I mentioned here a few weeks ago that while watching the Knifewear "Garage Sale" stream, my wife decided she wanted a Murata 80mm Petty. Now, without hesitation, I ordered that knife. After more than three decades of marriage, my wife has rarely shown her own personal interest in knives. She fell in love with a Case Cheetah in red Kirinite that I promptly ordered and then another Case in the form of a red-slabbed Mini-Toothpick, that I also ordered.
But kitchen knives? Well, for years, that has been the realm of a Calphalon 6" utility knife and Henckels pairing knife. The Calphalon is actually not terrible and the Henckels is a thin little slicing demon but of course they are, well...
Anyway, on her maiden voyage with the Murata, she loved it. She loved the feel of it, she loved the edge, she loved the notion of it (a discontinued version of a knife by an aging blacksmith), and she loved that it was her pick. No prodding from me.
But, after a couple uses there was a bit of surface rust. I was certain it was just from some residual moisture on the towel she'd used to dry it after washing. She was careful to hand wash it right after use and dry it but she'd also done some other dishes and such so I think the towel was just a little damp. I was worried it would turn her off as being too finicky and I think it did for a while, but tonight, from the kitchen I heard, "Damn that's sharp..."
And sure enough, there she was using her knife. And this time, she engaged me in a serious discussion about caring for it. Do I always need to use soap? Is soap bad for it? So it needs to be totally dry? What about the handle? Is there anything I shouldn't cut with it?
Stoked! After all these years, she's bonded with a kitchen knife! Pairing knife or not, it is hers!!!
But kitchen knives? Well, for years, that has been the realm of a Calphalon 6" utility knife and Henckels pairing knife. The Calphalon is actually not terrible and the Henckels is a thin little slicing demon but of course they are, well...
Anyway, on her maiden voyage with the Murata, she loved it. She loved the feel of it, she loved the edge, she loved the notion of it (a discontinued version of a knife by an aging blacksmith), and she loved that it was her pick. No prodding from me.
But, after a couple uses there was a bit of surface rust. I was certain it was just from some residual moisture on the towel she'd used to dry it after washing. She was careful to hand wash it right after use and dry it but she'd also done some other dishes and such so I think the towel was just a little damp. I was worried it would turn her off as being too finicky and I think it did for a while, but tonight, from the kitchen I heard, "Damn that's sharp..."
And sure enough, there she was using her knife. And this time, she engaged me in a serious discussion about caring for it. Do I always need to use soap? Is soap bad for it? So it needs to be totally dry? What about the handle? Is there anything I shouldn't cut with it?
Stoked! After all these years, she's bonded with a kitchen knife! Pairing knife or not, it is hers!!!