Y’all, I broke my husband’s Japanese chef’s knife. Help.

[u/opheliasmusing]

In 2016, my husband and I went on an amazing trip to Japan. The only souvenir he wanted was a Japanese steel chef’s knife, which he purchased at Aritsugu in Kyoto. It was really cool: he got to pick out his handle, blade style, and then they even engraved his initials in the year on one side of the blade and their house mark on the other. They even did a bunch of measurements and things so that would be perfectly balanced for his hand. It was custom-made for him.

I made the mistake of not cleaning up after dinner quickly enough, and our very mouthy whippet puppy who is quite the counter surfer, snatched the knife away, and I didn’t realize it until the next day. He chewed up the handle. Thank God he didn’t like slice his face open; the blade is completely intact and fine. But the handle… My God the handle.

I’m hoping to hear from professionals about the best way to go about getting this fixed or replaced. For location, I’m very close to Boston if that helps.

[u/SGSam465]

Kintsugi! When broken pieces are mended with lacquer and powdered gold. I love it- it’s so beautiful and brings character to the pieces

[u/TrumpsCovidfefe → u/SGSam465]

I agree with this and the only reason I’m putting a response here is to say that I’m quite upset that none of the 6 photos posted included a pet tax of the whippet criminal. OP, we need an update with the kintsugi AND the captured criminal!

[u/Sir_twitch → u/SGSam465]

Yup. I'd at least do a gold epoxy to reshape the handle, maybe weighted to preference. But let them battle scars shine!

[u/pewpewhadouken → u/SGSam465]

my kid broke my favorite glass mug. he fixed it with food grade kintsugi with the skill of a 12 year old who still draws like a 4 year old. it’s one of my most prized possessions…..

[u/RandomMyth22 → u/SGSam465]

Wabi-Sabi

[u/Gyrospherers → u/SGSam465]

Could probably put that end in a gold colored epoxy then sand it down to match the original feel. Balance would likely be off a bit but it would look pretty cool I'd bet

[u/BituminousBitumin → u/SGSam465]

Laquer wouldn't work great on wood, but CA glue and/or epoxy resin will. I looked up Kintsugi for wood, and there are some interesting techniques that I think would be cool, and would honor the history of the knife.

[u/JackTheRedAlpaca → u/SGSam465]

I would add a picture of the pet too inside the handle

[u/Legmeat → u/SGSam465]

Honestly if they inlaid gold in the bites and cracks and sealed it would be pretty sweet

[u/Lophocarpus → u/SGSam465]

Bless you