L.C. Germain Vintage Kitchen Knife

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I don't collect kitchen type cutlery, but I stopped at a little antique store in the country this morning and couldn't resist, especially for a steal.  It is from the L.C.GERMAIN Knife Company.  I picked it up for the low price of $1, yet I see that they go for $10 to $30 either as single knives or sets on the secondhand market.  According to information on the internet they are vintage, budget-friendly kitchen knives usually manufactured in Japan by Lifetime Cutlery, under the label of Rostfrei Edelstahl. They are often found today on the secondary market as pre-owned, everyday-use cutlery rather than premium kitchen tools. Rosterfrei Edelstahl translates from German as "rust-free stainless steel" or "rust-free high-grade steel" which refers to a highly refined, pure steel alloy with strict controls on impurities, usually a high carbon steel.  They were manufactured in the 1970s and 1980s, so my knife is probably somewhere between 40 and 50 years old.  Lifetime Cutlery eventually evolved into Lifetime Brands based in Westbury, New York.  The original L.C. Germain company is no longer in business. However, because of their excellent weight, balance, and edge retention, vintage L.C. Germain knives remain highly sought-after by home chefs and collectors.

 

 

 

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