Handmade Chef's Knife Brought to be Sharpened

I get a large variety of knives brought to me to be sharpened over the course of the day and the week. I always perk up when I get a knife that is unusual — quite old, rare or — in this case, handmade.

Handmade Chef's Knife

This knife was brought to me for sharpening last Wednesday at Lunardi's San Bruno. It is a small, maybe six inch, handmade chef's knife. The owner did not remember where he got it, he thought perhaps at a craft fair.

It appeared to be a well made knife that was comfortable to hold.


I am looking for a line of handmade knives — stay tuned!

Ontario Knife from a closed San Jose Cannery 

This was brought in to be sharpened. It has been downgraded to her garage knife, but originally it was her cannery knife. She worked in a downtown San Jose cannery called Contadina some forty five years ago. The knife was made by Ontario Knife Company — who is still in business making knives — and Ontario Knife is a line I carry. Ontario Knife has been made in the USA since the 1800s.

Vintage Cutco #62 Hunting / Everyday Carry Knife

I sharpened this knife at Gene's Fine Foods in Pleasanton the other day. The owner had it handed down to him from his father. His father bought a complete set of Cutco kitchen knives — and he received this knife as a bonus.

I had never seen one of these. I assume it was intended as a hunting or fieldcraft knife — but I will leave open the possibility that it was designed to be an everyday carry knife.

Wusthof Knife Set

This set of Wusthof knives also came in at Gene's for sharpening. Having not seen a knife block like it I thought to photograph it. This Wusthof set was bought ten years ago during a trip to Germany.

Please excuse the dorky photograph. The sun was streaming in which made a photograph difficult. I scrambled for a location that would work, and one close by so I could get back to sharpening garden tools. Apparently everybody got the memo as it was a garden tool sharpening day at Gene's. I sharpened loads of loppers, pruners, and especially hedge clippers.