"I can’t wait to learn more. KNIFEWEAR does such a nice job of teaching you online. I can’t wait to learn more from there book."
The Knifenerd Guide to Japanese Knives
The Knifenerd Guide to Japanese Knives
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A good chef knife is the most important tool in any kitchen.
Professional chefs often describe their knives as an extension of their body. Considering that Japanese knives are world famous—not only for their good looks, but also their extreme sharpness—it’s no wonder so many chefs all over the world choose Japanese kitchen knives above all others.
Kevin Kent, the Knifenerd, takes us behind the scenes with a personal look into the lives, skills and artistry of the blacksmiths who make the world’s finest knives. Award winning photography by Visti Kjar transports the reader behind the scenes, into the rarely seen, dimly lit, sweaty, bustling, historic workshops of some of the worlds best blacksmiths. Feel the intense heat of the forge, smell the coal fire, hear the deafening blows of the hammer on red hot steel and see the sparks fly.
From the forging and sharpening to the choosing and collecting, Kevin Kent relays his extensive knowledge and passion on the subject of Japanese knives including...
- telling stories about all of his favourite blacksmiths
- explaining in plain language why Japanese knives and steel are just better
- where to start on your journey into Japanese knives, including explanations of which shapes you need in your home
- Accompanied by gorgeous photos by Visti Kjar, taken in the seldom-seen workshops of the best blacksmiths in Japan.
- Unpopular opinions about Damascus steel.
DETAILS & SPECS
Format: Hardcover
Dimensions: 320 pages, 8.25" x 10.25"
Published: Late October, 2018
Publisher: Long Ladder Media
ISBN: 978-1-9993906-0-0
Awards

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Additional Details
Additional Details
SKU: THEBOOK
Shipping and Returns
Shipping and Returns
We aim to ship your order within 1 business day at Knifewear, if there is a hold up, we'll aim to let you know and give you a timeline.
We offer $3 shipping on orders over $100* anywhere in Canada and $200* to customers in the USA. We ship worldwide, and offer up to the minute rates from our shipping partner DHL.
*Konro Grills and some other larger items are excluded from the free shipping offer.
How do I make a return on an online order?
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Can I pick up my order Curbside / At the store?
Absolutely, as long as all the items you are looking for are in stock at the location you want to pickup from, you'll be able to select that at the checkout. If one or more items aren't at your preferred location we are happy to ship it to you.
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Overall rating: 4.855769 / 5 from 104 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
The Knifenerd Guide to Japanese Knives offers in-depth information on Japanese knife craftsmanship, stunning photos, and is highly appreciated as a great read. It provides a personal look into the lives of blacksmiths and the artistry behind the world's finest knives.
Summary topics
- Craft Information (11%): It was observed by customers that the book provided great in-depth information on the craft of Japanese knife making.
- Craftsmanship Introduction (3%): Customers expressed appreciation for the introduction to Japanese knives that the book provides, particularly in the area of craftsmanship.
- Photographic Quality (24%): Based on many customers, the photos in this book are stunning and provide a wonderful glimpse into the knife maker's world.
- Readability (24%): Many customers expressed appreciation for the book, stating that it is a great read with lots of good inside info.
Review topics: ["shipping","staff","style","book","looks","photos","read","knife","information","gift","introduction","service","section","blacksmith","story","makes","addition","knowledge","enjoyed","enthusiast","lives","blade","place","insight"].
Review highlights
- "I don't remember the last time I loved a book so much, great stories, great pictures, and great info." —
- "Beautiful photos and good in-depth info." —
- "Amazing photos and very valuable information." —
Reviews
Terrific Book
"Terrific, amazing book for the casual and/or obsessive Japanese knife enthusiast. Also, it makes a great holiday gift."
What a knifenerd needs
"What a knifenerd need, what a knifenerd wants. . . Really!"
High Quality Book
"Not only was the information in this book very insightful, but I was blown away by the incredible quality of this book. Fantastic binding and the silky smooth pages and the amazing photographs. Very, very well done!"
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"Great book"
Beautiful book! Looking forward to
"Beautiful book! Looking forward to taking it to Japan and trying to locate some of the blacksmiths mentioned in it."
The Knifenerd Guide to Japanese Knives
"Hi Folks. . . . . . I have used Japanese chisels and planes for 45 years in my career as a cabinetmaker. They are FABULOUS and a true joy to use. It's a true pleasure to read this book confirming the care and dedication that goes in to Japanese tools in general and knives in particular. It is a joy to connect with the wonderful folks at Knifeware who truly understand the intricacies and difficulties of making these amazing knives. This is a very informative book and well worth the time to understand why these really are the most amazing knives in the world. . . . . . . David Tamblyn"
Perfect gift for knife nerds
"Bought this as a gift for a knife nerd friend. He's read it twice already and can't say enough good things about it. Excellent work, Kevin & Visti!"
Every japenese knife newbie should
"Every japenese knife newbie should read this book! Great lecture and presentation!"
Book
"Awesome book!"
Q&A
- Hi, I am from Texas. Is there a near distributor here? If none, how much is the shipping? If I buy a $300 knife together, will the shipping be free?
- Yes! Shipping is free in North America if you pay 200$ on your order or more! That book is fantastic!
- Hello, I'm from Switzerland and I want to buy your book The Knifenerd Guide to Japanese Knives. On Amazon it's not available at the moment. Do you have some distributors in Europe? Thanks, Robert
- Hey there, You can find it here: https://www.skarpekniver.com/the-knifenerd-guide-to-japanese-knives.html/- they are based in Norway, so the postage should be a lot cheaper! - Ellie
- any progress on an ebook edition? That is my preferred reading method and I suspect for other people as well.
- Hey there, we'll be looking more into this next year! Stay tuned.
- Looks very nice....any chance of a digital edition in the future ?
- Hey there, we've been looking into adding it Amazon's ebook store, is that something you'd be interested in?
- Do you ship this book to Czech Republic?
- Totally! It is almost on Amazon Canada and USA, as they may offer better shipping rates!