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 M.

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!

      Summer 2006

    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 .

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

   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

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 

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!!!

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.