What's new at Kramer Knives?
Production Knives
We're excited to announce that you'll be able to order the new Bob Kramer Carbon Collection by Zwilling J.A. Henckels from our shop after October 3rd. These knives are made with the same specifications as our custom knives, they're affordable and you don't have to wait.
The Lottery
We're getting into a nice groove of pulling names chronologically and randomly from the list approximately every six weeks. If we pull your name then you get to design your own knife at current pricing--you choose the type of steel, the pattern and select your own block of wood. Don't worry, if you're reading this--you're on the list. Hang in there!
Coming Soon: Ready-Mades
We're inspired to change things up a bit and make some finished knives for immediate sale. These will be a mixture of straight steel and simple pattern Damascus. We're doing this to make more knives available and streamline the production process. When we have ready-mades for sale, we'll send you an email with instructions. More to be revealed...
Auctions - Best of the Best
The most extraordinary pieces that we're making are auctioned on our website. Our next auction will be within the next month or so. Here's a pic from our last auction:
"Everything tends toward mediocrity. It is only through focus and will that excellence is achieved."
- Bob Kramer
Culinary School in South Africa
For our next auction, we are excited to be donating 10% of the final price to Infinity Culinary Training (ICT) based in Cape Town, South Africa. This is a non-profit organization that’s dedicated to changing lives through cooking. Their purpose is to train South African men and women from impoverished communities and enable them to get jobs in restaurants.
ICT is truly helping people in need. The program includes 8 weeks in a kitchen/classroom setting learning cooking, life and professional skills, and 4 weeks working in a commercial kitchen as an intern. According to their website, “what goes on in the classroom is not just school, but the work of building awareness, confidence and the personal skills necessary to lead a productive, dignified and sustainable life.” After the course, ICT continues to help graduates with job placement.
The students cannot afford tuition, so the program is scholarship based. One student can complete the course for $1,500 USD. To learn more about this non-profit organization, visit their website.
If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!'
- Inspiring selection from a Kipling poem.
Video: The Fire Inside
This is one of our favorite videos made by Lars Larson, Peter J. Vogt, Michael Matisse, and presented by Zwilling J.A. Henckels and Sur La Table.
