Knot handcrafted

[dtro]

I have thought about if I should post a review for over a month. Decided I should because it shows different perspectives from makers.

I wanted a 220x110 cleaver and after some recommendations I placed my order for a custom from knot handcrafted. Michael was great throughout. I changed my mind shortly into the wait list and wanted 230x115, he was more than happy to oblige. Pictures where sent throughout. The was a delay because of personal reasons but I was more than happy to wait.

When the knife turned up I realised it wasn't flat. There was a hook on the heel. I contacted Michael and he apologised and it was sent back for regrind. When it came back to me it had the same issue, I also noted it wasn't the size I had ordered after measuring. It was 4mm short. I don't know if this was from the rework or it was wrong originally.

When I pointed this out he just told me to return it for a refund. I did and he sent me the payment back.

A very very similar knife was sold on here. Not saying its the same knife with a new handle but it could be.

@Knot Handcrafted, not calling you out but everyone has a different perspective and if I was an unreasonable customer I'd be happy to hear so.

 

[dtro]

The two pictures of the heels are before and after the regrind with the same issue. The second was on an induction hob (glass) to make sure it was a flat surface.

 

[dtro]

Michael has been on here, read my post and not replied. This is the knife that may be my old one sold as new?

https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/threads/228mm-x-111mm-cleaver.72298/

 

[ile74]

Doesn't look like a review but a complaint that should be handled privately by DM.

 

[dtro]

Doesn't look like a review but a complaint that should be handled privately by DM.

Its not a complaint, my review is fair and all along Michael was pleasent to deal with. Why can't an overall negative review be left about a knife maker?

 

[BillHanna]

I understand you didn’t get what you were looking for and got your money back. Why do you have an issue with him finding a buyer for it?


I’m not sure how much of a review it is, since we read nothing about performance.



Edit: I have no issue with your complaint and dissatisfaction; if anything this shows how accommodating he can be.

 

[ile74]

Its not a complaint, my review is fair and all along Michael was pleasent to deal with. Why can't an overall negative review be left about a knife maker?

I would have liked to know the knife's steel, weight, grind, edge retention and how it cut. Now your review only focused on the flatness of the blade and the missing 4mm length.

 

[daniel_il]

when ordering a hand made product, some specs could a bit different. i don't see a big issue by a 4 mm missing, its very reasonable.

anyway seems the issue has been solved when you got the money back. the maker can resell the blade because its not yours anymore.

 

[esoo]

@Knot Handcrafted, not calling you out but everyone has a different perspective and if I was an unreasonable customer I'd be happy to hear so.

So you say you're not calling him out, and then proceed to call him out...

Michael has been on here, read my post and not replied. This is the knife that may be my old one sold as new?

https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/threads/228mm-x-111mm-cleaver.72298/

It didn't work out between the two of you, you got your money back and he sold the blade trying to recoup what he's lost on the effort of trying to make you happy.

Move on and let him move on.

 

[Hockey3081]

Its not a complaint, my review is fair and all along Michael was pleasent to deal with. Why can't an overall negative review be left about a knife maker?

You ended it by asking him to respond and confirm or refute if you were an unreasonable customer. That’s not a review; it’s an invitation. He has no obligation to do so publicly, or even privately for that matter. The whole thing already feels like it’s been adjudicated via refund.

 

[Jville]

Did you even use the knife? I see the hiccup in the profile. I could understand that being an issue, of course he is going to resell it. I don’t see anything wrong with that. It definitely doesn’t seem like a review more of a question of integrity of the resell.

 

[e30Birdy]

I feel the same as everyone else here. It feels like a call-out since you do mention him reading your post and not replying, so calling him out. I would not respond to you either after the nature of your post as that's just bad busineds. This should have been something in PMs and not in this fashion.

People actually measure their knives to make sure they got the right amount of mm? I might measure mine when I sell them but I sure as heck ain't measuring a knife when I get it unless I order a 270 and looks like I got a 210.

I got a knife from a super small maker and it was pretty dull when I got it, I contacted him, put it on a stone and it is a razor blade now, his sharpening setup sucks and I helped him to pick some stones out to get him further in his sharpening game instead of calling him out, another maker, got a knife and had a chip from shipping, contacted maker and we laughed about it after he apologized a 1000 times and he said I can fix it or send it back so I put it on stones and fixed it and bought another from him. I see the issue with the grind but honestly I would have probably fixed that myself and just chatted with him. Every interaction I have had with him has been great and he is super nice and accommodating so I don't see the point of this call out.

 

[dtro]

This all seems strange. A knife maker couldn't make an edge straight on two attempts and the resold the knife without disclosing if used it for two separate sessions in a commercial environment and you guys think that is fine.

 

[e30Birdy]

This all seems strange. A knife maker couldn't make an edge straight on two attempts and the resold the knife without disclosing if used it for two separate sessions in a commercial environment and you guys think that is fine.

But you aren't calling him out and looking for Internet drama? Come on dude..

If I bought a knife from a maker and he used it twice in a commercial setting why would I care? He is the one who made it and can bring it back into the form he first sold it in, secondly you don't even know if it the same knife as you said above as well so you are calling him out on this because you "think" it is the same knife. Third his prices are dirt cheap, this isn't a 5000 euro kamon we are talking about.

 

[Hockey3081]

This all seems strange. A knife maker couldn't make an edge straight on two attempts and the resold the knife without disclosing if used it for two separate sessions in a commercial environment and you guys think that is fine.

Sure that perspective seems like no it has some merit but this is the first time you’re mentioning that you used it. That seems like something relevant to an actual review but it seems like you wanted to expeditiously get to the part where you wanted to engage him publicly so you left that detail out.

He could have gotten it back, redone the edge and refinished it and it’s essentially new. Regardless, you got your money back, he sold it to someone who didn’t post a negative review, so it seems like everything should be copacetic.

 

[dtro]

I left it a month guys. Its not like I'm raging...

 

[esoo]

This all seems strange. A knife maker couldn't make an edge straight on two attempts and the resold the knife without disclosing if used it for two separate sessions in a commercial environment and you guys think that is fine.

It is pure speculation that it is the same blade. You like to think so as it advances the agenda you want to portray.

 

[Just a DK]

This all seems strange. A knife maker couldn't make an edge straight on two attempts and the resold the knife without disclosing if used it for two separate sessions in a commercial environment and you guys think that is fine.

You seem sure that he did this. Do you know he did this.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

This all seems strange. A knife maker couldn't make an edge straight on two attempts and the resold the knife without disclosing if used it for two separate sessions in a commercial environment and you guys think that is fine.

Michael is a great guy who has made/sold dozens of knives here on the forum. He and his knives routinely receive high praise, and that includes from me.

But any maker can have an issue here or there, especially with the personal situation Michael is dealing with and that you acknowledged. The only question when such a situation arises is how the maker deals with it. He attempted to correct it but you still weren't happy so he made you whole. You're out some time and disappointment. It's fine to share that experience if you want but it's the follow-up parts that are the problem.

You're making implications, bordering on accusations, that you can't possibly know or prove. Despite the different handle, so what if it is the same knife? If he cleaned it up, maybe even fixed it, and then listed it, what exactly is the problem with that?

Also, what more you do you want Michael to say to you? He made you whole. He has moved on and you should to.

 

[esoo]

I left it a month guys. Its not like I'm raging...

But you are upset god dammit and the forum's are going to hear about it. How dare he possibly sell the knife you didn't like?

/Sarcasm

 

[esoo]

At some point, a decision has to be made if a customer maker relationship is worth continuing. The decision was made and your money was returned. Whether you like it or not, he has decided the effort for you was no longer worth it. We have the portion of the story for which you have decided to portray. @Knot Handcrafted has their side, which at this point, in my opinion, is not worth them discussing as this has already gone sideways.

 

[Rideon66]

First large cleavers are notoriously difficult. They seem to have a much higher failure rate. Warps, cracks during quenching. They are not usually spot on size wise either. I think more of a range. 4mm more or less seems fine to me. Even 4th generation master craftsman in Japan have these issues. Especially in this price range.

 

[dtro]

First large cleavers are notoriously difficult. They seem to have a much higher failure rate. Warps, cracks during quenching. They are not usually spot on size wise either. I think more of a range. 4mm more or less seems fine to me. Even 4th generation master craftsman in Japan have these issues. Especially in this price range.

Maybe I was wrong. That is fine. I don't see how it would be hard to grind a straight edge on two attempts. I was very clear in my first few messages I needed the size bang on. If it isn't the same blade it could have been cleared up before anyone else posted but he decided not to. Most people would sell them as a second, no?

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Maybe I was wrong. That is fine. I don't see how it would be hard to grind a straight edge on two attempts. I was very clear in my first few messages I needed the size bang on. If it isn't the same blade it could have been cleared up before anyone else posted but he decided not to. Most people would sell them as a second, no?

What are you looking for? Group condemnation? Validation?

 

[Rideon66]

So even if he had got the grid issue fixed you would not have been happy. I mean if the blade was spot on size wise at first the re-grind would shorten the height.

 

[esoo]

I was very clear in my first few messages I needed the size bang on.

So I guess you're never going to sharpen a knife or sell it when it get to 1mm shorter?

This kind of thought overlooks that's it's handmade (which is going to vary) and what actually happens in use.

If it isn't the same blade it could have been cleared up before anyone else posted but he decided not to.

It's none of your business what he does with the knife once he gave you your money back. He owes you nothing, which it appears what you are now getting.

 

[dtro]

So even if he had got the grid issue fixed you would not have been happy. I mean if the blade was spot on size wise at first the re-grind would shorten the height.

By 4mm?

 

[e30Birdy]

So I guess you're never going to sharpen a knife or sell it when it get to 1mm shorter?

This kind of thought overlooks that's it's handmade (which is going to vary) and what actually happens in use.



It's none of your business what he does with the knife once he gave you your money back. He owes you nothing, which it appears what you are now getting.

He was supposed to just throw it away and take his losses and it's unusable when one person doesn't like it.

 

[dtro]

He was supposed to just throw it away and take his losses and it's unusable when one person doesn't like it.

No, it wasn't I didn't like it. It wasn't ground flat on two attempts. Re selling is fine but I'd be clear what had gone on. Anyway, I'm done here, you guys can make whatever judgement you wish.

 

[e30Birdy]

No, it wasn't I didn't like it. It wasn't ground flat on two attempts. Re selling is fine but I'd be clear what had gone on. Anyway, I'm done here, you guys can make whatever judgement you wish.

I will be honest as a maker I wouldn't want to deal with you. I mean this is a 300 pound knife, that is completely handcrafted which is crazy value.

4mm on a cleaver really bothers you a lot, I haven't haven't even measured my cleaver from a different maker as 4mm in either direction really doesn't change much for me.

I get it wasn't flat, you say it isn't that hard why didn't you just drop it on a stone and make it flat since it's that easy.

I have seen Denkas that cost quite a lot more have way more issues that you have with this knife and people complain less and keep buying them.

You still don't know if it was "your" knife so what does he have to be upfront about? For all you know it is hanging on his wall or whatever. It's not any of your business what he does with it as it is his property now after he gave you your money back, he is also the maker and can return it to brand new finish like it was before you had it, so nothing to disclose either.