the Forschner NSF knives, but I always pitch the Wasabi line from KAI/Kershaw
 
First thing to do is stop buying knives for her. If she is the one spending the money on them perhaps she will keep better care of them. Some people just do not take care of knives.
Sharpen them only if/when she asks for the sharpening.

If she would happen to ask, then try to educate both what helps too keep a knife looking and performing well and a short list of things to avoid if possible.

Good luck with that situation.

Doug
 
Dexter-Russell Sani-Safe knives are reasonably priced and pretty tolerant to dishwasher abuse. Edges can still get nicked from misuse, but fare ok in the dishwasher.
 
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