Japanese Knives Vs F.Dick Knives

We recently had a beautiful Santoku Japanese knife sent into us from our knife sharpening Brisbane business. Unfortunately the knife wasn’t in great shape; it was blunt and the tip needed to be repaired. The knife had sentimental value as a memento from a holiday in Japan as well as being used daily by its self-confessed foodie owner. Thankfully, we could repair the tip and sharpen it to a razor edge which she was just delighted it with, but it did prompt the question, why did it happen?

The big difference between Western and Japanese knives is the steel they are made from. Japanese knives are made from a harder steel but unfortunately that also makes them more prone to crack or chip. They are also thinner to give them less resistance when slicing but makes them more vulnerable when compared to conventional knives. The Japanese have always prized sharpness over durability whereas German knives like F.Dick are renowned for their durability. It’s a good idea going forward keeping this in mind when you are in the market for a new knife. Japanese knives are a true work of art and known for their ability to hold an edge and the price to purchase reflects that quality, however they are best used by someone who understands their brittleness and respects the craftmanship and quality. For those of us that simply require a good quality kitchen knife and give little thought about its care other than the occasional sharpening then knives such as F.Dick will be a better purchase and less likely to give heartache when inadvertently dropped from the bench or chipped from incorrect use.