i totally agree about victorinox. I got an 8" chef knife with a fibre handle 15 years ago and its still my favourite. i have a few globals and they're fine but no where near the value for money of the victorinox. i like my wustof santoku. I guess it depends on if you enjoy using them but I do think a lot of people get obsessed with fancy knifes and get a bit of a fetish about keeping them perfect when they're really there to be used and abused in a kitchen (or a butchers!)
Having worked in a cutlery shop for nearly 30 years, I will vouch for everything Mr. Rea says. For general purpose, an 8in. french is your best bet. Hoewver, if you are butchering game, the curved boning are excellent.
As a professional chef of 46 years, retired the last five, by still cook...you are precisely on target! Those two Victorinox knives plus the 8 inch chef's knife and a steel...all the knives you need for a lifetime!
sure victorinox is good it holds the edge there isa something about english steel which is not impressive. so is soligen. sheffield steel made some great stuff but it don't cut like some other steels. wiltshire makes a good blade. gillette could make a good blade too not many were made
I agree totally. Working as a chef now past 25 years. Every kitchen I worked in has Victorinox for plenty of reasons. I have alot of knife bags but the one I use most private is my 5 knifes from victorinox Fibrox. Heavy duty or anything. Just get a steel Rod and you good for life
Bought an assortment of Victorinox knives 10 years ago and I am still impressed with the quality. Very easy to get a sharp edge on and they tend to hold that edge with minimal maintenance. A good sharpening steel, I purchased an F. Dick 12” and you have all you need. I have also had some Dexter Russell knives that have preformed very well.
Hi Scott, Not a butcher, but keen amateur. For my wedding in 1987, I asked my dad to buy a butchers knife, chopper and steel. The 12" blade knife and steel are Victorinox and the chopper Richardsons. All are still in use today. Thanks.
I've gotta give Scott a huge thanks for these knives!! I've been using the Victorinox semi-flex boning knife since the 1st video I watched. It's my go to for everything in the kitchen or the butcher table. It's even good to skin deer with. Best $20 or so I've ever spent!! It gets a quick hone before and during use. I've only had to hit the stones once (the Mrs. thinks plates are cutting boards).
I can attest to the Victorinox quality and durability. I got a second hand one in 1975 and it's still going; sharp as ever. Loved the tour of your HQ. Awesome old stuff there - brings back memories of the Butcher's Shop from when I was a kid and what a treasure some of those items are. I'm not a butcher by any stretch of the imagination but we did butcher our own venision at home and when I was older and married we butchered our own beef, pork and poultry - all at home. So any and all of those treasures you have were like gold to us back then.
I bought the 6" boning knife several years ago, after I started watching the SRP, mostly for processing deer/ game. I liked it so much, I now carry one in my pack, in case I need to quarter/ bone out an animal to carry out of the woods :) Nice leather sheath available for it as well..
After becoming one of your original subscribers in America, all I typically use are victorinox, and my older carbon steel knives like Dexter, and Old Hickory
I bought some Victorinox steak knives on Amazon a couple of years ago and I'll never buy anything else. Unbelievably great price and still sharp today. I'll have to look into their butchery kit. Thanks for the vid. Frankie has a face like the moon. MOONKID
have a 12” scimetar, that is atleast 35 years old and it’s still sharp and always ready for those briskets. and that’s not a headquarter, that’s a badass man cave!
I've had mine for about 20 years and love them I have tried many others over the years and still go back to the fibrox handled knifes. But I have found a new one that I'm liking for kitchen work made by rada cutlery.
Great. Now I know what this weird looking knife with an ugly and spotty looking blade is that I pulled from a trash heap some years ago. I had to have it even though it looked so old and ill treated. Still I felt like it would go through any food item like a dream. And it does. I learned that the blade is made from carbon steel and now I learned it's a butcher knife. That explains why I am able to cut very thin slices of ham and bacon by hand using this knife. The knife just knows what its made for and it really does a fine job even though I am not very skilled in using a knife. All it wants is to be treated well and wiped clean after use. Until I learned the proper name I used to call it my machete.
Gday from downunder mate I've been using Wenger Swibo knives for years. I started with vintage Alfred Zanger Icel hand me downs. Replaced the Wengers a few times, but the old Zangers are as new
I cannot find a 5" semi flex boning knife on their website or any Google site. Is it maybe a 6" semi stiff boning knife? And is what you call a Steak knife called something else in America? I really need something to cut up chicken without (butchering) it into a mess. Also a good slicer for thin slices of flank steak, brisket, homemade bacon and ham. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
I have found it takes me about 35 years to wear out a carbon steel knife in my home kitchen, I mean you could still use it ,but it’s nothing like the length and shape it was ! Dewhursts was Vesty if I remember right, they had a lot of shops and no reputation for good quality meat( in my area anyway)
I agree with you about global, and I use veteranOx myself. On the other hand, I think if a global knife is only used for its purpose and not abused, it would easily last 30 years, just like the any other knife on the market
After the last video when Scott showed us his knifes, I bought a set of Victorinox. It's been 3 years and I'm confident they will indeed last. Incredible value for the price.
I do primarily rabbits and chickens but my mora and dexter russell boning at my 2 go to. The mora is only about 3" but I've used it in breaking down a pig along with a cheap breaking knife which I chiped using as a cleaver.
Great show thanks. I think you do deserve patrion appreciation. Man I was useless getting a sharpening steel to give me the edge I wanted. As a cnc machinist I tried one of the really sharp tungsten tool inserts and within a few strokes these give a seriously sharp edge. All my cheapo knives get the insert treatment. Full length blade on Sunday roast carves a treat. Still really interested in the flexi knife and at that price you can`t lose. Many thanks for the info. And hey we have tried a few things from your Merchant of Venison Book with great results. Cheers.
Thanks for the insight Scott, a little bit of nostalgia especially the bit about Dewhurst we had a store in Norwich where my late mother worked and she loved it. Really appreciate your videos. Take care. Andy.
Victorinox and Sabatier for me. Tried, tested, and true. Never needed anything else. Vix were workhorses for sure, but Sabatier were comfier around the house.
I love Victorinox knives, still have my grand nans boning knife from the 40's when she was a butcher. Still use it to this day to break down carcasses at home.
I find knives are like guitars - you never have enough. Started apprenticeship in NZ (1975) with domestic crud. Couple years in and 1st good set was FDick that I still have. Moved on to Gustav Emil Ern in Aust in the early 80's and still my favorite, especially the carbon ones. Still have some old Victronox and they're excellent, again especially the older stuff, sort of sleeker and more nimble than Dick and Gustav. I have some gems, old US Green River has to the prize, handles are dead dangerous though. I have a Tru Hone, used properly they are excellent, and the Green River is the only one to actually sparked. Bang for buck cannot go past US made Dexter Russell, high carbon, great edge and cheap. Never found a better boning knife for the money than the Dexter.
what flexibility do you suggest for curved boning knife? I plan to pretty much skinning silver skin and portioning should I get stiff? semi flex? flexible?
I was shopping for a set of butcher knives and I started with a Mercer slicing knife. I tend to stay in whatever name brand I first buy into, but I wish I had gotten into Victorinox. The Mercer knives I have work great, but if I ever have to replace them I’ll probably go with Victorinox.
Excellent video as usual Scott; you've helped me loads. I struggle sharpening my 5 inch Victorinox lamb skinner, up near the end of the tip is my bogey. What's the best method to sharpen them...ATB
A few years ago, when you first began to talk about this, I began to buy Victorinox. They have worked very well but could use more advice on how to sharpen them. I use a 10 inch sodoku" for vegetable prep."
The one you call a curved butchers knife, we called a Flare knife, used more to clean out the body cavity fat, some used it as a steak knife, but it was mainly used for the body fat
Hey Scott, quick question about the HQ: How do you control the temperature while you're butchering? I work for a big chain retail "butcher" in the US and we have to keep our prep space and meats below 41 degrees (5 Celsius) to meet food safety standards. Obviously you're not going to be sweating on the block in the middle of summer, so I guess my real question is how cold do you keep the place while you're working?
I got mine from Butchers Eqipment Warehouse on the web, my chefs and boning knife were Victorinox but my steak knife is F Dick and that one seems good quality.
Scott, very curious as to why you prefer the 5 inch curved over a 6 inch curved boning knife and obviously not the one you showed as I know the difference. Wouldn't the 6 inch slowly become a 5 inch over time with proper knife maintenance?
The breaking knife he holds at 3:45, definitely get that one, it's Arabic type of design means you are always cutting with a small fraction of the blade this your pressure is not spread along the entire blade and you can also perform a side motion with it's half moon shape allows for the same apivation as described prior as the blade slides along the meat in a sweeping motion, its absolutely lethat the way it cuts, even bread, just press down and the half moon shape makes a nice clean cut like a blade, def get one, I highly recommend it as well
i really enjoy their swibo range as i like how i can use my index finger on the front of the grip. but all in all completely agree with you. its also not that your gonna have a heartattack if someone decided to open a can with it or it was stolen
Ok I am going to try and bless you I started in the meat trade in 85 and was managing my own Commercial store at 23 years old, I broke hanging beef Fir six years before we went boxed while I do agree that you only need two knives here's is where you miss out forschner carries Victrinox knives now with a granton edge, the granton edge creates a bubble as you draw it through the meat it lessons the friction as well as a cleaner return so a forschner knife without a grantin edge is like a dinosaur and you will surely notice after using both knives that the granton is far superior for cutting after processing 10 to 27 thousand dollars retail meat per day in my current store we get it ,the need for that granton edge ,and the larger forschner scimitar is actually for breaking hinds and fronts, they make a ten inch for simply cutting steaks,and the smaller 6 inch for boning is correct and also now has become available with a grantin edge its a beast, but here's why butchers in the U.S. don't use four inch ,five inch or 8 inch typically those knives are responsible for more injuries ,the take on that is the deoth perception but the eight inch which is a speedy little knife for jumping back and forth between boning and steaks cut more of us in retail than any other knife and when I talk experience I am not talking mom and pops I am talking retail meatcutting in markets that do 50 to 100 plus per week in sales of fresh meat and seafood. So in reflection you see things after 34 years much like do with only a couple key points I started with those two and used most all the others but in regards to what I use now in one of Arizonas busiest meat shops A six inch victronox boning knife w/granton edge,and a ten inch breaker with a granton edge and nothing else needed
Great video & great advice Scott. Bought my Victorinox 10" chef's (you call steak) knife years ago and it still holds pride of place on my wall. I'm a big fan of America's Test Kitchen and their cooking episodes and they rate it the best knife year after year. Only addition I'd suggest would be a Rapala filleting knife for fish, sushi and sashimi. prep.
My "no name" knives don't see near as much use as yours do, but I still try to take good care of them. I learned to sharpen them by hand with water stones. They are pretty much razor sharp and do a wonderful job. Thanks for showing us around the "work shop", and when I come to the UK for a visit, I will look into one of your master classes ... :) ... Cheers!
I love this video and I’ll be honest I love my 6in recurved boning knife with a rosewood handle and my 12in butcher knife I’ve truly been in love with them I just wish work would let me bring them in and let me use them instead of using the cheap crap they have us use, I feel it’s a shame that they don’t trust people with their own safe and higher end equipment “knives” at work. Great video and I truly am a fan!! I want to know what is your take on using a scabbard around your waist as a butcher? Is it a good investment or should I pass on it? If you think it’s a good/wise investment please let me know your recommendations!!!
Marvellous educational video! Do you think that Sheffield had stopped making decent knives by the time you entered the trade or were they just priced out of the market? We retail a number of brands of Sheffield made knives for sporting or field use and quality can vary between makers and models but I've not looked at current production butchery types. Would be interested in your view, your older stuff will be mostly Sheffield made I should think. Do keep up the good work.
Hi Scott love the setup and those bit tins of Colman's. Yes i remember from my childhood the only mustard we had was Coleman's mustard Powder in order to put on sausage and ham we take some out in a cup and add a little water and that was before the jars of made mustard came out and i have been a fan of it ever since i might be only 74 years young but would never miss your Videos scott use to work in a meet packing plant where we killed the animals there was a boning hall it would have been right up your street i worked in the killing floor and in the red offal it was good to get a job back then any job would have wheeled skitter up one side of a plank and down the other side if i got payed for it lol
Good film I used to buy my knives in a trade shop in London always victorinox being a young rechtub I had my city and guilds before I left secondary school I am dyslexic witch no one new about then as I was a complete little bastard my schooling was butchery I was a flash bastard fast neat quality for extra monie I used to buy pigs head from swifts and sell the meat back good earner I soon realised that I would never make monie working for some one in shops despite running shops for duhurst so I changed my cleaver for an axe and became a carpenter but still have fond memories of being the flash gold on boy in reality I was a kcufing tnuc emit to ssip ffo still know my kcab gnals 😂
I was thinking of getting one of those 10" curved cimeter type knives. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the cimeter style best for slicing steaks, hams and larger pieces of meat, vs chopping like a cleaver would?
I'm amazed you've made it this far with all your fingers intact. I was hoping you might look to pass your knowledge on in classes, Scott. You'll have people from all over Britain trying to attend. You could also write a book on your life in butchery.
Hey Scott. Really great video and collection. I have a question. I recently purchased a 10" Victorinox breaking knife primarily for slicing rib eye steaks and similar. Would I notice much of a difference using a 10" Victorinox Cimeter instead? The price difference between the two is noticeable. The knives look really similar, though the weight is different.
When i got my victorinox knife i got my local butcher to sharpen it. When he finished he said be careful and dont cut yourself its sharp then he rolled up he's sleeve and ran the blade down his arm and it shaved it. I thought wow how many fingers am i going to lose.
Vicorinox do make really good butchery knives. However, objectively the most useful knife for most people to have in their kitchen is a chef knife and always will be. And pretty much any knife will stay in good condition as long as you take care of them. For instance, I've got a 25 year old Global chef knife that was given to me for my 10th birthday that is as good as new to this day, so there's nothing wrong with their quality they are just overpriced (and I personally don't like the handles). I also have several other knives a lot older then that, both expensive and inexpensive, all in great condition. Personally, since a good while back I use hand forged japanese knives (apart from my butchery knives, which are Victorinox) because I appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into them and you don't get that in cheap massproduced (and rather soulless) knives. So for me it's more than worth it to spend the money on them.
In New Zealand the best value for money are victorinox or (victory knives which are made in nz,) both identical in construction. Even for hunting knives why waste your money on something way more expensive.
intersting mate - I bought a set of wostofs which are ok but their sharpener in absolutely useless and made everything blunt. Went Taylors Eye Witness and not looked back. Do me own bacon and smoked salmon (THANKS!) so I think I know what works. ta
Hi Scott, what type of knife would you recommend to an absolute beginner who is cutting large amounts of fat/suet? Currently using standard kitchen knives but this proves difficult when cutting large amounts of fat the size of a upper torso of a human into sizeable chunks. Looking to invest in my equipment and get a few new tools so some advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the great video
Thanks for that video mate, I’ve been looking at the Victorinox knives, I think I will get myself some now 👍 Also dewhursts are great butchers, I used to use the one on Tottenham high road for years! 👍
It's kind of surprising that Victorinox has never sent anything your way since you've been talking up there product pretty much since day one of your channel
Excellent SR, the best knives are those made for trade 'no frills' style. VicNox brilliant and also folks check out online Victory brand knives made in New Zealand. Double damn solid utility knives for getting s*** done. Cheap as, have had mine breaking down carcases for a good few years.
. . . .could you pls. be so kind to explain the advantage of the steak knifes form factor, especially why it is increasing in blade width just befor the tip ? (I mean this is pretty distinguished/ different from a chefs knife as usual) - thank you . . .
I'm a hunter in the US. Do you have any venison heart recipes? Other than pan fried I've only found one decent recipe online, a Venison Heart Escabeche. It's sort of like ceviche.
Mhm I wouldn't quite agree that the Wüsthof ist overpriced. I have a set of Wüsthof knives (as a knive block) for over ten years now and they are just excellent in every respect. I have never regretted buying them. But I also have a stamped Santoku and serrated knive from Victorinox and the quality is outstanding. That said, I suggest you have a look at the most traditional German company for butchers knives, which is Friedrich Dick. They are about a 30 % cheaper than Victorinox and at least on the same level of quality.
2:51 not a "steak" knife, a skinning or butcher's knife. Steak knives are those horrid dull things they give you to play with your $20 steak in restaurants till its cold. Great video! Good info, and to the point, though.
Thanks for this! Trying to scope out adding animals to the farm, and part of raising my own meat would of course be butchering. A great set of knives is hard to come by when you don't have any experience with what you need. Cheers!
Anyone know where to find a 5” semiflex? Seems they’ve gone into hiding or something! I’ve been using Victorinox knives for years and own what feels like every knife they make (except the 5” semi ;) ) many chefs I’ve worked with also use nothing else, there is just no point spending more on fancy steel other than it’s pretty
I literally bought the wrong one. Annoying. Would love if he could add the knife model numbers to the description. Victorinox have long model numbers and many similar numbers across varied knives. Someone in marketing needs to sort out their jumbled mess that is their model number scheme.
i totally agree about victorinox. I got an 8" chef knife with a fibre handle 15 years ago and its still my favourite. i have a few globals and they're fine but no where near the value for money of the victorinox. i like my wustof santoku. I guess it depends on if you enjoy using them but I do think a lot of people get obsessed with fancy knifes and get a bit of a fetish about keeping them perfect when they're really there to be used and abused in a kitchen (or a butchers!)
Having worked in a cutlery shop for nearly 30 years, I will vouch for everything Mr. Rea says. For general purpose, an 8in. french is your best bet.
Hoewver, if you are butchering game, the curved boning are excellent.
As a professional chef of 46 years, retired the last five, by still cook...you are precisely on target! Those two Victorinox knives plus the 8 inch chef's knife and a steel...all the knives you need for a lifetime!
sure victorinox is good it holds the edge there isa something about english steel which is not impressive. so is soligen. sheffield steel made some great stuff but it don't cut like some other steels. wiltshire makes a good blade. gillette could make a good blade too not many were made
You must know, after 46-years…ohhhhh my…
I agree totally. Working as a chef now past 25 years. Every kitchen I worked in has Victorinox for plenty of reasons. I have alot of knife bags but the one I use most private is my 5 knifes from victorinox Fibrox. Heavy duty or anything. Just get a steel Rod and you good for life
My dad was a butcher. I have his victronox steak and boneing knife. Superb kit. Old wooden handles
Bought an assortment of Victorinox knives 10 years ago and I am still impressed with the quality. Very easy to get a sharp edge on and they tend to hold that edge with minimal maintenance. A good sharpening steel, I purchased an F. Dick 12” and you have all you need. I have also had some Dexter Russell knives that have preformed very well.
Hi Scott, Not a butcher, but keen amateur. For my wedding in 1987, I asked my dad to buy a butchers knife, chopper and steel.
The 12" blade knife and steel are Victorinox and the chopper Richardsons. All are still in use today. Thanks.
I've gotta give Scott a huge thanks for these knives!! I've been using the Victorinox semi-flex boning knife since the 1st video I watched. It's my go to for everything in the kitchen or the butcher table. It's even good to skin deer with. Best $20 or so I've ever spent!! It gets a quick hone before and during use. I've only had to hit the stones once (the Mrs. thinks plates are cutting boards).
I can attest to the Victorinox quality and durability. I got a second hand one in 1975 and it's still going; sharp as ever.
Loved the tour of your HQ. Awesome old stuff there - brings back memories of the Butcher's Shop from when I was a kid and what a treasure some of those items are. I'm not a butcher by any stretch of the imagination but we did butcher our own venision at home and when I was older and married we butchered our own beef, pork and poultry - all at home. So any and all of those treasures you have were like gold to us back then.
I bought the 6" boning knife several years ago, after I started watching the SRP, mostly for processing deer/ game. I liked it so much, I now carry one in my pack, in case I need to quarter/ bone out an animal to carry out of the woods :) Nice leather sheath available for it as well..
I just love your videos, I can't seem to find the knife case online at all. Any ideas on anything similar?
After becoming one of your original subscribers in America, all I typically use are victorinox, and my older carbon steel knives like Dexter, and Old Hickory
I’ve been using Forschner knives throughout my 30+ years of Cheffing, they are now made by Victorinox, GREAT knives I love them. Thanks Scott.
My understanding is Forschner was US branded Victronox, just branded for the US distributor.
I just ordered a set off of amazon for 116 dollars. I’m excited about them.
I bought some Victorinox steak knives on Amazon a couple of years ago and I'll never buy anything else. Unbelievably great price and still sharp today. I'll have to look into their butchery kit. Thanks for the vid. Frankie has a face like the moon. MOONKID
have a 12” scimetar, that is atleast 35 years old and it’s still sharp and always ready for those briskets. and that’s not a headquarter, that’s a badass man cave!
I used Victorinox for years. Six inch boning, ten inch breaking but with F. Dick steel. Great knives and well worth the money
I've had mine for about 20 years and love them I have tried many others over the years and still go back to the fibrox handled knifes. But I have found a new one that I'm liking for kitchen work made by rada cutlery.
Great. Now I know what this weird looking knife with an ugly and spotty looking blade is that I pulled from a trash heap some years ago. I had to have it even though it looked so old and ill treated. Still I felt like it would go through any food item like a dream. And it does. I learned that the blade is made from carbon steel and now I learned it's a butcher knife.
That explains why I am able to cut very thin slices of ham and bacon by hand using this knife. The knife just knows what its made for and it really does a fine job even though I am not very skilled in using a knife. All it wants is to be treated well and wiped clean after use.
Until I learned the proper name I used to call it my machete.
Gday from downunder mate
I've been using Wenger Swibo knives for years. I started with vintage Alfred Zanger Icel hand me downs.
Replaced the Wengers a few times, but the old Zangers are as new
I have a couple of Victorinox knives and love them to bits. They feel nice to use and are a pleasure to own. Good value too
Hi Scott, could you please post the model numbers for the two must have Fibrox knives?
One year later…
I cannot find a 5" semi flex boning knife on their website or any Google site. Is it maybe a 6" semi stiff boning knife? And is what you call a Steak knife called something else in America? I really need something to cut up chicken without (butchering) it into a mess. Also a good slicer for thin slices of flank steak, brisket, homemade bacon and ham.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
I literally bought the wrong bloody knife.
I have found it takes me about 35 years to wear out a carbon steel knife in my home kitchen, I mean you could still use it ,but it’s nothing like the length and shape it was !
Dewhursts was Vesty if I remember right, they had a lot of shops and no reputation for good quality meat( in my area anyway)
Those knives are great. I have added a stainless Chinese clever and it is a great tool too.
Love my victorinox and dexter knives
Never going back from my Victorinox knives and F.Dick steel. Excellent value for money!
I agree with you about global, and I use veteranOx myself. On the other hand, I think if a global knife is only used for its purpose and not abused, it would easily last 30 years, just like the any other knife on the market
After the last video when Scott showed us his knifes, I bought a set of Victorinox. It's been 3 years and I'm confident they will indeed last. Incredible value for the price.
I do primarily rabbits and chickens but my mora and dexter russell boning at my 2 go to. The mora is only about 3" but I've used it in breaking down a pig along with a cheap breaking knife which I chiped using as a cleaver.
I agree, I do all of my game processing with a 6” semi stiff boning knife, and an 8” breaking knife. All Victorinox.
Great show thanks. I think you do deserve patrion appreciation.
Man I was useless getting a sharpening steel to give me the edge I wanted.
As a cnc machinist I tried one of the really sharp tungsten tool inserts and within a few strokes these give a seriously sharp edge. All my cheapo knives get the insert treatment. Full length blade on Sunday roast carves a treat.
Still really interested in the flexi knife and at that price you can`t lose. Many thanks for the info.
And hey we have tried a few things from your Merchant of Venison Book with great results.
Cheers.
Thanks for the insight Scott, a little bit of nostalgia especially the bit about Dewhurst we had a store in Norwich where my late mother worked and she loved it. Really appreciate your videos. Take care.
Andy.
Victorinox and Sabatier for me. Tried, tested, and true. Never needed anything else.
Vix were workhorses for sure, but Sabatier were comfier around the house.
I love Victorinox knives, still have my grand nans boning knife from the 40's when she was a butcher. Still use it to this day to break down carcasses at home.
I find knives are like guitars - you never have enough.
Started apprenticeship in NZ (1975) with domestic crud. Couple years in and 1st good set was FDick that I still have. Moved on to Gustav Emil Ern in Aust in the early 80's and still my favorite, especially the carbon ones. Still have some old Victronox and they're excellent, again especially the older stuff, sort of sleeker and more nimble than Dick and Gustav. I have some gems, old US Green River has to the prize, handles are dead dangerous though. I have a Tru Hone, used properly they are excellent, and the Green River is the only one to actually sparked. Bang for buck cannot go past US made Dexter Russell, high carbon, great edge and cheap. Never found a better boning knife for the money than the Dexter.
what flexibility do you suggest for curved boning knife? I plan to pretty much skinning silver skin and portioning should I get stiff? semi flex? flexible?
I was shopping for a set of butcher knives and I started with a Mercer slicing knife. I tend to stay in whatever name brand I first buy into, but I wish I had gotten into Victorinox. The Mercer knives I have work great, but if I ever have to replace them I’ll probably go with Victorinox.
Thanks for this video. I've got far too many knives that I'm not happy with. I'm definitely buying the two knives you mentioned.
Excellent video as usual Scott; you've helped me loads. I struggle sharpening my 5 inch Victorinox lamb skinner, up near the end of the tip is my bogey. What's the best method to sharpen them...ATB
A few years ago, when you first began to talk about this, I began to buy Victorinox. They have worked very well but could use more advice on how to sharpen them. I use a 10 inch sodoku" for vegetable prep."
The one you call a curved butchers knife, we called a Flare knife, used more to clean out the body cavity fat, some used it as a steak knife, but it was mainly used for the body fat
Hey Scott, quick question about the HQ: How do you control the temperature while you're butchering? I work for a big chain retail "butcher" in the US and we have to keep our prep space and meats below 41 degrees (5 Celsius) to meet food safety standards. Obviously you're not going to be sweating on the block in the middle of summer, so I guess my real question is how cold do you keep the place while you're working?
Non of this will go into a shop so it doesn't have to be temp controlled
I got mine from Butchers Eqipment Warehouse on the web, my chefs and boning knife were Victorinox but my steak knife is F Dick and that one seems good quality.
F Dick is great quality too. Probably a lil higher on the quality spectrum but great gear. If you watch this video closely Scott's Steel is F Dick.
Scott, very curious as to why you prefer the 5 inch curved over a 6 inch curved boning knife and obviously not the one you showed as I know the difference. Wouldn't the 6 inch slowly become a 5 inch over time with proper knife maintenance?
The breaking knife he holds at 3:45, definitely get that one, it's Arabic type of design means you are always cutting with a small fraction of the blade this your pressure is not spread along the entire blade and you can also perform a side motion with it's half moon shape allows for the same apivation as described prior as the blade slides along the meat in a sweeping motion, its absolutely lethat the way it cuts, even bread, just press down and the half moon shape makes a nice clean cut like a blade, def get one, I highly recommend it as well
i really enjoy their swibo range as i like how i can use my index finger on the front of the grip. but all in all completely agree with you. its also not that your gonna have a heartattack if someone decided to open a can with it or it was stolen
this video made me realize that I have a phobia from butcher's knifes ,their length sharp is disturbing
I only use 2 knifes ever well they were given to me so it stuck and all I got is a skinning knife and a stake knife
Ok I am going to try and bless you I started in the meat trade in 85 and was managing my own
Commercial store at 23 years old, I broke hanging beef Fir six years before we went boxed while I do agree that you only need two knives here's is where you miss out forschner carries Victrinox knives now with a granton edge, the granton edge creates a bubble as you draw it through the meat it lessons the friction as well as a cleaner return so a forschner knife without a grantin edge is like a dinosaur and you will surely notice after using both knives that the granton is far superior for cutting after processing 10 to 27 thousand dollars retail meat per day in my current store we get it ,the need for that granton edge ,and the larger forschner scimitar is actually for breaking hinds and fronts, they make a ten inch for simply cutting steaks,and the smaller 6 inch for boning is correct and also now has become available with a grantin edge its a beast, but here's why butchers in the U.S. don't use four inch ,five inch or 8 inch typically those knives are responsible for more injuries ,the take on that is the deoth perception but the eight inch which is a speedy little knife for jumping back and forth between boning and steaks cut more of us in retail than any other knife and when I talk experience I am not talking mom and pops I am talking retail meatcutting in markets that do 50 to 100 plus per week in sales of fresh meat and seafood. So in reflection you see things after 34 years much like do with only a couple key points I started with those two and used most all the others but in regards to what I use now in one of Arizonas busiest meat shops
A six inch victronox boning knife w/granton edge,and a ten inch breaker with a granton edge and nothing else needed
Great video & great advice Scott. Bought my Victorinox 10" chef's (you call steak) knife years ago and it still holds pride of place on my wall. I'm a big fan of America's Test Kitchen and their cooking episodes and they rate it the best knife year after year. Only addition I'd suggest would be a Rapala filleting knife for fish, sushi and sashimi. prep.
My "no name" knives don't see near as much use as yours do, but I still try to take good care of them. I learned to sharpen them by hand with water stones. They are pretty much razor sharp and do a wonderful job. Thanks for showing us around the "work shop", and when I come to the UK for a visit, I will look into one of your master classes ... :) ... Cheers!
I love this video and I’ll be honest I love my 6in recurved boning knife with a rosewood handle and my 12in butcher knife I’ve truly been in love with them I just wish work would let me bring them in and let me use them instead of using the cheap crap they have us use, I feel it’s a shame that they don’t trust people with their own safe and higher end equipment “knives” at work. Great video and I truly am a fan!! I want to know what is your take on using a scabbard around your waist as a butcher? Is it a good investment or should I pass on it? If you think it’s a good/wise investment please let me know your recommendations!!!
Excellent video Scot would love to come and learn from you, look forward to future info on that 👍
Marvellous educational video! Do you think that Sheffield had stopped making decent knives by the time you entered the trade or were they just priced out of the market? We retail a number of brands of Sheffield made knives for sporting or field use and quality can vary between makers and models but I've not looked at current production butchery types. Would be interested in your view, your older stuff will be mostly Sheffield made I should think. Do keep up the good work.
Nice one Scott, hopefully your books are coming along well :). Need the wild boar one ASAP
I'm in on the classes when you get it up and running. USA Rhode island
Hi Scott love the setup and those bit tins of Colman's. Yes i remember from my childhood the only mustard we had was Coleman's mustard Powder in order to put on sausage and ham we take some out in a cup and add a little water and that was before the jars of made mustard came out and i have been a fan of it ever since i might be only 74 years young but would never miss your Videos scott use to work in a meet packing plant where we killed the animals there was a boning hall it would have been right up your street i worked in the killing floor and in the red offal it was good to get a job back then any job would have wheeled skitter up one side of a plank and down the other side if i got payed for it lol
My company carries victornox. They seem to not hold an edge.
Love your content. Best source for butchery skills. Also very enternating
Thanks so much this was a fantastic video! Love the detail you go into 🙏💖😊
Good film I used to buy my knives in a trade shop in London always victorinox being a young rechtub I had my city and guilds before I left secondary school I am dyslexic witch no one new about then as I was a complete little bastard my schooling was butchery I was a flash bastard fast neat quality for extra monie I used to buy pigs head from swifts and sell the meat back good earner I soon realised that I would never make monie working for some one in shops despite running shops for duhurst so I changed my cleaver for an axe and became a carpenter but still have fond memories of being the flash gold on boy in reality I was a kcufing tnuc emit to ssip ffo still know my kcab gnals 😂
I was thinking of getting one of those 10" curved cimeter type knives.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the cimeter style best for slicing steaks, hams and larger pieces of meat, vs chopping like a cleaver would?
Best knife for frozen chicken/turkey?
I'm amazed you've made it this far with all your fingers intact.
I was hoping you might look to pass your knowledge on in classes, Scott. You'll have people from all over Britain trying to attend. You could also write a book on your life in butchery.
I'm a knifemaker so I make my own. Agree with you about Global knives, I don't like them at all. Wusthof are pretty decent though.
6 inch semi stiff Victorianox boning knife with rosewood handle is my knife of choice.
Hey Scott. Really great video and collection. I have a question. I recently purchased a 10" Victorinox breaking knife primarily for slicing rib eye steaks and similar. Would I notice much of a difference using a 10" Victorinox Cimeter instead? The price difference between the two is noticeable. The knives look really similar, though the weight is different.
Well done old Chap, thanks for the tour..
I Love very good Knives and love to own them really this video is very very useful thanks for sharing
Wonderful. Thank you. So much more to say but leaving it with Fabulous.
When i got my victorinox knife i got my local butcher to sharpen it. When he finished he said be careful and dont cut yourself its sharp then he rolled up he's sleeve and ran the blade down his arm and it shaved it. I thought wow how many fingers am i going to lose.
Vicorinox do make really good butchery knives. However, objectively the most useful knife for most people to have in their kitchen is a chef knife and always will be.
And pretty much any knife will stay in good condition as long as you take care of them. For instance, I've got a 25 year old Global chef knife that was given to me for my 10th birthday that is as good as new to this day, so there's nothing wrong with their quality they are just overpriced (and I personally don't like the handles). I also have several other knives a lot older then that, both expensive and inexpensive, all in great condition. Personally, since a good while back I use hand forged japanese knives (apart from my butchery knives, which are Victorinox) because I appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into them and you don't get that in cheap massproduced (and rather soulless) knives. So for me it's more than worth it to spend the money on them.
Cracking video that Scott, I bought that semi flex Victorinox. Cracking knife
Model number?
lol i love your "john wick" approach to your butchery tools
In New Zealand the best value for money are victorinox or (victory knives which are made in nz,) both identical in construction.
Even for hunting knives why waste your money on something way more expensive.
intersting mate - I bought a set of wostofs which are ok but their sharpener in absolutely useless and made everything blunt. Went Taylors Eye Witness and not looked back. Do me own bacon and smoked salmon (THANKS!) so I think I know what works. ta
Hi Scott, what type of knife would you recommend to an absolute beginner who is cutting large amounts of fat/suet? Currently using standard kitchen knives but this proves difficult when cutting large amounts of fat the size of a upper torso of a human into sizeable chunks. Looking to invest in my equipment and get a few new tools so some advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the great video
Thanks for that video mate, I’ve been looking at the Victorinox knives, I think I will get myself some now 👍
Also dewhursts are great butchers, I used to use the one on Tottenham high road for years! 👍
I use both Victorinox knives shown here. Total cost $110.00 These are the best knives in the trade
What’s the model number on the boning knife?
It's kind of surprising that Victorinox has never sent anything your way since you've been talking up there product pretty much since day one of your channel
Why would they need to, he does it free for them.
Excellent SR, the best knives are those made for trade 'no frills' style. VicNox brilliant and also folks check out online Victory brand knives made in New Zealand. Double damn solid utility knives for getting s*** done. Cheap as, have had mine breaking down carcases for a good few years.
LOVED your old tools of the trade video too!
Wish i would hve been there brother. Good times ....Great steel. Love the awards.
. . . .could you pls. be so kind to explain the advantage of the steak knifes form factor, especially why it is increasing in blade width just befor the tip ? (I mean this is pretty distinguished/ different from a chefs knife as usual) - thank you . . .
Thanks for everything!!
Bs noches en colombia donde los consigo grasias
My Swiss 🇨🇭 meat cutting/butcher Father used only JA Henckels. Has their quality turned poor?
I'm a hunter in the US. Do you have any venison heart recipes? Other than pan fried I've only found one decent recipe online, a Venison Heart Escabeche. It's sort of like ceviche.
Mhm I wouldn't quite agree that the Wüsthof ist overpriced. I have a set of Wüsthof knives (as a knive block) for over ten years now and they are just excellent in every respect. I have never regretted buying them. But I also have a stamped Santoku and serrated knive from Victorinox and the quality is outstanding. That said, I suggest you have a look at the most traditional German company for butchers knives, which is Friedrich Dick. They are about a 30 % cheaper than Victorinox and at least on the same level of quality.
How long does a steel last you??
An absolute art ! Well done you !
Thanks for the tour!
2:51 not a "steak" knife, a skinning or butcher's knife. Steak knives are those horrid dull things they give you to play with your $20 steak in restaurants till its cold.
Great video! Good info, and to the point, though.
Thanks for this! Trying to scope out adding animals to the farm, and part of raising my own meat would of course be butchering. A great set of knives is hard to come by when you don't have any experience with what you need. Cheers!
The two knives that he touts to be the only knives you need, are in fact, the only 2 knives you need. And a saw.
The magic ain't in the bloomin' tools but in the butcher wieldin' them.
You should also receive a few pallets of free mustard from Colman's, considering the free promotion you gave them...
Arcos Spanish butcher knives are great. £15 for 10". I swear they actually make victorianox knives they look identical
Where do you buy them from?
You were right about the boning knife Scot, nice one mate.
Anyone know where to find a 5” semiflex? Seems they’ve gone into hiding or something! I’ve been using Victorinox knives for years and own what feels like every knife they make (except the 5” semi ;) ) many chefs I’ve worked with also use nothing else, there is just no point spending more on fancy steel other than it’s pretty
I literally bought the wrong one. Annoying. Would love if he could add the knife model numbers to the description. Victorinox have long model numbers and many similar numbers across varied knives. Someone in marketing needs to sort out their jumbled mess that is their model number scheme.
Hey Scott, what happened to the Breakfast Slice you were working on? Did you ever perfect it?