About Us


Ryan got started in this business when his brother, Derek, gave him a call to help him sharpen knives for his new business, which just popped up at the newly renovated Union Market in the heart of Washington DC. I found it funny at the time since we weren't exactly "knife dudes," but the opportunity presented itself. With some "on the fly" and "learn as you go" training, as well as an unforgettable trip to Japan, we laid the groundwork for providing an exceptional product with exceptional service.
My main skill is focusing on proper edge geometry to make sure the knife is working to the best of its ability. I guess I'm sort of known for thinning out high end Japanese (and other custom) knives to meet the expectations of those particular customers who demand the best out of their blades. While working behind the edge is critical for performance, I'm also somewhat proficient at hand sharpening on stones to quickly make the knife as sharp as possible while considering the longevity of the edge.
Those sharpening skills have sort of put me in the role of not only the lead sharpener, but also the face of this business; since it's the sharpening service which keeps our customers coming back. It's one thing to retail a certain product, like knives, but having a service behind it which can maintain, repair, and in many cases drastically improve the performance of those products, really makes us stand out. I get people coming in all the time to ask me for sharpening advice and they really seem to respect my no nonsense approach to it all.
I have endless advice on newbies getting into the high end cutlery world but some notable ones are as follows:
-Beware of bad advice you may read on places like Reddit. Most of that advice comes from other people that came from other people and so on. It's like a game of Bad Advice Telephone played by the armchair warriors with no real world experience. Call your local knife shop and they'll answer your questions quickly and to the point.
-It's worth a trip to a knife shop to put the knife in your hand. There's nothing worse than receiving your blade and immediately being disappointed with how it feels. There's really no recovering from it. If you don't have a local shop, at least try to narrow down which type of handle you are comfortable with, Eastern or Western. This is the main factor of how enjoyable the knife is to use, just ahead of good edge geometry.
-Iron clad blades tarnish very easily and are not for everyone. but if you do have one or are thinking about it, let the patina happen. I see customers constantly cleaning the heck out of their blades and worrying about the tiniest blemish. It's ok for your knife to turn brown, just don't let it rust. Rinse with water after use and thoroughly dry it and you'll be fine. Knives are a tool and they should look as such.
-MOST IMPORTANTLY Japanese knives are not perfect. They are made by people like you and me. If you receive your knife and examine it with the intention of finding a flaw, you will find a flaw. Some are slightly bent, some aren't ground perfectly, some have minor scratches, some have handles that aren't precisely aligned. It's the nature of the game, Wabi Sabi. Of course we examine and weed out extreme examples of those flaws, but most cases are so minor as to not be a real issue.
My free time is spent with my wife and two young boys who make me a better man. If I have any solo time I find myself in the woods foraging for mushrooms, or on the water fishing. I also play guitar and bass in a local band with a few other Dads. Honestly, my life is pretty sweet. I've got the best family a man can ask for. I've also got the coolest job playing with the coolest knives, and a skill I can take anywhere. My favorite literary quote is from a story I read to my kids at night by the Brothers Grimm, titled Hans In Luck,
Hans stood looking for a while, and at last said, "You must be well off, master grinder, you seem so happy at your work."
"Yes," said the other, "mine is a golden trade; a good grinder never puts his hand in his pocket without finding money in it."




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High-performance kitchen cutlery delivers its best results only when properly maintained. Check out our knife sharpening services for home cooks and professionals alike or our strops and stones section for all of your at home sharpening tools.