I Have Sharpened Some Nice Knives Over the Years

I'm a picture-taker, always have been. When I am sharpening knives I like to take pictures of some of the more rare or unusual knives that I get.

Vintage Forged Mundial Knives

These are — if I am remembering correctly — vintage Mundial. Now that in itself is not that noteworthy, but I am a Mundial dealer and this is the oldest set that I have come across.

Vintage Jacobs & Co. German Made Slicing Knife

A very nice vintage slicing knife. This was made by Jacobs & Co. in Solingen,  Germany. The owners have had it for many years and treasure it.

F. A. Porsche Designed Kitchen Knife Set

This three piece kitchen knife set is a F. A. Porsche design. Clean and nice I guess, but does not really speak to me...

Fixed Blade Knives from Eastern Europe

These knives were brought to me to be sharpened by the knife owner's roommate. I believe that she said that they are from Romania or Ukraine.

Cute Vintage Sabatier Knife

I like this little guy. It's a vintage Sabatier — I'm thinking an oyster knife.

Handmade Kitchen Knife Featuring a Sharpened Curved Tip

This gem was brought to me a Piazza's Fine Foods in Palo Alto. What makes it most unique is that the sharpened edge curves all the up around the tip up to the spine. The owner's instructions were for me to make sure I sharpened it all the way up to the spine. I'm not sure what that brings to the table, but what the hey...

Vintage Carbon Steel Sabatier Chef's Knife

I get carbon steel knives to sharpen pretty much on a regular basis, like this Sabatier chef's knife pictured here.  Most people that bring in carbon steel knives appreciate them (as do I) — but not all. Some comment on the color, wanting it to be shiny bright looking like their stainless steel knives. I (rather patiently) explain the differences between carbon steel and stainless steel — and the reasons for choosing between the two types of steel.

Boatload of Sharpened Paper Cutters 

Here is a boatload of paper cutters. These paper cutters were brought to me to be sharpened at Lunardi's San Bruno. Its not just knives that I sharpen, but paper cutters, food processor blades, hoes and many other type of edged tools.

Kramer Zwilling Chef's Knife

This is a Kramer Zwilling chef's knife. I think this is one of the most beautiful knives that I come across! The damacus steel is beautiful, the wood of the handle is beautiful, the overall shape and styling of the knife is beautiful!

Sharpened Commercial Tomato Slicer

Here is a commercial tomato slicer that I sharpened. There are a stack of about 12 blades on the left that are sharp, the traveler on the right hold the tomato as the tomato is slid into the blades.

Granton or Kullenschliff Indented Slicing Knife

I sharpen granton style knives. Granton — or the similar kullenschilff — are a series of scalloped holes along the face of the knife. These scallops allow air to collect as as to reduce the sliced food sticking to the flat blade of the knife.

I am always asked if I sharpen these style knives, I explain that yes I do, they sharpen the same as any plain edged knife.

Vintage Forged Henckels Scissors

I sharpened these Henckels scissors. I rarely see Henckel scissors so I just had to snap a pic.

A Tray of Knives to be Sharpened

Here is another 'United Nations of Knives' awaiting sharpening. My customers don't have such a variety of knives — so I always take note when such a varied assortment — what I call a United Nations as there are knives from such a variety of countries — is brought it. Theres is a nice Miyabi chef's knife here, a well used vintage carbon steel knife, a paring knife that's probably an inexpensive Chinese model, a forged paring and a stamped German paring knife.

Vintage MAC Knife

Here is a very nice vintage MAC knife to be sharpened.

Kramer Zwilling Carbon Steel Chef's Knife

I recently sharpened this carbon steel Kramer Zwilling chef's knife. I think these knives are some of the most beautiful.

Machete from the Philippines

When I was just at Lunardi's San Bruno I was brought this machete to be sharpened. The owner was recently in the Philippines and bought it there.

Philippines Machete

Here is the knife in the sheath. The sheath is all rustic, hand carved and fitted together.

Vintage Kitchen Knives

I sharpened these knives. They were handed down from the mother to the grown daughter.

Vintage J. A. Henckels Hand Garden Pruner

This cool piece of history was brought to me to be sharpened. It is a J. A. Henckel hand pruner. The back side has an aluminum shield or guide, I'll show it on the next photo.

Vintage J. A. Henckels Pruner

Here is the flip side of the Henckels pruner showing that aluminum plate. I have not decided if it is 'original equipment' or a modification. I lean to original as the fit and finish seems top notch.

Rusty Felco #8 Hand Pruner

I had this guy the other day. Under all that rust and what have you is a very well made garden pruner, a Felco #8 hand pruner. My job was to get it back to its fighting weight!

I cleaned it up, removed the surface rust, sharpened, adjusted and oiled it up as best I could.

Reconditioned Felco #8 Hand Pruner

Here it is. I think it turned out great! Almost all of the rust was just on the surface — very little pitting or other serious damage.

I like doing this, I think it is rewarding, taking something that is not worth a plug nickel and reconditioning it and sending it back out into the world.

My Bay Area Mobile Knife Sharpening Business

I operate a mobile knife sharpening service, by visiting five different supermarkets in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Friday is my 'Monday,' so Friday morning finds me at Lunardi's Bascom — located in San Jose on Bascom Avenue and Union Avenue.

My View of the Lunardi's Bascom Parking Lot

This picture is looking over my knives for sale table and out of my knife sharpening booth at Lunardi's Bascom. I set up my sharpening booth at Lunardi's Bascom on Fridays from 9am to 1pm.

When somebody wants their knives sharpened they determine my schedule and then bring their knives with them when they go shopping. Drop the knives off with me, then go into the store and shop. On the way back to the car and I will have the knives sharpened, safely wrapped and ready for the customer to pick them up and take them home.

Knife Sharpening Work Truck -- 2015 Ford F150

Here I am at Lunardi's Bascom setting up the knife sharpening booth using my rather new truck, a 2015 Ford F150 pickup truck!

Knife Sharpening at Zanotto's Family Markets Rose Garden

Friday afternoons finds me at Zanotto's Family Markets, the Rose Garden market. I leave Lunardi's at 1pm and jet over here to set up. This is a rare shot, as the parking lot here is usually so jammed tight that I have nicknamed this location 'Hong Kong.'

Sharpened Kitchen Knives Wrapped in Newspaper Ready for Pickup

I keep a supply of newspapers to wrap up the knives, if they arrive wrapped in a kitchen towel then I will use that, and either way keep it all together using rubber bands.

Sharpened Knives Wrapped Up in Kitchen Towels Awaiting Pick Up

Here the customer brought their knives to me wrapped in kitchen towels, and so after I sharpened the knives I wrapped them up nice and tight in the same towels for a safe trip home.

Lunardi's Walnut Creek Knife Sharpening Booth

Here is my Saturdays — Lunardi's Walnut Creek. Saturday is always a busy day at a supermarket, and this Lunardi's is a busy Lunardi's — so I am usually busy sharpening way each and every Saturday.

Grocery List

I found this grocery list dropped near my knife sharpening booth the other day. I thought the heavy emphasis on the one item on the list was kind of funny!

Knife Sharpening Booth at Gene's Fine Foods Pleasanton

Sundays is Gene's Fine Foods in Pleasanton. Here I set up my booth right at the front door. There is one space right at the door that is often used for different activities — like my knife sharpening booth on Sundays. On Saturday they have a barrel smoker set up here, on Sundays me and the smoker share the same space. Gene's barrel smokes ribs and tri tip Saturdays and Sundays.

Knife Sharpening at Lunardi's San Bruno

Here I am set up at Lunardi's San Bruno which, for this Lunardi's — is a pretty nice day weather wise. Lunardi's San Bruno is located in a wide open space up against the hills and often gets windy and wet foggy days. I visit this Lunardi's every Monday, weather permitting as I say. If it is too windy or wet then I may have to take a pass on that day.

My Solar Panels Set Up at Piazza's Fine Foods Palo Alto

I stop at Piazza's Fine Foods on Tuesdays. I am in the parking lot towards the store, right next to the picnic tables.

This picture shows my solar panels, and it also shows my winter time struggle of finding a good sunny spot to fit the panels. Here I have the panels just past the shadow cast by my popup canopy. 

In order to get into the sun here I need to push them out towards the 'traffic lane,' which is risky. Even with those orange cones protecting them they have been hit (at two different supermarkets) three times to date. No damage — they have just been slid along the pavement. So far anyways...

Motorbiking Wednesdays

Wednesdays and Thursdays are my weekend. Wednesdays I often go exploring on my motorcycle, as this picture shows. I'm the guy in front, my friend is in the back. A close look at my friend would show that my friend did not throw much of a shadow... Since there were just two of us we used a smartphone app called Groopic. It's a great app, sometimes though funny things happen. In this case my friend's shadow would have crossed behind me and I assume Groopic's algorithm said no.

Just Received Beautiful Knives From White River Knife & Tool

I received a shipment of knives from White River Knife & Tool.

White River Knife Filet Knives

Here are two (of three) filet knives. The one on the bottom of the picture is their 8" knife, cork handle, leather sheath. The knife above is their offset style filet knife. The 8" White River Filet Knife will float if it dropped into the drink.

Both of these filet knives have a strap and snap that holds the knife in the sheath so that it won't slip out while a tackle box.

All White River knives are heirloom quality knives. All are made in the USA using materials made here in the USA.

Sendero Classic Fixed Blade Knives Designed By Jerry Fisk

These two beauties are Sendero Classics. A fixed blade sporting knife, complete with a leather sheath, micarta handle.

Sendero Classic Fixed Blade Knife

I see my pictures are not the best, as they don't appear to accurately depict the colors of the knives. Here is a Sendero with dark micarta handle. This is the bottom knife in the picture of the knives with their sheaths.

The Sendero is all USA Made, has S30V steel, micarta handle scales, and leather sheath. The finger guard is large and nice, and is also called upon to hold the knife securely in its sheath.

Sendero Classic Fixed Blade Knife

This is a Sendero Classic sporting the lighter color micarta handle scales.

Just Received Some New Deejo Knives

UPS brought me some Deejo knives today. Deejo are very lightweight, compact folding pocket knives.

Deejo Folding Pocket Knives

Pictured above are the Deejo knives. There are two sizes pictured here. Deejo sizes their knives by the knife's weight — so what we have here is the large at 37 grams weight, and the small at 15 grams.

The two big knives with the black have tattoo inspired skull images silkscreened on the blade and handle, and a strip of grenadilla wood insert. The blade is double bevel because of the wood strip. The two knives without the wood insert has the blade exposed and the knife is single bevel.

The brown wood insert seen on two of the knives is juniper wood.

The small knife in the center is barely a half ounce! Opened it is 5" long. No pocket clip on these small sizes.

Skull Version Deejo Folding Knife

Here is a picture featuring just the skull version of the Deejo knives.

I have Just Received an Embarrassing Amount of Knives!

I have received a whole heck of a lot of knives!

My goal is the so called 'Just in Time' inventory management method, planning on receiving knives as I need them. In theory my supply would arrive at my door just when needed — just when I have sold my last piece that needs replacing.

That is the theory — not real life.

New Shipment of Knives

Controlling inventory in real life is a bit more complicated, there are always things that go wrong. This picture for example shows two boxes (an opened small box of knives sitting on top of a large box of knives). My intent was for the two boxes to arrive days apart, but somehow the smaller box arrived much quicker than expected.

Other complications include knives out of stock, ordering the wrong knife by mistake — and a biggie — getting all caught up in it — and ordered too much of stuff!

Box of Microtech, SOG, Spyderco, Kershaw, Buck Knives

Anyway — enough of the whining — here are the knives that I got yesterday. I see two Microtech boxes, one is a Ultratech D/E Tri-Grip, I see a Spyderco Paramilitary, A Kershaw Launch. The bix white boxes are Condor Tool & Knife machetes.

Today the job before me is to unpack and organize these guys, tomorrow I sharpen knives at Lunardi's San Jose Bascom and Zanotto's Rose Garden in San Jose.

Added Vintage Knives to My Mobile Knife Sharpening Booth's 'Knives For Sale' Table

I have finally found some nice vintage knives during my tour of estate sales and thrift shops.

Vintage Carbon Steel Case XX Chef's Knife

Here is a vintage carbon steel chef's knife made by Case XX. Carbon steel will rust and stain, so Case XX chrome plated these knives to protect the metal. This is a big 10" chef's knife, and it still has the original chipboard sheath.

There are a lot of collectors of vintage carbon steel knives — but I don't think that the chrome plated ones are as desired. Time will tell.

Vintage Case XX Steak Knife Set

Here is a six piece set of steak knives, Case XX brand. I sharpened them, cleaned and oiled the wood — and listed them on eBay.

Vintage Forged Mundial Knive Set

Here is a beautiful set of kitchen knives. They are made by Mundial, they are forged stainless steel with wood handles.

I sharpened them, oiled the handles and sold them at my Lunardi's San Bruno mobile knife sharpening stop.

Gerber Touché Belt Buckle Knife

I came across this vintage Gerber belt buckle knife, Gerber Touché. The metal knife locks into the plastic belt buckle. This picture shows the knife blade inserted into the cavity of the belt buckle. Once the blade is in place you swing the blade around past that metal pin that is visible to lock and hold the knife in place.

Gerber Touché Belt Buckle Knife

Here the handle has been swung closed and in the normal wear position.

Gerber Touché Belt Buckle Knife

This is the opened knife and the belt buckle. There is a half moon stud on the back of the knife that fits in the opening of the belt buckle, and when the knife is rotated the stud locks the blade in place.

Gerber Touché Belt Buckle Knife

Here is the back side view of both pieces.

I tried to sell this little guy on eBay, but eBay had a really hissy fit and took the posting off. I now have it on my used knife table.

The Fancy Cars Visible from a Mobile Knife Sharpening Booth

Being that my mobile knife sharpening business is outside — mostly in Supermarket parking lots — I often see some nice cars. These cars might be vintage, unique and expensive, or just fun. I decided to take pictures of some of them and post them up on this blog.

Yellow Hot Rod at Gene's Fine Foods Pleasanton

I am not the best at identifying cars, and I am usually too busy to take notes — so let me call this car a yellow hot rod.

I was sharpening knives at Gene's Fine Foods in Pleasanton when this car parked. Gene's is near the fairgrounds in Pleasanton, and the Good Guys car show was the same Sunday so a lot of cars drove by.

Yellow Sports Car at Lunardi's San Bruno

I'm sharpening knives at Lunardi's San Bruno when this little number parked. The owner asked me, "Do you know what a barn find is?" I said I did. He said that this was a 'garage find,' that his girlfriend had it stored in her garage for years, just sitting, very low miles. He finally convinced her to sell, so he is now driving it around and restoring it bit by bit.

Two Cars at Gene's Fine Foods Pleasanton

Here are two cars at Gene's. A bug behind the little red number.

Gene's Fine Foods Pleasanton Hot Rod

Another fast little number seen at Gene's.

2015 Ford F150 Pickup at Lunardi's Bascom San Jose

I know the make and model of this beauty — because it's mine! This is my new Ford F150 Pickup. It is the Super Cab model (so it has the back suicide doors), and I have a Diamondback tonneau cover on the bed. This picture is at Lunardi's San Jose/Bascom and shows the beginning of me setting up for knife sharpening.

Old Jaguar Visiting my Knife Sharpening Booth

This is a 60s ear Jaguar. All I remember from our discussion is that it is a six cylinder and has three carbs. The hood latches need adjustment and so the car's owner was in buying a 12 pack of beer to bring as a bribe. This was at my Lunardi's Bascom in San Jose knife sharpening location.

Nice White Corvette

This sweet ride pulled up next to my knife sharpening booth at Lunardi's Walnut Creek. I am surprised at how nice white looks on sports cars, I always thought of white as a working truck or van color.

Message Board Car at Piazza's Fine Foods Palo Alto

I see this car rather often at Piazza's Fine Foods in Palo Alto. It's a car with a message for sure!

A Row of All-The-Same SUVs at Lunardi's Bascom

I looked up while sharpening knives are Lunardi's Bascom San Jose, and I had to take this picture because — even though they are different makes, models and colors — they are all pretty much all exactly alike! The compact jelly bean shaped SUV is definitely the sales leader now-a-days!

Caterham Superlight R Car

This bad boy pulled up next to my knife sharpening booth last Saturday at Lunardi's Walnut Creek. It's a Caterham Superlight R.

Caterham Superlight R 

Here is the cockpit view of the car.

Classic Pontiac Catalina Convertible

Right before the Caterham this Pontiac parked just behind my booth. I am always surprised at how incredibly long these vintage cars are!

A Gaggle of New White Ford F150 Pickup Trucks 

OK, since I have one of the new style Ford F150 pickups, I just had to take this picture. All of these white F150s are the new body style, which makes them either model year 2015 or 2016. Of the the three is my 2015. This was also at Lunardi's Walnut Creek.