Knife Range - Members Input Requested
Members,
As discussed previously, we are seeking to display and sell quality fishing knives. These will not be your general use knives, rather the razor sharp blade to fillet your quality fish. They should last a very long time if you look after them.
I have spent many days talking to good fishermen, talking to knife experts, conducting independent research and dealing with suppliers to try and pick the range that people would want and value. I have our final draft range and would like to run it by you, knowledgeable FW Members, as a final check. Have I missed a style? Are the lengths appropriate? Should some products be deleted? Should some products be added?
It is quite an investment to put these products on display so we must find the balance between what people generally want and what we stock (there are so many options). Set out below is our final draft selection, with some commentary. I would really appreciate any comments you may have.
We will be able to beat or match prices for these goods from any retail outlet, plus you can look at the selection in one place. We will release pricing when the list is finalised and the shop opens.
Thanks.
Mick
Victorinox 15cm Curved Boning Knife – Thin
This is my favourite knife. The only drawback is that is sometimes too small.
Victorinox 15cm Curved Boning Knife - Thick
A little more “power” with the thicker blade.
Victorinox 15cm Straight Boning Knife
Victorinox 12cm Straight Boning Knife
Victorinox 9cm Straight Boning Knife
The straight boning knife range comes with various blade lengths. The blade is rigid and the length difference allows many applications.
Victorinox 18cm Boning and Sticking Knife
A solid “combination” medium knife.
Swibo 17cm Skinning Knife
Swibo 21cm Skinning Knife
This is a knife style that a lot of people like. A quality big fish filleting knife. Sorry, no current image and it may have been discontinued after Victorinox purchased Swibo – will update following advice.
Carnivore 21cm Curved Filleting Knife
This is a cheaper option medium fish filleting knife.
Victorinox 20cm Straight Filleting Knife
Victorinox 16cm Straight Filleting Knife
The classic fish filleting and skinning knife with a flexible blade.
Dexter 20cm Straight Filleting Knife with Scabbard
Another option for a straight filleting knife with a matching scabbard that the knife will lock into. If any Members know local leather workers that could produce good quality scabbards for the knife range, please let me know.
Victorinox 20cm Scimiter Knife
Victorinox 25cm Scimiter Knife
Large slicing knife with numerous fishing applications.
Victorinox 25cm Bullnose Knife – Thick
Victorinox 18cm Bullnose Knife – Thin
Bullnose “heavy duty” knives with thick and thin blade styles.
There are also a number of options for knife storage and sharpening. Any comments on the below list would also be appreciated as well.
Carnivore Knife Roll
F Dick Tool Case
Victorinox Knife Safe
F Dick 60cm Magnetic Knife Rack
EZI LAP 200mm x 50mm Diamond Sharpening Plate
EZI LAP 26cm Diamond Sharpening Steel
Victorinox 30cm Medium Cut Round Steel
F Dick 30cm Dual Cut Round Steel
Bear 200mm x 50mm Oil Filled Sharpening Stone
Pharmalube Food Grade White Oil (1 Litre)
Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it - LH.
dodgy
Posts: 4563
Date Joined: 01/02/10
Missing the long skinning
Missing the long skinning knife with the round tip. Maybe also a small cleaver for chopping up frames. You pretty much have it covered though.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
carnarvonite
Posts: 8627
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Boning /Skinning knife
I do all of my filleting with an 18cm boning .sticking knife, the only time I bring out the big swibo is when the slab is too wide to remove the skin in one hit with the smaller knife
black gen
Posts: 762
Date Joined: 13/04/11
Yep agreed on what dodgy
Yep agreed on what dodgy said
you are missing a ham knife for skinning
Nauti Buoy
Posts: 595
Date Joined: 20/04/09
Ham slicer
yep definitely need the ham slicing knife for skinning.
Banka
Posts: 12
Date Joined: 02/02/11
+1 for the ham knife
+1 for the ham knife
Mick C
Posts: 605
Date Joined: 26/12/13
Ham Knife
Thanks guys, a much appreciated pickup. I assume this is the item?
This one's blade is 35cm (14") long. Is that too long?
Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it - LH.
Lamby
Posts: 3145
Date Joined: 04/08/09
That's them Mick, very worthy
That's them Mick, very worthy in the arsenal of any fisho
Bunny
Posts: 678
Date Joined: 05/08/10
It's the right style but
It's the right style but needs the scallops.They make a big difference.
Alan James
Posts: 2207
Date Joined: 30/06/09
Interesting comment about the scallops
Bunny
Posts: 678
Date Joined: 05/08/10
It helps break the surface
It helps break the surface tension. I reckon it works really well.
Mick C
Posts: 605
Date Joined: 26/12/13
Thanks Bunny
Thanks mate. Have sourced the scalloped edged style.
Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it - LH.
Alan James
Posts: 2207
Date Joined: 30/06/09
"Is that too long"
Mick C
Posts: 605
Date Joined: 26/12/13
Long
Thanks Alan. I thought so.
One thing that I have picked up is that there is no single preferred knife, there is a lot in personal preference. I think the trick is stocking a good range so people can physically see the knife, but being able to order what anyone wants as per Merv's advice below.
Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it - LH.
Walfootrot
Posts: 1386
Date Joined: 23/07/12
Will you be selling steels
Will you be selling steels with the knives?
More drum lines, kill the bloody sharks!
Mick C
Posts: 605
Date Joined: 26/12/13
Steels
Yes. Diamond and conventional steels, plates and stones.
Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it - LH.
ricey
Posts: 734
Date Joined: 24/12/09
Maybe offering knife sharpening is a service people want
Could get people through the doors?
I know many do their own, but some may be interested.
Wise man says - first take the plank out of your own eye before trying to take the speck out of somebody else's.
Mick C
Posts: 605
Date Joined: 26/12/13
Thanks Ricey
Good call. I will look to source a "quality" local service.
Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it - LH.
MattMiller
Posts: 4171
Date Joined: 15/06/09
Dexter
Love the Dexter 20cm.
You'll sell plenty of them.
Ps. Yeah offer a sharpening service.
Plug
Posts: 333
Date Joined: 14/02/15
i agree i use a dexter
i agree i use a dexter around that size for all my filleting and the are a great knife
i need cheaper hobbies
Sea Hunter
Posts: 148
Date Joined: 04/07/13
Swibo, FDick and Kershaw
Swibo is a good all round knife but the FDick holds the edge longer. Tried Victorinox and was not impressed (10-12 years ago)
I use the Fdick 15inch curved boning for removing the big fillets from beasties then use the Kershaw for skinning. A short fine (discarded by professional boner) Swibo to get all the head and face meat.
FDick oval steel, the best around
Mick C
Posts: 605
Date Joined: 26/12/13
Swibo
Swibo has been bought by Victorinox. All the Swibo blades are now stamped Victorinox. Many recent reviews rate Victorinox.
I added the 9cm straight boning knife to get at that sort of meat. Perhaps a smaller one as well?
The F Dick steels seem to be the best on all reports. They are very expensive but I guess you get what you pay for. We are going to stock one "medium" price F Dick but will be able to order any steel you want.
Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it - LH.
Scotte
Posts: 1142
Date Joined: 07/12/06
Victoronox 20cm straight
Victoronox 20cm straight filleting knife does a good job on filleting and skinning.good alround knife i reckon
Ben85
Posts: 442
Date Joined: 20/11/11
pretty good range there.
pretty good range there. biggest problem when buying swibo/victorinox knives is they generally don't come with a sheath, which is madness for filleting knives with extremely fine edges. So my advice is, if your going to sell them, at least make sure you have some matching sheaths available to suit them.
Alan James
Posts: 2207
Date Joined: 30/06/09
Fair comment that
Mick C
Posts: 605
Date Joined: 26/12/13
Knife Storage
Will stock a roll, leather tool case and a knife safe (hard plastic and lockable). The price varies a bit but the roll is cerainly less than $50. I will try and source the custom scabbards though.
Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it - LH.
Mick C
Posts: 605
Date Joined: 26/12/13
Scabbards
Thanks Mate, I'm onto it.
Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it - LH.
Wannafish
Posts: 158
Date Joined: 20/05/12
I think you have it sorted
I think you have it sorted with the curved boning knife (thick) - in the second pic, and the ham knife. These are my 2 go-to knives for everything from big baldchin with big, thick pin-bones, to Yellowfin Whiting. I sometimes use the knife in the first pic, but only when the other one is blunt.... A sharpening service (or range of lansky sharpeners) is something I would be very interested in... Drew
Mick C
Posts: 605
Date Joined: 26/12/13
Ladies Knife
My wife is all over this one. I wonder if it is worth stocking a good cooks knife so there is some "understanding" when you buy yours?
Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it - LH.
derek
Posts: 94
Date Joined: 14/10/12
knifes
A quality sharpener might go ok, the pull though ones shave the sides off your blade and the ones on tv are useless
OOH YEH
Posts: 384
Date Joined: 16/06/15
Ex butcher
as I'm a ex butcher but still into my knives I only require 3 and they are all victoronox a 15cm. Curved boner (thin) which is used for the major work .... A 60cm steak knife bullnose for slicing ..... And a ham knife for skinning fish and the Xmas ham ...... They all live in a scabbard with a fdick flat steel ...... Touched up by a Diamoned stone ...
Mick C
Posts: 605
Date Joined: 26/12/13
Thanks
Awesome input thanks. I now know exactly what our "knife pack" should be.
60cm steak knife? Seems a very long blade.
Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it - LH.
striker
Posts: 224
Date Joined: 26/09/14
Sheaths
ive used swibo for years and as commented above they just lack sheaths
, my answer to that is wrap thick cardboard around the knife
and then duck tape it up easy cheap safe sheaths.
Madmerv
Posts: 672
Date Joined: 24/01/15
Knives
You have done a good job there Mick. Got just about every one and all situations covered.
My suggestion would be to not try and cover the entire range in your display/stock. You have up on your list Vitroinox boning knives in 4 sizes and thick or thin blades. Bullnose in thick or thin etc. A well set up display with it clearly stated what sizes that style comes in, blade thikness options and have it displayed the lead time for ordering your preference. Most guys have known that they need a new knife for many weeks and waiting an extra week for a good quality, exactly what i wanted, knife should not be a problem.
Try and have the most popular ones in stock of course but a large stock is dead money.
Sometimes when the water is quiet, you can hear the fish laughing at you !
Mick C
Posts: 605
Date Joined: 26/12/13
Good One Merv
Very astute advice there mate. I think we will make a catalouge of what you can get from the different "quality" manufactures for when people ask for different brands and styles that are outside the "standard" range. Have also asked the supplier for lead times.
Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it - LH.
Woodsy65
Posts: 162
Date Joined: 21/05/15
Knives
As an ex butcher also, rate the Victorinox knives very highly. I still have a boning knife and steak knife from over 30 years ago.
Ninety Mile
Posts: 193
Date Joined: 17/01/12
Hi Mick, great thread! Any
Hi Mick, great thread! Any update on opening date and knives in stock?
Cheers
Jarrod
Bunny
Posts: 678
Date Joined: 05/08/10
The only other thing I might
The only other thing I might suggest worth looking at is a harder knife. I use that 15cm straight boner and the scalloped skinner I mentioned so you have me covered. I am looking at a 12cm boner which you have but as well as this, I want to get a knife with more than the 55 hardness all the knives mentioned above have. Something like 60 to 61 Rockwell hardness.
I would use this at certain times I'm sure. It will cost a lot more though I believe. I'm going to experiment with a granton edged boner as well but the jury is out on that.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8627
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Green river
Try chasing up Green River knives, they are very high carbon content but sadly they don't come in stainless steel. t=They were the ducks nuts of slaughtering knives before the Yank export regulations came in forcing everyone to use stainless knives.
Broome lad
Posts: 191
Date Joined: 16/11/15
Excellent knives
Hi Mick
ive been filleting fish for a long time as have most of the above people and all the knives pictured are great and the ham knife is a must prefer the one without scallops myself I filleted fish in Broome for a while at the local seafood shop and tried many knives and have been a fan of the victrinox knives for many years but was introduced to a brand called Zest made in Japan if I could attach a pic to this post I would but will post in a new topic but these knives are the best filleting knives I've used and keep an edge longer than any I've used well worth a look I found them in a shop in moololabar while on a Marlin trip a couple of years ago and grabbed one and have since brought three more and while in Leeman over the weekend lent one to a mate to fillet a Dhuie and he wants one said its the best knive he's used .
They also come in a sheath .
Mulie
Posts: 546
Date Joined: 20/02/11
Pretty Good
Looks like a good selection. I use the flat bladed, orange handled Swibo ham knife to skin and have a Martiini for filleting, old thin clever for chopping and a Mundial boning knife. Have found the edge on the Martiini to be super sharp, but easily nicked if too fine. I like the look of the scimitar and will come in and have a look when you open.
Mulie
Formula 233
Posts: 30
Date Joined: 06/12/15
Deck Knives
A few to consider.
Victory Tuna Knife...Extra non slip handle, short blade. tough shoulders...Perfect for work in swell when the boat is moving. Best deck knife around.
Japanese Heavy Duty 180mm Stainless Scissors....Perfect for cutting cray tails as per regs, trimming tag lines, cutting braid and general deck work.
Wouldn't work the boat without either of these tools.
sphere
Posts: 101
Date Joined: 07/01/15
+1 for the ham slicer for
+1 for the ham slicer for skinning fish. Just dont lend it and receive it back with large chips and chunks out of it.
I reckon its hard to beat those Dexter Russell knives. Ultimately a sharp one better than dull.
Have used the vixtorinox range mainly in the smaller sizes for rope and net work and they stay sharp for quite some time.
Once had a set of knives and left in a hire car. Cannot remember the bbrand but was the best to use by far. Design etc
ph3var
Posts: 25
Date Joined: 31/03/14
I have a 14inch Hammer Stahl
I have a 14inch Hammer Stahl ham slicer i use for briskets but never thought to use it for fish.
Will have to catch a big fish to try it out.
http://www.hammerstahl.com/individual-pieces/slicer/14-ham-slicer.html
Mick C
Posts: 605
Date Joined: 26/12/13
Knife Range
Getting close. Every knife style in the image has sold this year. Shame that WA suppliers don't stock the "fishing knives". More in a post tomorrow.
Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it - LH.
Dark Tail
Posts: 24
Date Joined: 05/06/16
Would recommend you try the
Would recommend you try the Dexter 9" Filleter as a skinning knife. I personally can't stand the ham knives for skinning- the wide blade creates far too much drag, they have little flex and, as noted above, the longer models can be too long. The width also makes life hard when skinning small fish, and every newbie I've ever had under my wing really struggles to get the hang of the ham knife. The 9" Dexter is outstanding for skinning- narrow blade means little drag and you can go all day without fatiguing, highly dexterous on small fish and equally at home on the biggies, and very easy for the less experienced to get the hang of.
Plus you can still slab off fillets with it if you want!
/2c