Where can I get a Shilin Cutter? (see pic)

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scotchleaf

scotchleaf

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I have been looking for an authentic traditional Chinese knife for some time. Searching revealed the Shilin Cutter, which is a beautiful design. Anyone know where to get one? I'm not so interested in the Paul Chen version or Spyderco's.

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Those are made in Taiwan, more specifically in Taipei near the Shilin night market.
They have a online site, granted it's all in Mandarin. It stats on their site that the production has been halted ATM without providing any reason.
 
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I actually found the site and translated it with MSN translate (google failed). Another site indicated that the maker is very old. Is it your understanding that Kuo Ming Jang makes these?

I found a post on spyderco's forum that states:

"The above pics of maker family vertical photos next to ivory Shilin Cutter are pics of the wrong family (Kuo, made Shilin Cutter since 1869)...

Two different families. Both make very similar Shilin Cutter knives. I'm gonna have to straighten this out.

The actual maker family name is Chiu (made Shilin Cutter since 1928). I have some pics, and family history from the maker, and I will try to post them if I can figure out how. If nothing else I can take photographs of the screen. "
 
I can swing around to their shop this weekend to check things out.
My old man have one (not sure which size), they have a very solid heft in hand, AFAIK, production Shilin knives are made out of Shirogami if memory serves and mirror polished. Slipjoint with quite a sturdy back spring with no nail nicks.
Cuts with ease due to the blade shape.
 
With a little digging this is what came up.
Apparently there are two major makers, ones production and ones hand made.
Main difference being the production uses plastic handle scales, has a pin under the back spring causing the knives belly to be slightly smaller, colour difference in the back spring and the liner.
Hand made have a wait time of 1~3 months since the current maker can only product around two knives a day, horn scale, no pin under the back spring so the blade has a fuller belly, same colour across the bolster, liner and back spring.
 
Went to their store yesterday; the hand crafted version, and they're backordered for the next 5 years. So we're all out of luck with that one.
Didn't bother to visit the production store, it's stated on their website that they're in dispute with shareholders.
 
If it's going to be cloned please make sure that a kick is added to the ricasso, heard some reports that sometimes the edge gets blunt from hitting the back spring if closed too hard. :)
 












Left Chui and Right Kuo (The Master, notce the brass lanyard feaures pinned vs the steel compression fit) eggplant handles and bamboo leaf blades Shilin Cutters. Slip joints, no working blade kick so blade (hard and brittle high Rockwell) can contact inside of handle upon closure, made for hundreds of years (5 generations straight in The Master's family). The white one has an ivory handle and clad blade. The others on the left are Damascus while the three on the right are clad blades. Hard as hen's teeth to get. Most go to Japan. There are only a few of these in this country. Johnny (regular fella) @ Mascot speaks good English and can be helpful. You can go to a big show on the Island and perhaps snag one if you are lucky.
 
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Post #1 knife is Chui. Excellent reporter who took that photo has a gift for setting the scene. He never found out about Kuo while doing that terrific story per our email exchange.

Kuo knife:





 
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