Knife Sharpest

Knife Sharpest

After a particularly grueling holiday catering season years ago, my two trusted assistants were so appalled by the condition of my knives that they gave me a gift certificate to a sharpening service for Christmas. That was my first experience with Knife Sharpest. Company founder Graham “Grambo” Stuckey sharpened my knives with a machine of his own design, and the blades emerged sharper, safer, and much more useful. These days, Grambo has retired and a second-generation Stuckey family knife expert now runs the operation, still using the sharpening machine Grambo invented. Thomas Stuckey began learning the craft from his father as a kid. Now he not only leases, sells, sharpens, repairs, and collects knives; he’s also a champion knife-thrower who proudly teaches that skill. (Call Thomas at 589-4680 to arrange individual or group knife-throwing classes.)

On my most recent visit to the rustic shop on Burnet Road, Knife Sharpest’s staff worked on my knives while I marveled at Thomas’ stock, which includes everything from Japanese samurai swords to tomahawks and machetes, plus a full battery of kitchen knives. The business leases and sells knives to all kinds of local food service establishments. Thomas also offers a very convenient and reasonably priced mobile sharpening service that includes quarterly maintenance of blades for such items as commercial meat slicers and Robot Coupe food choppers. Thomas’ services are not just for home cooks and culinary professionals – regardless of what kind of blades you use, be they scissors, shears, hoes, or lawn mowers, he and his capable staff will see to it that your cutting equipment has the proper edge necessary to do a fine job. My knives are in great shape once again.

This article appears in August 7 • 2009.