# Any Kitchen Knife Experts in the House? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 17, 2018, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371 "2018-05-17T21:38:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/1 "2018-05-17T21:38:56Z")
I found a few knives in a back alley, and I’m wondering what brand they are. [They have no name on them, but they do have this logo.](https://imgur.com/iuwfBAK) I’m kind of assuming that they are not any kind of good quality knives (since they were dumped in an alley), but you never know - I’ve found some astonishingly good quality things in alleys before! Thanks in advance for your help. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/2 "2018-05-17T21:52:52Z")
I’m no expert. I’ve never seen this logo, but the knife is at least made so that to the untrained eye it looks like a good one. It may very well be made exactly to fool people like me who don’t know the difference. 🙂 My guess is that the main question for this knife is, is it made of good steel or poor steel, which you could tell by sharpening it and using it a bit. Or - worst case - just trying to sharpen it and finding out you can’t. ---
**Author:** ![pdhenry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pdhenry/32/5561_2.png) [@pdhenry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pdhenry)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/3 "2018-05-17T21:53:39Z")
The logo looks familiar but I can’t place it. Not Swilling/Henckels, not Sabatier. Not Wustohf. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/4 "2018-05-17T22:07:17Z")
It’s a very stylized, geometric lion rampant, but I can’t find any knife brands associated with that logo. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/5 "2018-05-17T22:54:30Z")
I’m sorry I can’t help identify the knife, but I hope you’ll enjoy this clip from the West Wing. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/6 "2018-05-17T23:06:49Z")
My google image search didn’t come up with anything, either. Mystery knives! ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/7 "2018-05-17T23:08:00Z")
Is there any country of manufacture mark? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/8 "2018-05-17T23:11:07Z")
I’ve seen that mark on a knife before. Now if I could just remember where? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/9 "2018-05-17T23:59:39Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > **I found a few knives in a back alley,** and I’m wondering what brand they are. [They have no name on them, but they do have this logo.](https://imgur.com/iuwfBAK) I’m kind of assuming that they are not any kind of good quality knives (since they were dumped in an alley), but you never know - I’ve found some astonishingly good quality things in alleys before! > > Thanks in advance for your help. 🙂 You got your fingerprints on 'em, didn’t you? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/10 "2018-05-18T00:09:30Z")
Does [Löwenbräu](https://www.google.com/search?q=L%C3%B6wenbr%C3%A4u&client=firefox-b-1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj9nYT2-43bAhUdo4MKHdnlCowQ_AUICygC&biw=1112&bih=839)makes knives? Or [Peugeot](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1&biw=1112&bih=839&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=mxn-WuuTMaKzjwTUqo2gDw&q=peugeot+logo&oq=peugeot+logo&gs_l=img.3..0l10.1905.5128.0.5950.5.4.0.1.1.0.71.273.4.4.0....0...1c.1.64.img..0.5.281...0i67k1.0.slhUp3hx5wU)? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/11 "2018-05-18T00:48:47Z")
When I saw the logo I thought of [Lion Sabatier](https://www.couteaux-services.com/lion-sabatier-edonist-kitchen-knives.htm) but that is not the correct logo. My guess is that it is some kind of Sabatier knockoff from China made of poor quality soft steel that won’t hold an edge, e.g sub-Cutco qualiy knives. You can tell by taking one and honing it up on medium and fine grit stone, then use it to cut some fiberous material or an old towel, and then run a fingernail test (try to shave a very fine curl off of he back of your thumbnail). I have to admit curiousity at the “astonishingly good quality things” you’ve found in alleys, but I’ve never known a cook to part with even a basically useable knife voluntarily. A spare knife can always be put into service as a traveling knife or to be loaned out without risking damage or loss to their primary roll, so to throw away a knife set probably indicates it was low quality garbage. Some less-than-reputable culinary schools will sell branded knives for premium prices to students that are actually low grade versions of professional quality knives. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/12 "2018-05-18T00:55:52Z")
I agree with the Chinese knock-off theory. The design to me looks like a dead ringer for the [Henckels 4 Star line.](https://www.zwilling.ca/product/four-star-6-pc-block-set/) ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/13 "2018-05-18T01:10:29Z")
> [@pdhenry](#): > > The logo looks familiar but I can’t place it. Not Swilling/Henckels, not Sabatier. Not Wustohf. Sort of a nitpick: “Sabatier” is similar in the (French) knife industry to “Webster’s” in the American dictionary one: no one company sells “the” Sabatier knife, no matter how their marketing positions itself. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/14 "2018-05-18T12:43:03Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Sort of a nitpick: “Sabatier” is similar in the (French) knife industry to “Webster’s” in the American dictionary one: no one company sells “the” Sabatier knife, no matter how their marketing positions itself. I did NOT know that! Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/15 "2018-05-18T12:51:01Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I’ve found some astonishingly good quality things in alleys before. Such as? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/16 "2018-05-18T14:33:51Z")
> [@glee](#): > > I’m sorry I can’t help identify the knife, but I hope you’ll enjoy this clip from the West Wing. I’m pretty sure my back alley knife wasn’t made by Paul Revere. 😃 > [@Gorsnak](#): > > Is there any country of manufacture mark? Nope, no marks at all except the mysterious lion rampant. > [@running\_coach](#): > > You got your fingerprints on 'em, didn’t you? YOU CAN’T PROVE ANYTHING!!! ---
**Author:** ![polar\_bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@polar\_bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/polar_bear)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/17 "2018-05-18T14:38:38Z")
That logo immediately made me think of peugeot, mostly known as car manufacturer, but I’ve seen kitchen equipment from them as well (pepper mills). I believe they are considered a fairly premium brand for non professionals. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/18 "2018-05-18T14:39:03Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > \ Some less-than-reputable culinary schools will sell branded knives for premium prices to students that are actually low grade versions of professional quality knives. > > Stranger I think we have a winner here - I have no problem believing that these are Chinese knock-off knives used by a cooking student. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/19 "2018-05-18T14:59:21Z")
As for some examples of really good stuff left in alleys, the first examples that come to mind were a Tristar vacuum cleaner that worked perfectly when a clog was cleared, and a Columbia parka in immaculate condition. I’ve probably picked up half a dozen vacuum cleaners that had a clog as their only problem. People are weird. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371/20 "2018-05-18T15:20:47Z")
Nope, just unwilling to learn. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-kitchen-knife-experts-in-the-house/814371.md?page=2)