Tomato Test
What Is Our Tomato Test ?
Our final quality control procedure is what we
call the Tomato Test.
Before any knife is returned, it must
demonstrate that it can slice, rather than push, through a ripe beef tomato
from tip to heel in one smooth motion.
The test requires:
- No perceptible cutting resistance.
- The absolute minimum pressure applied.
- One smooth cutting motion from tip to heel.
- A clean, precise cut through the tomato.
The images above and below show an actual
before-and-after Tomato Test performed in our workshop.
This is the sharpness standard we guarantee
with every order.
If we cannot provide video evidence of your
knife successfully passing our quality control test, we will resharpen it free
of charge.
Why Do We Use the Tomato Test ?
The overwhelming majority of kitchen knives
are designed to cut food. We therefore believe that the most meaningful measure
of sharpness is how effectively a knife performs its intended task.
Some sharpening companies demonstrate
sharpness by shaving arm hair or slicing paper. While these tests can
demonstrate an extremely fine cutting edge, they do not necessarily indicate
the most appropriate edge for everyday kitchen use.
A blade sharpened to an exceptionally fine,
thin edge may be more susceptible to chips and nicks when it encounters harder
materials such as bone, gristle, pips, nuts, stone surfaces or contact with
other cutlery in drawers and dishwashers.
More than a century of sharpening knives and
cleavers has taught us the importance of selecting the optimum cutting angle,
bevel and edge geometry for each individual knife and its intended application.
Our approach is to achieve the ideal balance
between exceptional sharpness, edge durability and practical everyday
performance.
However, if you specifically require a knife
to cut paper or shave hair, we are happy to sharpen it accordingly. Simply
leave a comment at Checkout.
Understanding Blade Angles & Sharpness
The image below illustrates the sharpness
spectrum, showing the relationship between blade thickness, bevel angles and
the materials different cutting edges are designed to cut.
Our Tomato Test guarantee to you
The appropriate edge geometry depends on the
knife's design and intended purpose. An extremely fine edge may perform
exceptionally well on delicate materials but be less suitable for heavier
cutting tasks.
This is why we use the Tomato Test™: it
provides a practical, consistent and mutually measurable sharpness standard
that reflects how kitchen knives are actually used.
Your 24-Hour Sharpness Guarantee
Every knife must pass our Tomato Test™ before
leaving our workshop, and each test is video-recorded to ensure full quality
compliance.
We guarantee that your knives will be returned
exceptionally sharp and ready for use.
Customers have 24 hours from receipt to
perform their own Tomato Test™. If a knife fails, please email us a video
showing the test within this period.
Our sharpening and repair processes are
recorded, photographed and archived to demonstrate compliance with our 360°
Care Plan and sharpness guarantee.
We are proud of our 100% no-return rate,
reflecting the care, attention and rigorous quality control applied to every
order.
Every knife. Every sharpen. The same exacting
standards.
