Being on Cape Cod, surrounded by whale-rich waters, we got to thinking.  It is always entertaining when we try thinking, even if not productive. We have been making some Japanese inspired chef knives recently, as we mentioned several posts ago. The other day Tom said he though one of them looked like a whale. The knives have holes in the front for easy hanging that looks sort of like an eye. That got my mind wandering. Suddenly I saw a whale in each one we made. The long slicing knife looked like a blue whale.  The fat choppy knife looked a bit like a humpback whale.  The flat nosed Nakiri elicited the image of a sperm whale.  The small paring knives seem a bit like a pilot whale. Sitting here now, I think we will make a boning knife and call it the Narwhal.  It is visually more fun and makes it much easier to say “I want a Humpback Whale” rather than “the fat choppy Japanese style knife.”

On the left top are two Humpbacks over two Sperm Whales.  On the right a Blue Whale over a couple of Pilot Whales. The bottom picture is a new style of camp chef. It is not part of the whale series even though it bears some resemblance to a Minke whale. The next set of pictures is of a Damascus Sperm Whale with a stabilized pecan burl handle.

 

This is the Pilot Whale in the same “EKG design” damascus with stabilized pecan burl.

The trip to Atlanta was a trial as our vehicle died in Atlanta.  With some desperation setting in we managed to get it going again and limp to my Dad’s house 5 hours away.  We had planned to spend 2 days at the 4 day show but ended up only attending on Saturday due to our car situation. The show was mind blowing as usual with the addition of 250  new vendors! One of our favorite finds was a hamon clay for our Japanese chef knives. We even had a tutorial on application and got the plans for a traditional hamon painters’ work station which we built with my Dad in Mississippi. Look for new and improved hamon lines coming soon.  We were inspired by the many things we saw and are raring to go now that we are home.
While in Mississippi we also acquired a big pile of old files,so keep an eye out for up-cycled old file knives on our tables in the future.
Now we are gearing up for Father’s Day.  This week we will be at Chatham on Tuesday.  Bass River Market opens up on Thursday and it is a new venture for us. We are looking forward to it.  We are back at Cape Cod Beer on Friday, and on Saturday we split our efforts at the Castleberry Craft Fair in Hyannis at the Main Street Car Show and at Cape Abilities Father’s Day Cook Out from 11-4 in Brewster.  Sunday we are at the Castlberry Fair for the second day on the lawn in front of town hall in Hyannis.  Sunday the 24th starts the Brewster Farmers’ Market in Drummer Boy Park.  We will be doing on-the-spot knife sharpening at all our farmers’ markets except Bass River. Bring your dull knives!

In other news we received our acceptance letter for the Wellfleet Oyster Fest!!  We have also been invited to the Back the Blue in memory of Officer Gannon. We will be attending- and donating a special knife for the auction.  That will be Friday June 22nd from 7-11 at the Cape Codder Resort.

We would like to thank all the people that made our Memorial day weekend amazing.  Cape Cod Beer Farmer’s Market was a spectacular time as usual! Thank you to the Providencetown Farmer’s Market for making us welcome for a fabulous day on Saturday.   The cold and rain did not stop people from coming out and having a great time at Wareham Oyster Fest.  This week we are at Chatham Farmer’s Market  with knife sharpening!

Our next big adventure starts Thursday when we leave for Blade Atlanta, the biggest knife show in the world!  It is massive!!  We are not exhibiting there but we will be on the look out for the latest techniques, trends and materials in the world of knife making.  We will return home filled with inspiration and great materials to help kick our game up a notch for this summer season!  We are so excited for what this year will bring.   We will be back on June 11 and we will be jumping right back into things with our usual gigs at the Chatham Farmers Market and Cape Cod Beer  Then we will have great gifts for Dad at the Father’s day Car Show in Hyannis June 16 and 17th and the Father’s day show and at Cape Abilities Farm on June 16th.  Till then be safe and stay sharp!!

 

 

This weekend kicks off the official beginning of the Summer season on Cape Cod.  Where will we be you ask?  Today on Friday we will be at the opening of Cape Cod Beer’s Farmer’s Market.  Saturday it is still tentative but we may be at the Providence Town Farmer’s Market.  We should know tonight if it is a go.  What better way to spend Saturday of Memorial day in Ptown!!!!  Sunday we will be in Wareham at their Oyster Festival where they will have a road race and street vendors and a general party in the street.  It should be awesome.  Tonight we will be offering sharpening at Cape Cod beer so bring your dull knives. Have a great weekend where ever you are!

Come get a knife sharpened or buy a new knife tomorrow at Chatham Farmer’s Market 3-6:30 in front of Job Lot and Local Color Gallery on Rt 28.

In an effort to find our identity we have searched for years and finally think we have found it. We started making historic Scandinavian style knives, then moved into kitchen knives and modern outdoor knives.  Our recent interest in trade knives of the 18th century and 19th century settler knives, as well as the traditional knives of Japan, keeps us rooted in historical interests. Then we have Cape Cod with a long nautical history in the heart of North America’s Atlantic maritime region.

Our first impulse was to go with a more modern, tourist oriented, day at the beach or modern home decor look. We really looked hard and dabbled with the modern Cape Cod design aesthetic but it really was not right for us. We are much more rustic and dirty and rough around the edges. We are often asked it if our knives are antiques and we say, “No but they are made from the same type of steel that knives were made from 150 years ago.” Spotted across the Cape are a few remaining hold out old fashioned general mercantile stores.  After looking at those stores and spending a day with our friend Matt Beaudoin in his 180 year old historic rope working shop at Mystic Knot Work in Mystic, CT, where we learned about sailors’ knives and tools, we were convinced that the 1800’s mercantile look would translate well to the art and craft fair scene.  Crafting a distinct look and display is an important tool to make one memorable and draw people into your shop. It is useful to help sell your story and product.  The mercantile theme appeals to both our sense of history, our rustic look and a feel for the early days of the Cape Cod’s nautical and pioneer heritage. Thanks to A Piece of Sandwich for helping us get closer to establishing our aesthetic.  Come out and check out our work in progress throughout the year.

This is our first knife made out of Japanese white steel which is about the most pure steel you can get.  It has a higher carbon content than the 1095 we use in most of our knives. It is just straight up iron and carbon. It is super hard and holds a super sharp edge.     There are no other elements or impurities in the steel. It would make a great kitchen utility or camp cook knife or really cool daily carry.  It has a 25,000 year old piece of Mammoth tusk for a handle that was dug out of  the Alaska tundra.  It is a great conversation piece.  My photography skills or lack there off do not do it justice.  It is 9 inches over all with a 5 inch blade and has characteristics of a 18th cent trade knife and a Japanese chef knife.  These are the two influences working in our shop at present.  It comes with a leather sheath for $500.00.  Tom does not want to sell it but sell it we must.  Please help keep Tom from finally getting his knife.

Don’t forget our Tuesday market in Chatham has started from 3-6 and our Friday Market at Cape Cod Beer starts on the 25th and we have the Wareham Oyster fest coming up on the Sunday of Memorial day weekend. We will be out of town at Blade Atlanta from June 1 to the 12th. so we will not be at the weekly markets on those days.

We are members of the Northeast Cutlery Collectors Association and we were fortunate enough to make their big Mystic Connecticut Knife Extravaganza our first knife show.  Though we are not collectable yet with time hopefully we will be. Buy now before we become famous and you can not afford us. LOL!!!  Thanks to the NCAA for the great pic.  Tom actually looks happier then I have managed to get him in any pic so far so good job catching him smiling.   If you love knives and history check out the NCCA.

Also our first farmer’s Market starts up tomorrow in Chatham in front of Job Lot from 3-6 and we will be sharpening for more info check out The Chatham Farmers Market.

When you think about it a knife makes the best gift regardless of the occasion.  A good knife will last of generations and will be used multiple times a day.  A knife will provide for the ones you love an feed you r family and friends.  Every time a person uses the knife you give them they will think of you and what a great gift it was.  So this Mother’s day get mom a knife from Cape Cod Cutlery.  She will think of your love for her every time she uses it.

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One of the great things about Cape Cod is the natural beauty. We love to go down to our local beach and fish or watch the waves and look at all the fascinating creatures that wash up on shore.  We took the knives we finished up for this weekends Brewster in Bloom Festival and did a little photo shoot.  Hope you enjoy the natural beauty as much as we did.