Maestro Wu's Knives
Remember to pick up some cleavers from Kinmen. They are famous for making excellent quality cleavers. The steel is obtained from the hundred of thousands of bomb shells that the Communist forces fired at Kinmen, in a failed attempt to take the island away from the Nationalist troops. The most authenthic knives, and the best place for a factory tour is Maestro Wu's Knives. It is claimed that a single shell casing can make approximately 60 pieces of blades. This is doubtful. Also doubtful is that there were so many shells that landed from Communist forces that will last the good Maestro the 35yrs that shelling stopped in the late 1970s. Finishing quality for it's cleavers have dropped a lot since the mid 90s. Even for Maestro Wu's Knife's top selling special-designed cleavers, the words "Made in Kinmen" are barely visible and/or badly engraved. Salepersons were taught to toe the line that "its because the steel's quality is so good that the engraving machine cannot carve the words properly". This is a bad sales tactic and a sorry excuse for a once famous knife brand that was built on quality.
It is claimed that a single shell casing can make approximately 60 pieces of blades. This is doubtful. Also doubtful is that there were so many shells that landed from Communist forces that will last the good Maestro the 35yrs that shelling stopped in the late 1970s.
Finishing quality for it's cleavers have dropped a lot since the mid 90s. Even for Maestro Wu's Knife's top selling special-designed cleavers, the words "Made in Kinmen" are barely visible and/or badly engraved. Salepersons were taught to toe the line that "its because the steel's quality is so good that the engraving machine cannot carve the words properly". This is a bad sales tactic and a sorry excuse for a once famous knife brand that was built on quality.