A sharp knife is a beautiful thing. When used correctly it can slice a ripe tomato, kill a wild pig, or stop the bad guy in a horror movie from coming back to get you in the sequel. I look at this unique slice of San Francisco to learn more about the care, use and deadly application of knives.
Chapter 1: Columbus Cutlery
If you're going to do anything with knives - cut meat, open packages, neutralize your enemies - you'd better make sure they are sharp and well cared for. Your best bet is to stop in and see Jenny and Fulvio at Columbus Cutlery in North Beach. The shop has been there for 45 years and Fulvio has been working with knives since he was a kid back in Italy. He learned the trade from his dad, who learned it from his dad back when a sharp knife and a well-honed axe meant the difference between dinner and death.
Fulvio showed me how to sharpen a blade from tip to hilt, making sure the blade was between 20 and 25 degrees. You can do this with either a stone or diamond sharpener, depending on whether you want to push the edge back into place or put a new one on all together. He also told me what to look for in case I ever have to leave my knives in less skilled hands (example: make sure the grinder runs at less than 300 rpm, so the steel doesn't get too hot and lose the temper).
Columbus Cutlery is also a good spot to replenish your arsenal. They have throwing knives for long distance maiming, dive knives for underwater killing, pocket knives for close quarters stabbing and the world's largest swiss army knife for...uh...really dorky camping trips. Actually, I don't know what you would use it for, but it has everything from an allen wrench to a laser pointer, and is so big it comes with its own purse.
Up Next: Ethan learns to pirouette like a Filipino sword fighter.
Design by Chris Nyffeler
Run Your Mouth