Anyone else been lusting after the AlmazanKitchen Serbian chef's knife???

[learningtofly]

If you're a foodie you should be watching the Almazan Kitchen YouTube channel. It's mouth wateringly good.

Anyway, I've wanted their chef's knife since I saw it for the first time; especially now, in fact, as I bought a Global knife block a few weeks ago and want to try to avoid using that set's chef's knife for heavy duty chopping. Cue the Black Friday sales, and this arrived from overseas yesterday. Saved myself ¢50 in the sale (in fact, it's still reduced), and can't wait to use it!



Anyone else have a particularly large chopper? The Chinese seem to do some very decent ones.

[Passenger]

Nah, it´s a poor work man who blames his tools...cooking- and the associated accoutrements has gone the way of Golf...this, that, the next new thing´ll be sure to raise your game...I can completely see- understand, why you´d like it.

[learningtofly]

Nah, it´s a poor work man who blames his tools...cooking- and the associated accoutrements has gone the way of Golf...this, that, the next new thing´ll be sure to raise your game...

What are you going on about?

[Passenger]

What are you going on about?

It´s a load of nonsense you´ve bought into, ´´hand forged in Serbian Wildfire´´, forged by a very muscular Viking type according to the website, to Valhalla and Beyond!. But you seem to really enjoy it, so good luck to you, enjoy your new knife.

[learningtofly]

It´s a load of nonsense you´ve bought into, ´´hand forged in Serbian Wildfire´´, forged by a very muscular Viking type according to the website, to Valhalla and Beyond!. But you seem to really enjoy it, so good luck to you, enjoy your new knife.

You really are a lovely bloke. Thanks for the input too.

[blackal]

If it is just for chopping difficult joints - I can understand the purpose, but I suspect there will be a lot of purchases where they are used for a kind of 'ceremony/pageant' of "I use a Serbian chef's knife for everything" - when the owners have a good selection of decent knives where each knife actually suits the purpose.

("ceremony/pageant" isn't the correct term, maybe call it a "display")

Also if using one knife only- for a decent meal preparation, it will require constant washing.


But - let us know how you get on with it, using it for what it excels at.

[learningtofly]

If it is just for chopping difficult joints - I can understand the purpose, but I suspect there will be a lot of purchases where they are used for a kind of 'ceremony/pageant' of "I use a Serbian chef's knife for everything" - when the owners have a good selection of decent knives where each knife actually suits the purpose.

("ceremony/pageant" isn't the correct term, maybe call it a "display")

Also if using one knife only- for a decent meal preparation, it will require constant washing.


But - let us know how you get on with it, using it for what it excels at.

Will do. I'm thinking it's more a heavy duty knife for my own use case (think portioning chicken/turkey/fowl, prepping anything with heavy bones that could damage the Global, etc) , although it really is quite multi-purpose in reality.

[Passenger]

Will do. I'm thinking it's more a butchering knife for my own use case, although it really is quite multi-purpose in reality.

What will you next be butchering?

[number2]

Nah, it´s a poor work man who blames his tools...cooking- and the associated accoutrements has gone the way of Golf...this, that, the next new thing´ll be sure to raise your game...I can completely see- understand, why you´d like it.

Like you I/we don't get too excited by the latest ''must have'', for example while others enthuse about their latest amazing coffee machines we're still using one of these...

[learningtofly]

Like you I/we don't get too excited by the latest ''must have'', for example while others enthuse about their latest amazing coffee machines we're still using one of these...

LOLZ. How is a chef's knife of this type a "latest must have"? They've been around for decades, and are used by chef's and enthusiastic home cooks the world over.

[number2]

LOLZ. How is a chef's knife of this type a "latest must have"? They've been around for years, and are used by chef's and enthusiastic home cooks the world over.

LOLZ indeed,

[Tokyo Tokei]

I like to handle a nice chopper...







Bought the chef's knife, utility knife and (a bit of a luxury, admittedly) bread knife, all damascus steel. This will probably get me mocked, but I haven't sharpened them in 9 years. The utility knife still slices a wet tomato on contact, and the bread knife has no issue with soft warm bread straight from the oven.

Buy once, be mocked many times. I mean, be happy.

[Passenger]

LOLZ. How is a chef's knife of this type a "latest must have"? They've been around for years, and are used by chef's and enthusiastic home cooks the world over.

You described yourself ´´lusting ´´after it following watching some show...for ´´ foodies´´, with the implication from yourself that it´s a must watch show...I myself cook most days and I love eating good and varied foods, one of life´s great pleasures,,, but rarely if never do I feel compelled to watch others cook, well not since Bobby Flay leapt upon his cooking prep surface during an episode of Iron Chef to the horror of all...some things just can't be unseen.

[Brian]

Like you I/we don't get too excited by the latest ''must have'', for example while others enthuse about their latest amazing coffee machines we're still using one of these...

Surely the MANUMENT coffee machine must be the pinnacle of coffee religiosity - snip at 22k

https://manument.com/en/manument-leva-machine


B
i do like the knife though - how much are they ?

[draftsmann]

I do like a good cleaver for butchering poultry and game. That looks just the job Tony.

[noTAGlove]

Seems a bit of overkill for chopping my spring onions.

However, next time I am butchering an ox.

[learningtofly]

Right, that should be most of the naysayers out of the way.

Over to the cooks, and what they use for heavy duty chopping, then...

[Passenger]

Seems a bit of overkill for chopping my spring onions.

However, next time I am butchering an ox.

Just bring an axe, saw, most homes already have one or two...though mebbe not forged in ´´´wildfire´´

[adrianw]

We spent a fortune on these about six years ago, I would know what to do with anything else

[Mj2k]

We spent a fortune on these about six years ago, I would know what to do with anything else

Feel I really NEED that chopping board now!

[adrianw]

Feel I really NEED that chopping board now!

It’s too fragile for chopping, we use a heavy thick round lump of wood, looks nice though

[Mj2k]

I love my Global chef knife, it is my go to knife for most tasks aside from boning etc.

I must use it 90% of the time I’m chopping or cutting things. A good regular sharpen and it’s always amazingly good to use.

Is this one a substitute for a chefs knife or as some form of cleaver? Love the look of them, just no space left on the global magnet (and the handle won’t match lol)

[hogthrob]

I bought a Global knife block a few weeks ago and want to try to avoid using that set's chef's knife for heavy duty chopping

So is it a safe queen?

[oldoakknives]

Looks like a single sided grind with a fairly large angled secondary bevel. Would think it's more suited to chopping than slicing, and will be interesting to sharpen perhaps.

[learningtofly]

... What is surprising (to me) with your knife Tony is the sheepsfoot shape, because it removes mass at the tip, which is where you want it for a chopper (far from the wrist for momentum). It's probably ideal for chopping vegetables but I would not use it for butchering (I haven't watched the Youtube channel, so if he does, more power to him). It is probably also an excellent slicer on both meat and veg. Plus, if it's an artisan blade, it is also the satisfaction of owning something handmade rather than on a production line.

It works superbly as both a cleaver and a chopper, Marc. We do have a good set of Globals anyway, so this just serves another purpose.

I do a lot of cooking and have a total of 20 kitchen knives, each a separate tool for a separate job. Some expensive, (for very specific roles), most medium priced, (for every day tasks), and some dirt cheap, (because it's stupid to pay more than necessary for such as paring knives, fruit knives etc).

Like all tools, buy for specific tasks - you wouldn't use a flat screwdriver on a Philips screw would you? Well, I guess you could at a pinch, but why make it more difficult than it needs to be?! There's no one knife that does it all.

Not sure what you intend to use that knife for Tony, looks to be too bulky for most cooking tasks, something more akin to what my cleaver would be used for?

Yes, precisely. And cleaving and chopping.

I love my Global chef knife, it is my go to knife for most tasks aside from boning etc.

I must use it 90% of the time I’m chopping or cutting things. A good regular sharpen and it’s always amazingly good to use.

Is this one a substitute for a chefs knife or as some form of cleaver? Love the look of them, just no space left on the global magnet (and the handle won’t match lol)

This one will be a cleaver/chopper. I'm trying to save the Global chef's knife for less robust duties.

My parents bought me a set of sabatier knives about 15yrs ago and the chef's knife is my go to for most prep. I do have a cleaver but it's only for the more 'robust' jobs...

Exactly.

The shape and apparent heft of the thing might make it a little difficult to use efficiently? I find a more typical cook's kitchen knife around 20 cm long, like the Wüsthof Ikon, particularly good from an ergonomic and build quality perspective. I am also guilty of having some very pretty looking (and sharp) Damascus steel type Japanese blades, but always gravitate towards more 'normal' knives - so I suppose I'll have to admit to being seduced by shinyness in the choice of some of my kitchen utensils. Let us know how you get on!

Will do!

If you enjoy the Almazan, you might like to check out "the men with the pot"
Also on YouTube.
Also outdoor.
Northern Ireland, actually.
Also with dog.
And, yes, they'll also sell you their cleaver.

I'm not making this up, honest.

Yes, I follow that channel too!

... i do like the knife though - how much are they ?

¢99 in the sale.

I do like a good cleaver for butchering poultry and game. That looks just the job Tony.

Thanks, Adrian!

So is it a safe queen?

Hah!

[xxnick1975]

No idea but 3 x 23 = 69

Maybe they concertina a flat sheet 23 times and then fold it over 3 times.

I have no idea!


That reminds me.....I prefer 68. Wife goes down on me and I owe her one.......

Sent from my M2101K6G using Tapatalk

[learningtofly]

Our Global knives are in a block...



although I am now contemplating an additional wall magnet for the new cleaver and one or to other implements. Not sure if mix & match will look nice enough. though.

[Kingstepper]

No idea but 3 x 23 = 69

Maybe they concertina a flat sheet 23 times and then fold it over 3 times.

I have no idea!


That reminds me.....I prefer 68. Wife goes down on me and I owe her one.......

Sent from my M2101K6G using Tapatalk

69 Layers is often core sandwiched between 2x34 layers.

Not sure how the 34 are arrived at though...

[oldoakknives]

69 Layers is often core sandwiched between 2x34 layers.

Not sure how the 34 are arrived at though...

All damascus/multi layer steels are made the same way although tools and processes can vary. This is how Damasteel in Sweden (https://damasteel.se) make my favourite.

[Kingstepper]

All damascus/multi layer steels are made the same way although tools and processes can vary. This is how Damasteel in Sweden (https://damasteel.se) make my favourite.

Some fantastic looking products there.

69, 34, 33 or 17 do seem to be common number of layers though, maybe optimum for thickness and pattern?
Eg https://en.yoshimuneknives.com/colle...amascus-knives

[craig1912]

These just appeared in my email inbox.

https://togknives.com/collections/knives

Never heard of them but look good

[oldoakknives]

Some fantastic looking products there.

69, 34, 33 or 17 do seem to be common number of layers though, maybe optimum for thickness and pattern?
Eg https://en.yoshimuneknives.com/colle...amascus-knives

Yes, I think that is the reason for those numbers of layers being popular. The Damasteel versions using RWL34 and PMC27 are stainless and have excellent hardness and edge properties. And they can look rather nice.