Happiness is a New Knife

[kenemoore]

My custom "petty chef" kitchen knife is ready. My first ever custom knife.
Blade smith (www.flatrockforge.com (http://www.flatrockforge.com)) sent a couple of photos. 5" blade made from AEB-L stainless. Most Chef Knives are 7", but I'm used to working with shorter. :-)
Should have it in hand next week.

[dao]

Looks efficient Ken. Here's to many fine meals readied with it!

[Armybrat]

Looks really good.
My wife’s cousin’s son (a former Marine Gulf War 1 veteran and longtime K9 police officer) has a nice sideline business, making beautiful custom knives. He has recently added custom leatherwork.
But I hear he ain’t cheap.

https://www.facebook.com/WendlingKnives/

[kenemoore]

You get what you pay for. (BTW, it wasn't cheap.) It is guaranteed for life, his or mine, which ever ends first. And, free sharpening's if needed, I would have to pay for shipping.

The legend on AEB-L stainless, is that it is easy to sharpen, and has great edge retention.

Here is part of the blade smith's email:

It turned out very nice, I ground it very thin, only .010" behind the edge, and it is RAZOR sharp.
The first thing to cut with it should be a tomato, it is very satisfying!
Please only use it on a WOODEN cutting board, hand wash (no dishwasher) and store it safely, not in a drawer with other stuff.
I use a magnetic strip on the wall to store my kitchen knives.
You can touch up the edge with a diamond steel from time to time, but you will find that the edge lasts MUCH longer than commercial chef's knives because AEBL is a much better steel, and I hardened the blade to HRC 61, which is much harder.

[Armybrat]

That’s good advice.
I have no idea what quality steel the cousin uses.

[Barth]

Custom Knives are like Custom Guns.
Out of my price range - LOL!

My Microtech's are not custom, but pricey - and that's my limit :)
Ultratech, Cypher & Combat Troodon :cool:
https://i.imgur.com/sX7qH14.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qyELNEc.jpg?1

[kenemoore]

I had never heard of this AEB-L stainless before. Never saw a commercial knife that came in that type of stainless. Investigation found that it was developed for razor blades in Northern Europe.
I suspect it is pricey, so not offered in Benchmade or such.

[Barth]

I had never heard of this AEB-L stainless before. Never saw a commercial knife that came in that type of stainless. Investigation found that it was developed for razor blades in Northern Europe.
I suspect it is pricey, so not offered in Benchmade or such.

I've never heard of it?
My best knives have M390 Bohler blades.
Guide to the Best Knife Steel | Knife Informer (https://knifeinformer.com/discovering-the-best-knife-steel/)

[Armybrat]

This got me to thinking…..I do not carry a real knife, just the little bitty Victorinox on my keychain.
So started looking around for a defensive pocketknife like this Kershaw….

https://www.bladehq.com/item--Kershaw-Launch-18-Automatic-Knife--192064

[Barth]

This got me to thinking…..I do not carry a real knife, just the little bitty Victorinox on my keychain.
So started looking around for a defensive pocketknife like this Kershaw….

https://www.bladehq.com/item--Kershaw-Launch-18-Automatic-Knife--192064

I've got a Launch 7 I like a lot :)
Kershaw Launch 7 Automatic Knife - Gray + Black | Blade HQ (https://www.bladehq.com/item--Kershaw-Galyean-Launch-7-Automatic--52153)
https://www.bladehq.com/imgs/knives/side-opening-automatics/kershaw-auto/kershaw-launch-7/Kershaw-Galyean-Launch-7-Gray-Black-7900GRYBLK-BHQ-52153-jr.jpg

If you don't mind factory blems?
A Kershaw 7900GRYBLK Launch 7 New No Box **Factory Seconds** - KershawGuy.com (https://kershawguy.com/product/a-kershaw-7900gryblk-launch-7-new-factory-second-coming-very-soon/)

Also, as an assisted opener I really like -
1870OLBLK Olive/Black Knockout Blems New NO Box **Factory Seconds** - KershawGuy.com (https://kershawguy.com/product/1870olblk-olive-black-knockout-blems/)

[Armybrat]

Looked at that one too (the first one) but think I’d like one just a little smaller.
Or I’ll buy both to see which one is preferable and gift the other to a family member.

[Barth]

Looked at that one too (the first one) but think I’d like one just a little smaller.
Or I’ll buy both to see which one is preferable and gift the other to a family member.

It does have a 3.75" blade, I wanted a longer blade.
But the one you're thinking of would be less ominous looking and a little more conventional :)
I've got several Kershaw knives.
They seem to be a good value with good quality.
https://i.imgur.com/ja1hj7K.jpeg

[kenemoore]

Since the guy who made my Petty Chef, is only about 40 minutes away. Charley Poodle and I drove up yesterday and picked it up. Man is it sharp. Now I need to do some cooking, so I can use it.

He let me fondle a few knifes he had ready to ship. It worked.
I ended up ordering a "Saluda", and... this is the Colonel's fault, I'm getting desert iron wood for the handle. An additional cost.

[Bawanna]

Hey pal, your the one that thunk up the renewed interest in ironwood. I ain't taking the hit on that one. Got me watching for nice pieces too.
Fall on your sword. It's your fault. I think your dog agrees with me on this one.
Made about 4 sets of officer size grips for my MRI that I haven't even shot yet and now I wanna whittle some ironwood for it. Yall a bad influence on me fo sho.

[kenemoore]

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.


On a side note, my blade smith, thinks Arizona is going to start protecting Iron Wood, and prohibiting sales.
Have not researched it, so not sure about it. Might want to stock up anyway.

[Bawanna]

Good to know, I'll be on the search as the piggy bank allows. Actually the piggy bank looks more like a chihuahua right now, but I'll work at fattening him up. It's kind of a slow process these days.

Hey GB lives in AZ, maybe he could cut us down one. Must take a heck of a saw to cut one of those things down. Don't have a clue what they look like neither. I'll have to google that.

[kenemoore]

Post purchase review.
Well...had the Petty Chef for about 10-12 days now, using it pretty much every day. Cut myself second day, kind of expected that to happen.
Anyway, the knife is sharp as a razor, so I've been treating it like one.
Every time I use it, I strop it 10-12 times, and it cuts everything like butter.
Wish I had of bought it years ago. Much better edge retention than commercial chef's knife.

[jeepster09]

I have heard you need Sawzall to cut off the branches....

[Barth]

My daughter loves to cook.
I gifted her one of these that she loves -
Amazon.com: Global Model X Chef's Knife - Made in Japan, 8" (Fine Edge): Home & Kitchen (https://www.amazon.com/Global-Model-Chefs-Knife-Japan/dp/B07YQ8RQKP/ref=pe_386300_440135490_ci_mcx_mi_sccl_2/146-8080996-7602260/ref=ci_mcx_mi?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07YQ8RQKP&psc=1&pd_rd_w=fWIE1&content-id=amzn1.sym.e8f5a9d3-51d6-473f-aa67-49440df946f6&pf_rd_p=e8f5a9d3-51d6-473f-aa67-49440df946f6&pf_rd_r=N0KEFN02B0CQ61NRPT3R&pd_rd_wg=vIzIG&pd_rd_r=9e2b5632-2350-4e6e-a306-2afefe982a67)
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71cMtIVN6gL._AC_SL1500_.jpg

[NeilWise]

Congrats! That's awesome, there's nothing quite like that feeling of a brand new, custom knife. I picked up a chef's knife a while back with AEB-L steel - it's great, holds an edge forever and cleans up really easily. I think you'll love the shorter blade too, especially for detailed work. Enjoy the new kitchen companion!