Unpopular opinions

[mengwong]

there is nothing wrong with calling it DC Denka

Without casting aspersions in any direction, if I may be pedantic for a moment

sent to DC Cutlery

sent it back to DC Cutlery

yet again to DC Cutlery

It is no longer a DC Denka, it has become an AC Denka

 

[Dwergi]

It is no longer a DC Denka, it has become an AC Denka

Nice.

 

[daveb]

is a thick wedgy wabi sabi TF Denka sent to...

Is there any other kind of Denka?

 

[M1k3]

Is there any other kind of Denka?

The kind ground so thin behind the edge, it creates a hole/frown in the cutting edge.

 

[Gavva]

Is there any other kind of Denka?

Yes. I have a 210 Denka I picked from 4 pieces they brought out. Excellent cutter, doesn’t wedge or crack dense veggies. Pretty sure there are others out there.

 

[aporigine]

Without casting aspersions in any direction, if I may be pedantic for a moment

It is no longer a DC Denka, it has become an AC Denka

An AC/DC Denka would be rather metal.

 

[panda]

Didn’t want to pollute BST with this, but this thread made me think. I want to preface that the seller can do what he wants and this is in no way a criticism of the seller or the sell.

I believe that offering high performance, hard to get knives to new members is misguided even though it clearly comes from a good place. Two main reasons for why it is misguided.

For one a new member won’t appreciate the knife. You need an extensive list of knives to compare to in order to realize what you have. People also tend to improve their technique and handling of a knife the more knives they use, so can better adjust and appreciate the value of a high performance knife. I regret selling a few knives early on, because I didn’t realize what I had and were naively looking for something better. It is hard to appreciate balance, handling, grind, ease of sharpening, edge holding, etc. when you have no frame of reference.

The other reason is that we tend to not appreciate things we get easily. For a new member to easily snag a hard to get knife without being on a list for a long time or hunting for one for a long time diminishes the value of the item.

Now, offering this knife to somewhat experienced users who have never tried Eddie’s work would make more sense to me. It also rewards people who have contributed to the community in some meaningful way.

having to get on a list just to get a knife would make me not even want it. luckily none of those are even on my radar anyway. flavor of the month and/or hype westerns.. hard pass.

 

[HolyDiverScallop]

An AC/DC Denka would be rather metal.

Let's make it.

 

[panda]

To be clear, there is nothing wrong with calling it DC Denka, just like insisting your pricey Brabus be called a Brabus, if you so prefer. It’s just that if one is not careful in maintaining the knife’s shape as intended by the maker, you may have a different knife, and there’s nothing wrong with that, IMO.

I had a custom TF reground by shihan before and it didn't cut like a TF or a shihan, lol.

 

[HolyDiverScallop]

Did it cut like a Moreau?

 

[panda]

Did it cut like a Moreau?

a what?

 

[HolyDiverScallop]

Dr. Moreau was a fictional mad scientist who created unholy human/beast hybrids via vivisection.

(Moreau less)

 

[HolyDiverScallop]

Let's make it.

It gives me no small amount of comfort to know that at least some cultured individuals recognize my references.

 

[panda]

my level of nerd only goes to beginner.

 

[HolyDiverScallop]

That's a solvable problem.

 

[kdizzog6]

Didn’t want to pollute BST with this, but this thread made me think. I want to preface that the seller can do what he wants and this is in no way a criticism of the seller or the sell.

I believe that offering high performance, hard to get knives to new members is misguided even though it clearly comes from a good place. Two main reasons for why it is misguided.

For one a new member won’t appreciate the knife. You need an extensive list of knives to compare to in order to realize what you have. People also tend to improve their technique and handling of a knife the more knives they use, so can better adjust and appreciate the value of a high performance knife. I regret selling a few knives early on, because I didn’t realize what I had and were naively looking for something better. It is hard to appreciate balance, handling, grind, ease of sharpening, edge holding, etc. when you have no frame of reference.

The other reason is that we tend to not appreciate things we get easily. For a new member to easily snag a hard to get knife without being on a list for a long time or hunting for one for a long time diminishes the value of the item.

Now, offering this knife to somewhat experienced users who have never tried Eddie’s work would make more sense to me. It also rewards people who have contributed to the community in some meaningful way.

Agreed, they should have sold it to me instead.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Didn’t want to pollute BST with this, but this thread made me think. I want to preface that the seller can do what he wants and this is in no way a criticism of the seller or the sell.

I believe that offering high performance, hard to get knives to new members is misguided even though it clearly comes from a good place. Two main reasons for why it is misguided.

For one a new member won’t appreciate the knife. You need an extensive list of knives to compare to in order to realize what you have. People also tend to improve their technique and handling of a knife the more knives they use, so can better adjust and appreciate the value of a high performance knife. I regret selling a few knives early on, because I didn’t realize what I had and were naively looking for something better. It is hard to appreciate balance, handling, grind, ease of sharpening, edge holding, etc. when you have no frame of reference.

The other reason is that we tend to not appreciate things we get easily. For a new member to easily snag a hard to get knife without being on a list for a long time or hunting for one for a long time diminishes the value of the item.

Now, offering this knife to somewhat experienced users who have never tried Eddie’s work would make more sense to me. It also rewards people who have contributed to the community in some meaningful way.

I don't agree at all. The second knife I bought was a Kono Fujiyama Blue #2 210 gyuto. At that point, it is true I didn't appreciate the Fuji lineage and I had no idea how desirable the knife is to many collectors. It was clear instantly that it was a special knife. The balance, the way the grind facilitated its excellent cutting, the fit and finish... everything about the knife distinguished it from my Masakage Shimo (my first good knife, which I still love). The Fuji made me realize there was another level (or many levels) of quality and craftsmanship. All of this came from the experience of using the knife; that alone was enough to know this was a special blade. Later, of course, I came to learn about Fujis and how - for many enthusiasts - they occupy a special place in the knife collecting world.

I guess that's a long-winded way of saying I don't think one needs an extensive list of knives in order to recognize something special; sometimes, it's just apparent.

 

[mise_en_place]

Most old members have way too many knives and care about **** that doesn't matter.

Most new members don't deserve hard to get knives and also care about **** that doesn't matter.

edit: Today is my 10 year anniversary here. I am now old and grumpy.

 

[sanmateo]

Clam pizza is pretty good too

I agree, though every clam pizza I've ever eaten had sand in it

 

[Barmoley]

I don't agree at all. The second knife I bought was a Kono Fujiyama Blue #2 210 gyuto. At that point, it is true I didn't appreciate the Fuji lineage and I had no idea how desirable the knife is to many collectors. It was clear instantly that it was a special knife. The balance, the way the grind facilitated its excellent cutting, the fit and finish... everything about the knife distinguished it from my Masakage Shimo (my first good knife, which I still love). The Fuji made me realize there was another level (or many levels) of quality and craftsmanship. All of this came from the experience of using the knife; that alone was enough to know this was a special blade. Later, of course, I came to learn about Fujis and how - for many enthusiasts - they occupy a special place in the knife collecting world.

I guess that's a long-winded way of saying I don't think one needs an extensive list of knives in order to recognize something special; sometimes, it's just apparent.

Like you said sometimes it is apparent that a knife is good. Yet to realize how good you have to have a frame of reference and experience. You can’t fully appreciate some of the best performing knives until you compare them to other knives good and bad. You might even decide over time that a knife you thought was amazing is just average or that a knife you thought was mediocre is actually very special. I don’t think you can appreciate the brilliance of some of these knives until you tried many and I don’t even think you can fully appreciate some of these until you spend a long time with each one. I am also in no way saying that just because someone has or briefly tried many knives that the person becomes an expert. Over time though you get an understanding of what works for you. Like I said in the follow up post, you can definitely tell if a knife is good and works for you even without trying many, but even then you need to try more than one otherwise you might think that a sharp rock is also a good knife. To truly appreciate a high performing knife though you need experience.

Imagine one of the people asking to buy their first “good” knife gets a Kato or whatever is considered good these days, what can that person really tell about a knife like that? Probably that it kind of sucks since it discolors as soon as you cut an onion and then the handle gets dirty and falls off and the blade rusts after going through a dishwasher. It also dulls rather quickly after cutting on their new granite cutting board left over from the kitchen remodel.

 

[Anne Howe]

I've been diagnosed with a moderately severe case of HAS, Holidays Avoidance Syndrome. The doctors say I caught it in time, before I became incurably reclusive. The treatment: I am to avoid brightly colored plastic junk; I should be especially careful for people zooming through stop signs and traffic lights in pursuit of same; and between now and January 2, I should stay focused on living my normal life as much as possible.
To the extent that it can be called "normal".

 

[sanmateo]

Like you said sometimes it is apparent that a knife is good. Yet to realize how good you have to have a frame of reference and experience. You can’t fully appreciate some of the best performing knives until you compare them to other knives good and bad. You might even decide over time that a knife you thought was amazing is just average or that a knife you thought was mediocre is actually very special. I don’t think you can appreciate the brilliance of some of these knives until you tried many and I don’t even think you can fully appreciate some of these until you spend a long time with each one. I am also in no way saying that just because someone has or briefly tried many knives that the person becomes an expert. Over time though you get an understanding of what works for you. Like I said in the follow up post, you can definitely tell if a knife is good and works for you even without trying many, but even then you need to try more than one otherwise you might think that a sharp rock is also a good knife. To truly appreciate a high performing knife though you need experience.

Imagine one of the people asking to buy their first “good” knife gets a Kato or whatever is considered good these days, what can that person really tell about a knife like that? Probably that it kind of sucks since it discolors as soon as you cut an onion and then the handle gets dirty and falls off and the blade rusts after going through a dishwasher. It also dulls rather quickly after cutting on their new granite cutting board left over from the kitchen remodel.

reading your comment, I can't but help think about how someone else (not you) might want to talk the same way about a lover or spouse, but of course for many things one doesn't need any comparison to know that one has ended up with something (or someone) rather special. Is it possible a knife could be like that? You might not be able to know it's objectively "better," but this one is excellent and you know you have something special and it's yours to keep.

 

[kdizzog6]

reading your comment, I can't but help think about how someone else (not you) might want to talk the same way about a lover or spouse, but of course for many things one doesn't need any comparison to know that one has ended up with something (or someone) rather special. Is it possible a knife could be like that? You might not be able to know it's objectively "better," but this one is excellent and you know you have something special and it's yours to keep.

Its called dating.. And yeah, I had plenty of non keepers before I found one that checks the boxes. Fortunately its easier to sell a knife you don't like then deal with mentally non stable women. There is no return on your investment in that department.

I happen to agree with @Barmoley 's rant. One of my first japanese knives was a TxK and didn't think it was anything special until I sold it for something that looked cooler. A while later after trying many knives could I appreciate the way it cut because later I had much more to compare it to.

 

[jedy617]

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer here

 

[OkayMode]

I can't but help think about how someone else (not you) might want to talk the same way about a lover or spouse

WHAT?!

 

[OkayMode]

For a start, I can’t buy a new lover for 40% off with a fancy handle in the KnS Black Friday sale.

 

[Dave]

For a start, I can’t buy a new lover for 40% off with a fancy handle in the KnS Black Friday sale.

Not with that attitude you can't

 

[Seemore]

and I don’t even think you can fully appreciate some of these until you spend a long time with each one.

Aside from the ongoing debate/discussion here, I agree strongly with this. It kind of blows my mind how many knives are sold on BST having never been used, though I certainly understand that some people may just want to view a maker’s work.
For better and worse, it takes me many cooking sessions, at least a few sharpenings, and a thinning (or more) to comprehend what’s in my hands - what the craftsman has made.

 

[HolyDiverScallop]

I mean, you CAN, but it won't love you back.

 

[aporigine]

I agree, though every clam pizza I've ever eaten had sand in it

This begs for an indelicate comment.