Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades Knife wedding gift?

I am mainly a lurker enjoying knife and gun porn. Not much into just posting to post - if I don't know enough to add anything useful - sure like looking and learning from you guys.

Daughter is getting married in Aug., the wife told her I'm into good-knives. Now I'm on the spot.

The wife is thinking 3-4 "special" kitchen knives for cooking duties (not table or steak). I said you thinking $100, she said no "it's our ONLY daughter and she's ONLY getting married once - we could go $200." I'm thinking, that's not VERY special and NOT custom but... I said, "let me see what the guys can do to help."

So guys? Help! Where do I look and what I can get?

Of course there is the other reality, my selling a gun to add the $'s that the wife will never know about so she can have what she REALLY wants! But... Thanks

I use the forged Wushof Classics made in Germany. They're not special or custom but I like them very much. In reality, you can spend as much as one desires with some of the stuff out there these days.

http://ludwigschiffcutlery.com/GiftBoxes.htm

I recomend the starter set on that page

I would most likely go that route ( Wusthof Classics ) until my daughter proved she would use and care for a custom properly. A nice set of Wusthof Classics will set you back several hundred.

http://www.amazon.com/Wusthof-Class...p;ie=UTF8&qid=1363629451&sr=1-14

Just a suggestion but you could purchase blanks, handle them yourself, and provide a meaningful gift. There are some good blanks available and adding handles isn't all that hard.

Crowrifle, that is the exact set I have.

Get a couple or three from VinceM. He does great work and is very reasonable. I have bought beautiful knives from him for my wife, mother and sister and all love them in the kitchen.

Get her an Ingram

I love good kitchen knives, and I really like the K Sabatier carbon steel knives. They are inexpensive, not in wide circulation though, and you can mail order them from their South Carolina factory store.
You could get the 10 inch, the 6 and a nice paring knife for less than $200

For the price of the W�sthof set, you could get a really nice chef's knife and paring knife and cover 99% of what needs to get done in the kitchen. YMMV but I don't use or need most knives that come in sets.

I'd strongly second this option. Vince could probably whip you up a set with something like African Blackwood that would be incredibly functional as well as beautiful. Vince might not mention it much, but he was a chef in a prior life so has some experience with knowing the good from the bad and would be great guy to help.

Dale

Thanks, you guys are great. I've dealt with both VinceM and mtman1 can't say enough good about either gentlemen. The fact that they both are directing me to other places to help me get what (I think) I want, instead of trying to sell their stuff... just shows us all what kind of guys they are - salt of the earth folks!

Love the idea of doing my own scales, polishing, etc. for her but very intimated by what equipment I'd need, sealing up the scales, etc. I even have an old rusty "butcher knife" blank that showed up in the bottom of a box of stuff that I could play with. Thought of checking out some on youtube but... good grief where does one start?!?!

I have no problems giving her quality stuff, she's 32 first marriage, and very responsible (except for the fact that she lives and works in DC! ) I'll keep checking out all the suggestions plus the bunny trails that those start!
Appreciate it.

Chris Reeves makes kitchen knives in two lengths. They work very well! I believe the price range is close to what you are looking for. I'd at least give them a look.

Gene Ingram will make a longer blade length, but the thickness is not as kitchen knifey. More utility knife.

Rick Mennefee makes something similar. But I haven't dealt with his products.

Wisthof is good. I use J A Heqnckel because they were a gift and are good. They make knives in China, Spain, and two grades in Germany. Avoid China, prefer German. I have a full set plus a specialty or two. Truthfully, I could get by with a 3" paring, a 5" serrated utility, and 6" & 8" Chef's. I use the boning knife about twice a month, the long meat carving knife about 3-4 times a year, and rarely the bread knife. The 5" serrated utility will easily slice a French bread loaf. Since retirement, I do most of the cooking.

My point is , she doesn't need an 8-10 piece set, if you go off the rack or custom. Just get good stuff. It makes the job easier. Avoid the electric sharpeners. They ruin knives. Get her a steel. Best wishes to you and yours, jack