TESTIMONIALS
Summer 2007
Oh my goodness - that was fast!
And, as I suspected, the knife if gorgeous.
Thanks for the speed and artfulness, yet again!
Jenna Z.
Spring 2007
Michael,
I just got back to Alaska and found my new knife waiting for me.
It is perfect! Thanks again. It is great that you still make a
hand-made tool, and I think you could raise your prices.
Wishing continued success in your business,
Matthew Mills.
Dear Michael, April 2007
As usual, I received my two new knives promptly two days ago, but haven't written you about them until now. I wanted to have a chance to use them at least a little before writing.
I always seem to owe you more than I pay for, and this time is true to the rule. There seems always to be an intangible gift attached to my purchases. This time there were two of them. The first was the elegant look of both knives. You matched the wood grain in the handles, and the two knives look as if made as a matched pair of tools. The second gift was the kitchen knife. I had been put off by their appearance in your catalogue, but already owning two of your knives, I had some sense of your own thoughtfulness. I realized I had to risk trying one. It's amazing!
With Much Gratitude and Affection,
Malcolm L .
micheal, Fall 2007
thank you. while slightly worried about the different shape to the blade, after about an hour with it, i was happy. it's thinner than my 9" wustof, easy to go fast with, nicely balanced. this is a beautiful tool.
the order process was great. i appreciated both your advice and care in getting me the right tool. all things considered, i have recommended you to two people who are also professionals, one in seattle, the other i work with here in portland. My entire experience with you has been positive.
if you happened to be in portland in the next few months, you should come to the red star, make reservations with my name attached, and you should have a good time.
thank you,
Kevin
Summer 2006
Hello –
I received the sets of knives my father gave me as a gift for my birthday , last week , and I had to get back to you about them. They are amazing !! I now actually look forward to cooking again , and so now I am a big fan . They stay amazingly sharp and bright and feel so clean and comfortable in my hand . Again- you’re a true master .
Chelsea C.
October 2007
Mr. Lishinsky -
I am the chef that ordered the set of knives this past spring . I am not sure you remember me - I am the Chef at ------------ . At first , your request that was sent with the knives for feedback on them wasn't paid much attention to . But I have so enjoyed using them in my home kitchen that I felt I had to write back asking for a Mezzaluna along with my sincerest compliments on your workmanship and quality .
They are definitely softer than stainless knives , but as you claimed, they are so easy to sharpen up . I get compliments on them all the time, and they now are on display in our kitchen on a wall magnet. Is it possible to get the Mezzaluna with the same black ash wood the other came with , and the cost ??
Chef Peter D.
Las Vegas
{ I made a custom knife for this New Orleans chef in November 2007 and asked him for feedback. This was his second piece in a years time } -MML
Michael,
Got the knife in the mail on Friday, oiled overnight and used on Saturday. I am very pleased. The shape of the blade is excellent and the larger handle is much more in line with the handles on most of my other chef knives. In addition, the use of bay laurel (myrtle) on the handle just seems like such an appropriate wood for a chef. It's good to know that we (Bistro Daisy ) have some web presence as we are a very new restaurant (3 mos.) and are small and extremely low tech. I will probably order a paring knife from you in the near future so you can expect to hear from me before too long.
Thanks again,
Anton
I made a custom Santoku with Black Ash handle for Chef Peggy .
" Hello, this is Peggy, you built a santoku knife for me not too long ago.
I just wanted to email you and tell you that i love it, it couldn't be more perfect. Its a beautiful piece of work. The fillet as well. These knives definitely attract some attention i would'nt be surprise if you get some more business from the Sedona area.
Thanks again, i look forward to doing future business with you.
sincerely,
Peggyanne S Fuller "
Thanks Mike, ( 03/2009 )
I'll let you know when I receive it. Your knives are of the highest quality and it is always a pleasure to do business with you. Best regards, Joe
Also see Chow Hound for Wildfire Recommendation ( scroll down )
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/288024
Hello Michael { 4/28/2008 } From our friend in the U.K.
Do you remember I ordered some knives from you a few years ago?
I have a little story to tell you about one of them
I have a circular lawn edged with bricks and the grass grows over
the bricks over time. Your chef's knife is perfect for cutting away
the overgrowth.
I finished the job of cutting the grass back and went in. After a
day or two of not being able to find the knife I realised I must
have left it in the garden. I searched the garden but could not
find it. Eventually I gave up and accepted it was gone and even if
I did find it it would be ruined.
I was going to order another from you but you were having 'a long
winter's nap' - I was devastated.
I have a gardener and after she had been one day I went into the
garden to look at the work and there was the knife in the middle of
a flower bed (it was winter so I could see it easily).
It must have been in the ground about 9 to 12 months. The blade was
rusted and it looked very sad. I took it in and cleaned it up as
best as I could. The handle cleaned up as good as new but the blade
was badly pitted.
I have a wonderful chap locally who puts handles on old tools and I
took it down to him to see what he would say.
He looked at it and said 'what a wonderful knife'. He put his disc
grinder on it and cleaned off the rust. At that time he was
repairing a very old axe. He told me to watch. He put his grinder
against the axe and it sparked. He then did the same on my knife the
sparks were exactly the same. 'This is a quality knife' he said,
'the same quality of steel as this axe'.
He asked me where it came from and we chatted and he was very
impressed with the knife.
I am now able to use it again. I am so delighted.
Your knives are of remarkable quality and I love them.
Thank you for the love you put into them.
Maureen from the U.K.
i'm soooooooooooooooo happy with my beautifully made and tenderly cared for filet knife!!! and it arrived in less than a week, too...
my dear sir,
you are a master at what you do and there are people out there that really appreciate your work.
thank you VERY much,
annette o. May 6th , 2008
And your knives really are the best. Tim looked wistfully at one of his Sabatiers the other day (one he had to use because he doesn’t have a Wildfire that size/dimension) and said, “I sure wish I had a Wildfire like this one so I can use a superior knife...” He just loves your knives.
And so do I; when he lets me use them.
(You should see him when I clean them. He watches me like a hawk to make sure that I dry them RIGHT AWAY!)
Peaceful day, R from North Carolina December 4, 2008
woops- below the border !
Michael -
I wonder if you read the article last week in the New Yorker. IU found it completely absurd that anyone would buy a kitchen knife for $450 and wait two years for it just because it cuts rope well. I used to think that was the way to go and bought a few. When it did get dull, I felt like such a fool cause I had to give it to someone else to resharpen it. Don't get me wrong, I can sharpen ( I am a professional sous chef )and may have been able to sharpen it- but I was afraid to. I can really relate to your style of knives. When my Wildfire knife gets dull, I just hone it a few times and get back to work. Thanks alot- Collette from Miami
PS- I can send you a copy of the articel if you like. C Dec. 4th, 2008
Thanks Michael! As always, I am anxious to see your work. It is always beautiful. Your knives are always the knives of choice in our kitchen- the henckels and wusthofs never leave the block anymore. You have spoiled us. Best wishes, Karen December 6th, 2008
From Brad In Alaska who bought a 1.5 x 7 , a 1 x 4 and a 7 x 2.5 --- 4/24/2009
I received the knives today and they are beautiful. The balance and weight of the chef’s knives are just right. The 1.5X7 chefs has the look and feel of a classic Sabatier and I’m guessing will become my workhorse. Thanks again.
5/7/2009
This just in:
Hi there,
You sold me a knife back in March and I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for the work.
I liked the look of it right away but I wanted for work with it for a while before gushing with cosmetic praise.
It really is, though, a particularly nice looking piece of cutlery. I work in a open kitchen and it often catches peoples attention.
It does its job so very well. Nice rocking motion, keeps its edge well, pleasant heft in the hand. Nice Knife.
I like to do things the supposedly old fashioned way. It is worth while in work to take your time and pay attention.
I greatly appreciate having a tool that reflects this philosophy both in its physicality and it craftsmanship.
Mike B.
Ottawa, Canada
_______________________________________________________________________________
Dec. 2009 from Texarcana
best piece of steel i have ever held in my hand; wonderful work of art
thanks and happy new year
dick w.
From London - Dec- 2009
Hi Michael
Just to let you know I received the package about half an hour ago. There was a slight delay because of a customs payment.
The knives are ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. The wood you've used is such a gorgeous colour and the blade is just so sleek and SO sharp. I can't wait to see my friend's face when he opens it and it'll be a big surprise for my husband too as he covets them.
Thank you thank you thank you.
And Happy Holidays
Susanne x
December 2009 from Mississippi
Michael -
Received the knife.... AWESOME, as always!
Thank you for being so willing to work with me to get the wood we wanted. You are so talented, and we are pleased to be able to enjoy your craftmanship.
Thanks again!
Best wishes to you & yours,
Karen
December- 2009 from Maryland
Michael,
The package arrived today, along with the box from Georgia. When I opened, and carefully unwrapped the knives, I was more excited and in awe of your work than I expected.
Your precision and artistic talent are now part of my kitchen, and will allow me to enjoy every minute of using the results of your art.
You will be hearing from me for some time to come, and my name will be on future orders, for me and those I treasure.
Thanks, Michael. You are the artist and craftsman my cooking and entertaining has until now lacked.
Jim H
November - 2009
Hi,
The Santoku arrived yesterday. We've been using it all morning, and it is not only beautiful, but awesome to use in the kitchen!
Thank you!!!
Jen
2010 feedback
The knives came last week and are amazing! Cooked with them on Saturday night, smiled the entire time.
And get this. I would like to order one more, a 5 1/2" x 2.5" same handles as the others.
I think you made one for Dean & Deluca, but I do not see the option on your website.
Hi Michael
I just wanted to let you know I got the knife. I love it! Love the shape, love the blade, love the wood!
It was just what I was envisioning. The wood came out awesome on the handle.
The burl pattern and colors are amazing! I want to thank you for everything, and
I'll be back to order again sometime soon.. Thanks again>..LB
Michael, I got the knife the day after Christmas and have been meaning to drop you a line.
the knife is fantastic. I love the weight and the handle. The guys at work are all jealous.
I got to put it to use breaking down a #40 lamb and #60 pig for
New Years Eve and the tip gets right in where you need it to.
Hope to have many good years with the knife. I would love to work with you again in the future.
Thank you for your speedy turn around and great craftsmanship.
The package arrived today, along with the box from Georgia. When I opened,
and carefully unwrapped the knives,
I was more excited and in awe of your work than I expected.
Your precision and artistic talent are now part of my kitchen, and will allow
me to enjoy every minute of using the results of your art.
You will be hearing from me for some time to come, and my name will be
on future orders, for me and those I treasure.
Thanks, Michael. You are the artist and craftsman my cooking and entertaining has until now lacked.
Thanks. I received the knives on monday, and have enjoyed using them this thanksgiving week.
The width of the knife was a welcome change from my old knives, and reminds me of the days
when I used to use a chinese cleaver with its scooping abilities. As I pinch/choke my knife, the
thinner blade took a little getting used to, but I have since sanded down the first inch of the
back of the knife, and my fingers are getting used to the thinner blade.
I sharpened and honed with some waterstones to change the edge angle to something that
i am more familiar with, and the ease in which the knife sharpened was very nice, and it's now
scary sharp. I even like the patina it is developing. The 10 inch was great for
deboning and carving the 22lb turkey, and I also really like the full length handle on the paring,
as well as the raised handle compared to the blade, both problems with most other paring knives.
Altogether, I would say that I am very happy with the knives. In ten or so years, when I once again
need a new chef's knife, I hope you will still be making them, and we can perhaps talk about a custom
order with a thicker blade, and perhaps
a slightly longer handle to rebalance the knife.
I hope you had a good thanksgiving, and I will hand out your cards to the folks in the kitchen
when they try to steal my knife.
Michael, Just wanted to let you know that the knives arrived about two hours ago,
and they are wonderful. Thanks so much! Hope you had a fine Thanksgiving - Carol
Hi,
The Santoku arrived yesterday. We've been using it all morning, and it is not only beautiful, but awesome to use in the kitchen !
Thank you!!!
Jen
Hi Michael, The new knives are great and I love them; I bought a ceramic steel and a jiffy sharpener for them. My old Sabatier chef's knife just doesn't have the balance that yours have. I now buy various vegetables just for the fun of chopping them up.
Meanwhile, I have an old carbon paring knife (2" blade) that needs a new handle, I tried to repair it with candle wax but not satisfactory. Could you rehab it? If so, then you could include some more new knives when you send it back.
I am thinking of ordering:
Santoku 7"
Boning or steak knife 6.5" (what would be the difference?). (I am looking for a slicing/chopping knife with a thin blade, maybe 1.5").
I want to expand my "set" and what I now have are mostly short blades.
Also need another knife to give as a gift, not sure what it would be, something for my dad, a former jewelry maker who appreciates fine tools, but he is in his 90's and not much strength or dexterity left in his hands.
What do you think? Thanks for advice, Mari
I'm writing to tell you that I absolutely love the knife. Its amazing.
I think I'm ready to have you make me a chef's knife. I'd like it to be a 9-10" blade with the
handle you put on my 6" knife. Details are below for the previous handle, the only change I'd like to
make is to add 1/16-1/8" to the width of the widest point. I know you said that it would probably be too
thick, but I find myself just wanting more heft from the handle.
As for the profile of the blade, I would like it to similarly match the profile of a ( me) blankety blank.
As far as the handle wood goes, let me know what you have that can accommodate a handle that thick.
I'd be willing to go with a stabilized ash handle if it will work.
Look forward to hearing back from you!
2/2011 ~~ This just in from 'Chef Talk'- HERE
Made these pieces at end of 2010.
Thanx- Beth/
August - 2011 - Meanwhile in Australia
This was a set I made for Shaun , with Australian Ironwood and Myrtle wood.
Michael - Just got my knives other today and WOW!! these are great, these knives just feel so natural, i love knives that feel like they are doing all the cutting and you just guide them in the right direction, but these you feel like your trying to catch up with them, your really just hangin on for the ride!! the wood on the handels is so nice and the australian ironbark, awsome. i will give you a more detailed run down in a few months after i get to sharpen them a few times but in my industrie first impressions are everything and your knives really hit the mark with me.
thank once again i cant convey what a pleasure its been, and i will let you know in a couple of months how they are.
Cheers Buddy have a beer for me top work.
Shaun H. from the land down under aka, the Chef on a Journey.
I already own a couple of Michaels knives, including the Arkansas 'Toothpick" and the Thai Cleaver. They are my favorites, and I do have plenty of fine knives. They sharpen easily and take a razor's edge. Looking forward to this one which I plan on using as a 'utility' knife.
You guys are great…………….
Harry
Last month, I made 12" kitchen knife for a man's father for Xmas 2011, who has been in the restaurant business for a long time. It was made using 5/64" thick O-1 tool steel and 2.5" wide. It sported a beautiful curly maple stabilized handle. Feedback below.
"Michael -
I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that the knife you made for my Dad was perfect, my Dad cannot stop talking about it, he loves the quality and feel. He said it works great to skin a whole salmon in one swipe and makes his daily prep work a breeze.
I sincerely appreciate it and just wanted you to know it was well received.
Best wishes for the New Year
J. DiP...
I put it through the mill the last few days.... cut up 30 whole birds yesterday ... knock it on the ground twice.... used it as line knife during surface ...
Had to regrind tip (from one cooks knocking to floor)
Have done everything with it!
It has performed superbly
Chef Bill Hawkins
The Bluebird
Local. Natural. Pure.
202 W.Main St.
Stanford, Kentucky
40484Below: 10" Santoku, with Hickory Wood western style handle - 5/64" thick O-1 tool steel.
Below- Chef Wild Bill Hawkins with his hand made kitchen knife
→ http://bluebirdnatural.com/ ←
Michael, (May 2012) - from a Brooklyn chef
"I've just received the knives, absolutely exactly what I was looking for. This is a big cooking weekend for me, I am now looking forward to prep!
Thank you.
Adante"
May 2012
Michael,
Thank you so much for the wonderful knives. They came out better than I imagined. I love the belly of the blade and the convex edges. The construction of the handles are flawless. Your craftsmanship is unparalleled. Been cooking up a storm. Thanks again.
Meanwhile in Dublin:
Hello Michael,
My order arrived today. I am thrilled with it all. The carving knife is something I can't wait to use.
An excuse for roast lamb this Sunday I think.
This whole process has been great and I suspect that I'll be back to you before too long with the
next order!
All the best to you and yours,
Senan
click to enlarge
Above: Knife and Fork Carving Set.
9" carving knife, 2" wide and stainless fork.
English walnut wood with fancy spacers; black/red/red/black.
Triple wax finish.
9/27/2012
Just in from Kent, England
Geoff ordered an 8" x 2.5" and I sent to G.B., and he was so pleased I made him a 1" x 4" kitchen knife - here is his feedback.
Hi Michael Moses, I am pleased to announce that my new knife arrived today in super quick time. It slipped into the country without drawing the attention of Her Majesty's Customs and so I had nothing extra to pay. Once again you have a happy customer.
I don't know how many more knives I shall need myself but I shall sing your praises to anyone who might have need of your unique wares.
Many thanks. Take care. Geoff W.
From Gray in Alabama, who bought a 2.5" x 8" Thai Cleaver ~ January 2013 ~
"Michael, what a beautiful blade! You are a true craftsman. I've been chopping things that don't need chopping, just for fun..."
Just in from Auckland, N.Z. - 2/6/2013
"Michael
You and your team are superstars ! The knives arrived, in stunning shape.
They will, I am certain, give great pleasure and service for decades to come to my daughter and I.
You can expect more orders from NZ I hope (like from anyone who happens to wander through my kitchen with their eyes open !)
Cheers and admiration.
Julian"
He ordered three pieces, two of which are shown here - top is 6" x 2.5" and bottom is 7" x 1.5".
The third piece was a 1" x 4". Wood shown is quilted hard rock maple.
