Since I was in Dallas on business today, I took the time to hit Sur la
Table to see whether they had any Furi knives in stock. Nope.

They had the brochure for the Furi line of knives and for the way cool
sharpening device, but nary a knife. The assistant manager
enthusiastically tried to show me the also way cool Kershaw Shun
ersatz Damascus knives, but I pulled her up short with the info that
Shuns are designed for right hands and therefore not for me.
Incidentally, she said Shuns are selling like hotcakes (OBFood).

She took my name and phone number, though, and promised to call when
the Furis are in stock. Christmas is coming, you know.

modom

"My baby's got no clothes
'Cause she's makin' chicken soup."

-- Chuck E. Weiss

On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 17:59:16 -0500, modom > wrote:

>
>Since I was in Dallas on business today, I took the time to hit Sur la
>Table to see whether they had any Furi knives in stock. Nope.
>
>They had the brochure for the Furi line of knives and for the way cool
>sharpening device, but nary a knife. The assistant manager
>enthusiastically tried to show me the also way cool Kershaw Shun
>ersatz Damascus knives, but I pulled her up short with the info that
>Shuns are designed for right hands and therefore not for me.
>Incidentally, she said Shuns are selling like hotcakes (OBFood).
>
>She took my name and phone number, though, and promised to call when
>the Furis are in stock. Christmas is coming, you know.
>
>modom
[...]

And what sort of triumph of marketing are they? Single bevel knives
with a choice of right or left bevel? Knives intended for ~10% of the
market? Inquiring minds, and all that...

B.Server wrote:

> On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 17:59:16 -0500, modom > wrote:
>
>
>>Since I was in Dallas on business today, I took the time to hit Sur la
>>Table to see whether they had any Furi knives in stock. Nope.
>>
>>They had the brochure for the Furi line of knives and for the way cool
>>sharpening device, but nary a knife. The assistant manager
>>enthusiastically tried to show me the also way cool Kershaw Shun
>>ersatz Damascus knives, but I pulled her up short with the info that
>>Shuns are designed for right hands and therefore not for me.
>>Incidentally, she said Shuns are selling like hotcakes (OBFood).
>>
>>She took my name and phone number, though, and promised to call when
>>the Furis are in stock. Christmas is coming, you know.
>>
>>modom
>
> [...]
>
> And what sort of triumph of marketing are they? Single bevel knives
> with a choice of right or left bevel? Knives intended for ~10% of the
> market? Inquiring minds, and all that...

Such smug superciliousness. Hard to find it in people who actually
know anything. Perhaps get a teenager to show you how to do a search
to see actual pictures online so you don't have to embarrass yourself
like this.

Furi knives are one-piece stainless. They're splendidly polished and
usable by either hand. Very easy grip and great balance. Take a
remarkable edge and hold it.

Pastorio

On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 19:09:17 GMT, B.Server
> wrote:

>On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 17:59:16 -0500, modom > wrote:
>
>>
>>Since I was in Dallas on business today, I took the time to hit Sur la
>>Table to see whether they had any Furi knives in stock. Nope.
>>
>>They had the brochure for the Furi line of knives and for the way cool
>>sharpening device, but nary a knife. The assistant manager
>>enthusiastically tried to show me the also way cool Kershaw Shun
>>ersatz Damascus knives, but I pulled her up short with the info that
>>Shuns are designed for right hands and therefore not for me.
>>Incidentally, she said Shuns are selling like hotcakes (OBFood).
>>
>>She took my name and phone number, though, and promised to call when
>>the Furis are in stock. Christmas is coming, you know.
>>
>>modom
>[...]
>
>And what sort of triumph of marketing are they? Single bevel knives
>with a choice of right or left bevel? Knives intended for ~10% of the
>market? Inquiring minds, and all that...

Your questions aren't clear. If you reread what I wrote, you might
notice I made no mention of knives designed for left handed people.
But if you want to know in what way a Shun knife is made for right
handed people, it's in the grip, not the bevel of the blade. The grip
is made to fit well in a right hand, but not so well in a left hand.
It's not a case of marketing so far as I know. Furi knives don't have
this feature and so may be what I want. I need to -- umm -- handle
one before I buy, however. Get a feel for it before committing
myself.

modom

"My baby's got no clothes
'Cause she's makin' chicken soup."

-- Chuck E. Weiss

On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 02:49:39 -0400, Bob Pastorio >
wrote:

>B.Server wrote:
>
[...]
>> [...]
>>
>> And what sort of triumph of marketing are they? Single bevel knives
>> with a choice of right or left bevel? Knives intended for ~10% of the
>> market? Inquiring minds, and all that...
>
>Such smug superciliousness. Hard to find it in people who actually
>know anything. Perhaps get a teenager to show you how to do a search
>to see actual pictures online so you don't have to embarrass yourself
>like this.
>
>Furi knives are one-piece stainless. They're splendidly polished and
>usable by either hand. Very easy grip and great balance. Take a
>remarkable edge and hold it.
>
>Pastorio

Bob,

Thanks for the reminder. When it comes to pompous condescension, I
bow to your superior skills.

As it happens, I did go to google to see what were Furi and why anyone
should care. Two sites had a long string of similar marketing copy
superlatives with essentially zero information about their design,
utility, or anything that made them any better than a dozen others.
There was no reference to a manufacturer's web site in the first three
pages of google hits. One site,"white whale" something dot something
did explain that they were one piece and stainless for whatever reason
and that they thought the handle design was cool. The pictures show
a symmetric handle and, typical of marketing over function, show
nothing of the bevel(s). The handle in the photo I saw, by the by,
appears to be designed with the assumption that one always uses a
"trigger grip". I am not sure that would be comfortable for me, but
can always try it on something.

Since the OP mentioned that he did not like some brand because they
were for "right handers", it did not seem such a failure of
imagination and intellect to question how they might be different and
that the difference might have something to do with "handedness". So
far as I am aware, "left" is the only other alternative and a distinct
minority in our species. Since we are bilaterally symmetric, it
(still) puzzles me how a symmetric handle could not be for both right
and left. No doubt you will enlighten me. The only asymmetric knives
that I have used are Japanese, single bevel, choices are right and
left. Hence my inquiry.

Your enthusiasm for these knives seems to run a bit beyond your normal
professional opinions about tools. If you were somehow personally
involved in the genesis of these knives and I have inadvertently
called your kid ugly, my apologies. They still look to me like
someone trying to cash in on the Global Knife fashion show. (I bought
one of those and can find no regime of use in which it equals my
Japanese knives from whose design it appears to derive.)

And for the OP, the one thing that I did get from the google search is
that everyone and their duck has these things, so you should have no
problem buying all you want on line.

cheers.

On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 11:33:12 -0500, modom > wrote:

>On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 19:09:17 GMT, B.Server
> wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 17:59:16 -0500, modom > wrote:
>>
>>>[...]
>>>
>>>modom
>>[...]
>>
>>And what sort of triumph of marketing are they? Single bevel knives
>>with a choice of right or left bevel? Knives intended for ~10% of the
>>market? Inquiring minds, and all that...
>
>Your questions aren't clear. If you reread what I wrote, you might
>notice I made no mention of knives designed for left handed people.
>But if you want to know in what way a Shun knife is made for right
>handed people, it's in the grip, not the bevel of the blade. The grip
>is made to fit well in a right hand, but not so well in a left hand.
>It's not a case of marketing so far as I know. Furi knives don't have
>this feature and so may be what I want. I need to -- umm -- handle
>one before I buy, however. Get a feel for it before committing
>myself.
>
>modom
>
>"My baby's got no clothes
>'Cause she's makin' chicken soup."
>
> -- Chuck E. Weiss

OK. The only picture of the Shun knives I have seen looked to me as
though the handles were symmetric. So I was grasping for straws in
terms of differences. I'll look again. I've seen custom gun stocks
that were asymmetric, though it seemed more cosmetic than functional
when I held the shotgun.

The only "laminated"(Damascene-like) cutting tools that I have used
are in Japanese designs, one kitchen knive that I really like, fine
plane irons and a couple of Japanese yari-nomi (spear point "planes")
My experience is that their delicate nature and tendency to rust
takes a lot of maintenance. No doubt stainless would make it less of
a burden, though why one would bother to laminate escapes me.

I am having a problem imagining the machining or texturing or whatever
of the Furi handles that makes them non-slip. The marketing
literature described fine scoring or the like right after stating that
the absence of gaps and fissures in the one piece design was a plus
for sanitation. (??) As usual, the on-line photos are no help.

Hope you find some that you can handle before purchase, but if not, it
does look like they are very, very popular at the moment with on-line
merchants.

B.Server wrote:

> On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 02:49:39 -0400, Bob Pastorio >
> wrote:
>
>>B.Server wrote:
>>
>
> [...]
>
>>>[...]
>>>
>>>And what sort of triumph of marketing are they? Single bevel knives
>>>with a choice of right or left bevel? Knives intended for ~10% of the
>>>market? Inquiring minds, and all that...
>>
>>Such smug superciliousness. Hard to find it in people who actually
>>know anything. Perhaps get a teenager to show you how to do a search
>>to see actual pictures online so you don't have to embarrass yourself
>>like this.
>>
>>Furi knives are one-piece stainless. They're splendidly polished and
>>usable by either hand. Very easy grip and great balance. Take a
>>remarkable edge and hold it.
>>
>>Pastorio
>
>
> Bob,
>
> Thanks for the reminder. When it comes to pompous condescension, I
> bow to your superior skills.

As if...

Your smarmy innuendoes and oh-so-sophisticated waft of the hand
cuteness rather gives the lie to your "questions." You pose them not
so much to gain information as to show how witty and worldly you are.
Missed the mark, you did...

> As it happens, I did go to google to see what were Furi and why anyone
> should care.

I definitely think you shouldn't care. These knives are for grownups
with a modicum of skill, like my 12-year-old who wields my Furi
santoku rather deftly. She prefers it to the Sabatier, Henckels,
Gerber, Global, Oxo, Kyocera, Dexter-Russel, Victorinox and
custom-made knives in my racks. Kid's got good eyes and hands. Here's
the one she likes best <http://tinyurl.com/rgn7>

Based on your glossy and superficial style, I'd say they're too much
tool for you. You might hurt yourself while dreaming up new quips and
self-congratulatory "questions."

> Two sites had a long string of similar marketing copy
> superlatives with essentially zero information about their design,
> utility, or anything that made them any better than a dozen others.
> There was no reference to a manufacturer's web site in the first three
> pages of google hits.

Well then, it's a rather poor search you did then, isn't it? I can't
see why you'd deliberately parade that fact out here like that.

I plugged in "furi knives manufacturer" into Google and got lotsa hits.
<http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=furi+knives+manufacturer&btnG=Google+Search>
or if that's too long, <http://tinyurl.com/rgkt>

The first two on that first page were for vendors, the third one was
for the maker of the knife:
http://www.furiknife.com/

> One site,"white whale" something dot something
> did explain that they were one piece and stainless for whatever reason
> and that they thought the handle design was cool. The pictures show
> a symmetric handle and, typical of marketing over function, show
> nothing of the bevel(s). The handle in the photo I saw, by the by,
> appears to be designed with the assumption that one always uses a
> "trigger grip". I am not sure that would be comfortable for me, but
> can always try it on something.

Oh, no. Save yourself the anguish. Keep using those Wal-Mart serrated
knives I bet you like best. Really. You can just walk away from this
whole thread and never perspire again in pondering these or any other
knives. Seek simplicity, grasshoppper.

> Since the OP mentioned that he did not like some brand because they
> were for "right handers", it did not seem such a failure of
> imagination and intellect to question how they might be different and
> that the difference might have something to do with "handedness".

It's both a failure of imagination and a deeper failure of research.
Rather than show your impoverished imagination, perhaps a simple
question would have gotten you the information without having to deal
with your offputting attitude.

> So
> far as I am aware, "left" is the only other alternative and a distinct
> minority in our species. Since we are bilaterally symmetric, it
> (still) puzzles me how a symmetric handle could not be for both right
> and left. No doubt you will enlighten me. The only asymmetric knives
> that I have used are Japanese, single bevel, choices are right and
> left. Hence my inquiry.

Well, there it is. For some reason, you assume that all handles are
symmetrical. Japanese knives will often have a wooden handle that is
decidedly handed, even on symmetrical blades. Some knives will also
have a one-sided bevel. Other kinds of knives will have their own
versions of handed handles. Now you go finish doing your own homework.

> Your enthusiasm for these knives seems to run a bit beyond your normal
> professional opinions about tools. If you were somehow personally
> involved in the genesis of these knives and I have inadvertently
> called your kid ugly, my apologies.

Not at all. I was introduced to them at an International Association
of Culinary Professionals conference in Montreal last Spring. I liked
them there. I was able to handle lots of others (carbon, stainless,
ceramic, etc.) at the same event and liked the Furi best. I have no
involvement beyond being a very satisfied customer. You have no idea
about my levels of enthusiasm or professional opinions about anything.
More speculation from you with a different and snide point to make.

> They still look to me like
> someone trying to cash in on the Global Knife fashion show. (I bought
> one of those and can find no regime of use in which it equals my
> Japanese knives from whose design it appears to derive.)

Lets see. First question is, "Who cares what they look like to you?"
It seems you buy knives on looks. Stay away from these, they're more
expensive than those infomercial Japanese knives. Second question is,
"Why did you buy it if you didn't think it was going to offer you a
superior performance?"

And, finally, don't buy one. Simply reject them out of hand. Don't
furrow your pretty little brow about them for another instant. See how
simple life can be? Maybe give your Global knife to the Salvation Army
for them to sell in their store and benefit someone who isn't quite so
laden with surety.

> And for the OP, the one thing that I did get from the google search is
> that everyone and their duck has these things, so you should have no
> problem buying all you want on line.

See, the OP was a lot smarter than you. He wants to heft one before
making the purchase rather than relying on looks alone. That means
he's asking sincere questions, unlike you. He's not trying to show how
cool he is. He's trying to buy a knife he likes. So he's trying them
with open mind. Lesson there for you.

Have a lovely day.

Pastorio

"modom" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 19:09:17 GMT, B.Server
> > wrote:
>
> >On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 17:59:16 -0500, modom > wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>Since I was in Dallas on business today, I took the time to hit Sur la
> >>Table to see whether they had any Furi knives in stock. Nope.
> >>
> >>They had the brochure for the Furi line of knives and for the way cool
> >>sharpening device, but nary a knife. The assistant manager
> >>enthusiastically tried to show me the also way cool Kershaw Shun
> >>ersatz Damascus knives, but I pulled her up short with the info that
> >>Shuns are designed for right hands and therefore not for me.
> >>Incidentally, she said Shuns are selling like hotcakes (OBFood).
> >>
> >>She took my name and phone number, though, and promised to call when
> >>the Furis are in stock. Christmas is coming, you know.
> >>
> >>modom
> >[...]
> >
> >And what sort of triumph of marketing are they? Single bevel knives
> >with a choice of right or left bevel? Knives intended for ~10% of the
> >market? Inquiring minds, and all that...
>
> Your questions aren't clear. If you reread what I wrote, you might
> notice I made no mention of knives designed for left handed people.
> But if you want to know in what way a Shun knife is made for right
> handed people, it's in the grip, not the bevel of the blade. The grip
> is made to fit well in a right hand, but not so well in a left hand.
> It's not a case of marketing so far as I know. Furi knives don't have
> this feature and so may be what I want. I need to -- umm -- handle
> one before I buy, however. Get a feel for it before committing
> myself.
>
> modom
>
> "My baby's got no clothes
> 'Cause she's makin' chicken soup."
>
> -- Chuck E. Weiss

I have a "Shun" knife: a KAI ( Kershaw) santoku.

http://www.agrussell.com/kershaw/ke-dm.html

Are these what you are talking about?

The handle is a triangular "D" shape, with the point of the D (|> ) fitting
the knuckle of the right hand.
I'm right handed, but found it strange the first few times I used it.
The handle is small, and it feels OK in my left hand, I don't think it would
bother a leftie.

Very sharp, lightweight. A nice knife.

I like how agrussel promotes the 10" chefs knife "A real man sized Chef's
Knife".

Makes me sorry I bought the santoku :-)

Dave S

The Furi looks great, which came first: the Furi or the Global?

"Dave S" > wrote in message news:...
>
> "modom" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 19:09:17 GMT, B.Server
> > > wrote:
> >
> > >On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 17:59:16 -0500, modom > wrote:
> > >
> > >>
> > >>Since I was in Dallas on business today, I took the time to hit Sur la
> > >>Table to see whether they had any Furi knives in stock. Nope.
> > >>
> > >>They had the brochure for the Furi line of knives and for the way cool
> > >>sharpening device, but nary a knife. The assistant manager
> > >>enthusiastically tried to show me the also way cool Kershaw Shun
> > >>ersatz Damascus knives, but I pulled her up short with the info that
> > >>Shuns are designed for right hands and therefore not for me.
> > >>Incidentally, she said Shuns are selling like hotcakes (OBFood).
> > >>
> > >>She took my name and phone number, though, and promised to call when
> > >>the Furis are in stock. Christmas is coming, you know.
> > >>
> > >>modom
> > >[...]
> > >
> > >And what sort of triumph of marketing are they? Single bevel knives
> > >with a choice of right or left bevel? Knives intended for ~10% of the
> > >market? Inquiring minds, and all that...
> >
> > Your questions aren't clear. If you reread what I wrote, you might
> > notice I made no mention of knives designed for left handed people.
> > But if you want to know in what way a Shun knife is made for right
> > handed people, it's in the grip, not the bevel of the blade. The grip
> > is made to fit well in a right hand, but not so well in a left hand.
> > It's not a case of marketing so far as I know. Furi knives don't have
> > this feature and so may be what I want. I need to -- umm -- handle
> > one before I buy, however. Get a feel for it before committing
> > myself.
> >
> > modom
> >
> > "My baby's got no clothes
> > 'Cause she's makin' chicken soup."
> >
> > -- Chuck E. Weiss
>
> I have a "Shun" knife: a KAI ( Kershaw) santoku.
>
> http://www.agrussell.com/kershaw/ke-dm.html
>
> Are these what you are talking about?
>
> The handle is a triangular "D" shape, with the point of the D (|> )
fitting
> the knuckle of the right hand.
> I'm right handed, but found it strange the first few times I used it.
> The handle is small, and it feels OK in my left hand, I don't think it
would
> bother a leftie.
>
> Very sharp, lightweight. A nice knife.
>
> I like how agrussel promotes the 10" chefs knife "A real man sized Chef's
> Knife".
>
> Makes me sorry I bought the santoku :-)
>
> Dave S
>
> The Furi looks great, which came first: the Furi or the Global?

One more time: I forgot to say the KAI knives have a standard bevel,
not right or left handed.

>
>
>
>

On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 00:56:14 -0400, "Dave S" >
wrote:

>
>"modom" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 19:09:17 GMT, B.Server
>> > wrote:
>>
>> >On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 17:59:16 -0500, modom > wrote:
>> >
[...]
>
>The handle is a triangular "D" shape, with the point of the D (|> ) fitting
>the knuckle of the right hand.
>I'm right handed, but found it strange the first few times I used it.
>The handle is small, and it feels OK in my left hand, I don't think it would
>bother a leftie.
>
>Very sharp, lightweight. A nice knife.
>
>I like how agrussel promotes the 10" chefs knife "A real man sized Chef's
>Knife".
>
>Makes me sorry I bought the santoku :-)
>
>Dave S
>
>The Furi looks great, which came first: the Furi or the Global?
>
Thanks for the insight. The "D" I comprehend, though I am not sure it
would be a selling point to me. May try a mockup and see how it feels
on a marking knife's handle.