How to start a collection of kitchen knives

By June 03, 201910 comments

Collecting various items such as seashells or coins is a fun hobby but it is even better when the collection is also functional. Collecting knives, for example, is the perfect way to combine fun activities with necessary kitchen tools.

No matter if you like collecting or not, every kitchen is in need of a good set of knives that will do all the slicing and dicing. But before starting to purchase anything, you need to ask yourself: “What types of knives do I really need and what types of knives would be fun to have?”. You might not have the answer to these questions.

So to help you out in this decision filled journey, we have created this guide where we will break down different types of knives and find out what each of them is meant for. In the end, you will have an idea of which set of knives is the best for you and your kitchen.

Choose your base knives:

The best way to start the collection is by choosing your base knives. These are the knives that you will use the most and you need to have them first. But if you already have an idea of what you want first, then continue reading to find out what knives can be a strong component of your collection.

Now, we are not saying that knife collections can’t be unique, moreover, people are starting to get more into beautifully made and uniquely shaped knives. So don’t worry, you can show off your collection of knives as you would with pieces of art.

Let’s see what type of knives can be your base knives:

1. The chef’s knife

This is arguably the most important knife in any collection and for any cook. Having a chef’s knife doesn’t always mean having a real chef’s skills. It is a learning process and if you are into cooking then a very pleasant process.

A good chef’s knife can do almost all the cutting tasks that you put it through. It needs to have a broad blade tapering upward to a point, allowing the knife to rock back and forth for fast mincing. It’s typically about 6 to 12 inches long. A greater length usually translates to a faster and easier cutting process. But it doesn’t mean that you have to purchase super long knives, especially if you don’t have much experience.

A chef’s knife can cover a lot of tasks, so naturally, it is a base knife for any collection.

2. The cleaver knife

The Cleaver is the biggest and the heaviest knife, which does a job worth its size. It typically has a thick spine and a very strong blade, which allows it to cut through bones and meat in a chopping motion.

This knife is also very useful for chopping hard and thick materials. The wide, heavy blade makes it ideal for chopping cooked and uncooked meat. The cleaver knife can handle all the hard chopping tasks that you put it through. It is a necessity, especially if that is the typical cutting that you do.

Every knife collection needs a tough guy, especially a handmade one. Handmade knives are the most collection worthy knives out there, so consider looking into them if you haven’t already.

3. The boning knife

Well, as every knife collection needs a tough guy, it also needs a small guy for covering the delicate cutting tasks of your kitchen.

Boning knives are typically about 3 to 8 inches in length, with slightly varying widths of blades. The blades can be flexible, semi-flexible, or stiff. Stiff blades are the most popular among home cooks due to the enhanced precision in the cut.

This knife is meant for delicate cuts such as separating meat from the bone, slicing a fish fillet, and cutting thin slices of delicate veggies such as tomatoes.

No knife collection can be complete without a well-made boning knife.

Choosing secondary yet very fun knives:

Now that you know what are the base knives for your collection, we can take some time to find out other interesting options that might capture your collector’s heart. These are very unique knives that will be perfect for a cook who knows the field well, as well as for a cook who has just started getting into cooking and collecting well-made knives. It is always important to try new things when collecting something. It might even get you excited about new things to do and cook.

This is where the collection gets exciting.

4. The axe knife

You will like this type of knives if you are a fan of outdoor cooking, hunting, and camping. This a knife that looks and operates like an axe but has the sophisticated well-made features of a kitchen knife.

It can effortlessly butcher boney meat, which makes it perfect for meat stores, for professional kitchens and of course, for hunters.

You can also keep this knife in our kitchen collection as a very strong piece for when you have many guests and a great event to cook some freshly chopped steak.

5. The Chinses style knife

This types of knives are basically for those people who love Chinese weaponry but want to incorporate them in their kitchen collection rather than in a sward collection.

These knives can perform like a chef’s knife and sometimes even like a cleaver knife. They can cover almost any type of cutting tasks even the delicate ones if you work with the tip of the blade.

They are very collection worthy knives, with those looks, you can amaze all of your friends.

Know your blades and handles:

No matter what type of knife you choose to start your collection with, always pay attention to details such as the material of the blade and the handle as well as the way they were made.

A great tip from us is looking for handmade knives. Especially when, Japanese knifemaking craftsmanship is coming back with a hit wave. Handmade knives have more value, style, and better functionality. Japanese style knives also have thin blades, which are perfect for sharpening and giving them a longer life. Thicker blades are very hard to sharpen, but if you are pro sharpeners, then that's a different story.

Steel is the perfect material for blades, whether it will be stainless steel, Damascus steel or tungsten steel. With steel blades, you will forget about changing your knives regularly. When you build a collection, you want to have knives that promise longevity and durability. So make sure to look into handmade knives and they will surprise with their quality.

As for the handles, always look for ergonomically made handles, no matter if they are wooden or steel, the handle should be comfortable to ensure efficient and easy cutting.

In conclusion: Start your collection by investing in high-quality knives that are the most important for your kitchen. Start small, your collection doesn’t need to be a 10 piece set, you can add one at a time and build a trustworthy collection of great knives that will serve you and your family for a long time.