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chipshopman

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Oct 9, 2017
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As a professional chef I've taken a healthy interest in antique knives and have set up a budget (think harbor freight) workshop. I see all these wonderful knives being made and my thinking going from "i'm doing ok" to "I know nothing".
I'm not doing the knives for myself...well the odd one I might keep but mainly to put old tools back into the hands of professionals. If you choose to make a beautiful knife and treasure it that's a family heirloom, the ones I do are tools. Maybe I'm an elitist but I would not sell a knife I've spent hours on to someone who is going to use it as a status symbol. I didn't start off with the intention of selling but now I have over 80 (not including my knives) the time has come to start putting the best knife at the best possible price into the hands of chefs just starting off. I actually let them use knives for free for a week to see if they work for them. I am in awe of the beautiful designs I see but as a chef I wonder how they feel as that is a very personal thing. I buy knives all over the place and the guys who need to learn their trade should have the best knives possible. I guess my question at what point does the need for the perfect form outweigh the functionality or as I imagine having never made a knife I just don't understand.
 
What a wall of text that was...

And what was the point? You’re upset that we buy knives for “status symbol”? Or are you upset that you’re now going to start selling knives? Are you saying you’re only going to sell to chefs?

I have no clue what where the direction this thread wants to head into. Inquiring mind would like to know.

Edit: also, forgive me. Do be welcome to this forum. There are thousands of answers to be had within here if one knows where to look so have fun exploring!
 
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So beautiful knives cannot also be functional tools. Is that what you are saying OP?
 
LadyEarth said:
What a rambling wall of text that was...

And what was the point? You’re upset that we buy knives for “status symbol”? Or are you upset that you’re now going to start selling knives? Are you saying you’re only going to sell to chefs?

I have no clue what was the real point of this thread.
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And what was your point?
 
Welcome. As others I'm not sure I understand your post and have a couple of questions.
1 .) Are you a knife maker ?
2.) Are you only making reference to kitchen knives.?
I saw from your posting you have found the Kitchen Cutlery & Tools sub-forum so how can we help you. Here you have a mix of collectors, users and hoarders, so many of us have safe queens that will never be used but what ever you do with your knives is absolutely fine with the majority of us because they are your property. As far as perfect form outweighing the functionality that is a question that each of us must decide for ourselves. It's kind of like how much you are willing to pay for a knife. I have no hesitation spending $500 or $600 on a knife but would never go over $1000 but there are folks that start at $1000. Just my 2 cents but good luck.
 
First of all, Welcome!

Like others have mentioned, the post doesn’t read easily, which makes is hard to understand your position.

That aside, what I got out of your post is that you enjoy re-purposing older knives into solid chef knives for those starting out. I think that is awesome!

The question appears to be the age-old “form vs. function” question. It can be applied to anything, really; e.g. What does a Porsche 911GT3 do that a Subaru STI doesn’t? What does a custom rifle from McMillan do that an off-the-shelf Savage can’t? Is that $5,000 4K ultra high def TV that much better than the $700 TV?

I believe the answer comes down to the end user and their motives for having the item. For some, the end goal to have the newest, flashiest, or most exclusive, for others it is to have the bare-bones economy version, most fall somewhere into the middle. That sweet-spot where quality and function match their budget.

Everyone’s point of diminishing return is different. That aspiring chef who needs a variety of blades to earn a living has a different perspective than the knife aficionado who sits and admires the scores of hours put into a custom blade that he stores as an investment.
 
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bhyde said:
And what was your point?
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My point was very evident that he should either clean up his introduction thread to present a main point or do a follow up that lets us know where he is trying to aim at.

There was no point in your remark towards me, bhyde, when I was already coherent in my own post. Even other members were still confused which validated my first post.
 
LadyEarth said:
My point was very evident that he should either clean up his introduction thread to present a main point or do a follow up that lets us know where he is trying to aim at.
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chipshopman said:
I guess my question at what point does the need for the perfect form outweigh the functionality or as I imagine having never made a knife I just don't understand.
Click to expand...

What is so confusing about that? Maybe you need to read the whole post, LadyEarth LadyEarth .

Welcome C chipshopman . It seems to me you would be in a perfect place to answer your own question.

As someone who works with knives all day, no doubt, would you prefer to use a a knife with perfect ergonomics and design suited to what you are doing, or would you prefer to use a "pretty" knife?
 
LadyEarth said:
My point was very evident that he should either clean up his introduction thread to present a main point or do a follow up that lets us know where he is trying to aim at.

There was no point in your remark towards me, bhyde, when I was already coherent in my own post. Even other members were still confused which validated my first post.
Click to expand...

We were all new here once as stated elsewhere and there IS a point in my remark to you..
Why don't you go back and re-read what you posted and then read what others posted on the topic..See the difference?
Hint: Your post isn't so welcoming to be blunt
 
marcinek said:
What is so confusing about that? Maybe you need to read the whole post, LadyEarth LadyEarth .

Welcome C chipshopman . It seems to me you would be in a perfect place to answer your own question.

As someone who works with knives all day, no doubt, would you prefer to use a a knife with perfect ergonomics and design suited to what you are doing, or would you prefer to use a "pretty" knife?
Click to expand...

I kind of like uh have to read the whole post to come to my conclusion that it was a rambling post from start to finish with no coherent structure in place. So I a, not sure why you bother suggesting that I read something I already read in first place.

But yes, welcome, C chipshopman regardless. Hopefully you will let us know what it is you wanted in your thread because you ended it with a question that itself ended not in a question but a statement?
 
bhyde said:
We were all new here once as stated elsewhere and there IS a point in my remark to you..
Why don't you go back and re-read what you posted and then read what others posted on the topic..See the difference?
Hint: Your post isn't so welcoming to be blunt
Click to expand...

His thread didn’t allow plain good old fashion answers, to be blunt, thus being “new” has nothing to do with it. There is a common unwritten courtesy on the internet where we write in a coherent fashion or else the community will simply react to how it was presented.

The only thing missing, which I could edit in if you like, is my welcoming of him. I merely chose to focus on his rambling instead because I genuinely wish to know what his thread wishes to be conversed upon so I could then partake in a discussion with.
 
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marcinek said:
Wow. :eek:

I'm sorry our new friend's post disturbs you so deeply, LadyEarth LadyEarth .

Hopefully your feelings about it will not interfere with us discussing the topic.
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Sorry my post asking him to clarify disturbed you “so deeply”. Hopefully that sentiment of yours won’t interfere with the clarification aspect of the topic within here. There are other members asking as well. I am simply upfront about it.
 
LadyEarth said:
Sorry my post asking him to clarify disturbed you “so deeply”. Hopefully that sentiment of yours won’t interfere with the clarification aspect of the topic within here. There are other members asking as well. I am simply upfront about it.
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chipshopman said:
I guess my question at what point does the need for the perfect form outweigh the functionality or as I imagine having never made a knife I just don't understand.
Click to expand...

Seems clear. Have an opinion?
 
LadyEarth said:
His thread didn’t allow plain good old fashion answers, to be blunt, thus being “new” has nothing to do with it. There is a common unwritten courtesy on the internet where we write in a coherent fashion or else the community will simply react to how it was presented.

The only thing missing, which I could edit in if you like, is my welcoming of him. I merely chose to focus on his rambling instead because I genuinely wish to know what his thread wishes to be conversed upon so I could then partake in a discussion with.
Click to expand...

There is also the realization that the members of BF come from all walks of life..different levels of education as well as socioeconomic status. I'm merely pointing out that there was a bit different way to handle your post that doesn't come off as being harsh to new members.
You can take it anyway you like, but lets tone it down on the newbs was my point.

Before this jumps off topic too much more..let's get back to the topic and please be nice because..we were all new once too.
 
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