I’ve been talking to this blacksmith...
- ChefKnivesToGo
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I’ve been talking to this blacksmith...
I got an email pitch from this blacksmith in Vietnam the other day. Unlike most come ons, when any blacksmith contacts me I never simply blow them off. So I decided to ask him about his business and how he’s making his knives. They’re pretty crude but he said he would be willing to make whatever I wanted. I’ll have to think about that.
Anyhow I asked him for shop pictures. I’ll post them when I get to work.
Anyhow I asked him for shop pictures. I’ll post them when I get to work.
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Re: I’ve been talking to this blacksmith...
I have more shots but this one was striking for a number of reasons.
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Re: I’ve been talking to this blacksmith...
Interesting pics. Probabaly humid as heck, that big fan probabaly gets a work out around that old tooling. He’s keeps it well greased and oiled, that’s for sure.
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Re: I’ve been talking to this blacksmith...
I too am wondering his products that he has and has sold.
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Re: I’ve been talking to this blacksmith...
What kind of steels does he use and can you get a prototype for a pass around?
If God wanted me to be a vegetarian he wouldn't have made animals taste so good.
Re: I’ve been talking to this blacksmith...
I’d definitely try something from this Smith. It looks like everything is well maintained. A utility knife would be awesome to try.
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Re: I’ve been talking to this blacksmith...
Honestly, when you say his knives are crude I probably wouldn't buy a knife on strength of pics alone.
When I see his shop, I'm interested in his full range - for cooking and carry. A good story does sell.
When I see his shop, I'm interested in his full range - for cooking and carry. A good story does sell.
Re: I’ve been talking to this blacksmith...
Very interested in knife pics, especially if he makes any kind of regional specialty or traditional knife.
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Re: I’ve been talking to this blacksmith...
Certainly looks like it. Leaf springs can make great knives. The Bloodroot guys make some nice stuff with leaf springs, heck Devin Thomas made one out of a vintage wagon wheel at one point.
Looking at Vietnamese/laotion knives they all appear either like a nakiri or the cck pig sticker.
Re: I’ve been talking to this blacksmith...
Definitely interesting. I would like to know what he usually makes, too, and what they're called. I would imagine given how heavily related Vietnamese cuisine is to Chinese the pictured knives would be analogues to the various Chinese cleavers. I would like one.
Re: I’ve been talking to this blacksmith...
Are you looking to offer traditional Vietnamese style knives to collectors and/or expand the breadth of your offerings? Or is this more a way to offer another lower cost line to value-conscious customers? Or a little of both?
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Re: I’ve been talking to this blacksmith...
There’s no master plan but here is my general thinking. I got an email from this guy and thought I would ask for some pics and it looked interesting. As a buyer I’m very attracted to the very very small blacksmiths that are working and producing tools for their local community. I know it’s not for everyone, and some of us like the “best of the best”, but for me personally a guy like this making knives out of freaking leaf springs really speaks to me. He had the smell of authenticity when I looked at his indoor/outdoor blacksmith shop so I figured I would share it and see if any of you guys thought it would be cool to try them.
I sent him the dimensions for a tall nakiri and I’ll see what the price is for them. Maybe I should do this as a group buy so you guys can buy them from me at cost. I’m guessing they’ll be about $25 without handles.
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Re: I’ve been talking to this blacksmith...
At $25, without handles I will take atleast two, maybe 5.