The Best Knife
1 - Introduction
Which is the best knife?
The knife for life.
1.1 - The Best Knife
What is the best knife - the knife for life??
Shannon, the co-author of this book, and myself have been playing with knives for around 4 decades (we weren't allowed to play with them when our hands were small).
We have been looking for which knife is the best. Whenever we hold a knife we think about how we can improve it. Whenever we see a new knife we think of how can we make it more alluring.
When we started our search we were often competing.
Who's knife was sharper, who could cut faster, who can chop through the thickest bone?
The interesting thing is that we are still learning however there is one thing that has stuck.
We've been searching for the best knife for decades however what we have realized is that we can never hold "the best knife."
The knife that is the best is not only defined by how it is made (which is critical) but also by what we are about to cut. From one day to the next the best knife changes.
The best knife is determined by what is for dinner just as well as which knife is sharpest.
This book has been collated to discuss what we have learned and what we love (and what we don't). We hope you find it useful.
Lastly - good luck compiling the best collection of knives :)
Shannon & Ramon
1.2 - Creators of the Book
Ramon Elzinga, Knife Lover
Ramon is a knife lover currently living in Adelaide, South Australia.
His mother and father met in Japan (otherwise he wouldn't be here). Mum learnt Japanese silk art and she inspired much of the constant obsession with colour that you will see throught the book.
His father left his home in Holland at the age of 11 and inspires him to keep marching across the globe looking for fascinating things.
Shannon Dolman, Steel Master
Shannon and his family also reside in the Hills of South Australia.
Shannon and his father Denis spent the last 20 years focusing on steel manufacturing (making all types of things with incredible steel). So when it comes to blades Shannon is the man.
Just like Ramon, both characters love that every day they learn more about what they don't know than what they do (14,000 types of steal for example).
Lastly, this book was created with the assistance of Wotcut (www.wotcut.com) who provided us with many knives to test and play with. Thanks :)