Shoutout to the old guy at the Portland meat show who said 'the saw is for speed, the knife is for respect'

I was watching a demo on breaking a side of beef last week, and the presenter was flying through it with a bandsaw. An older butcher next to me leaned over and said that line. He meant that while power tools get the job done fast, the final trim and presentation with a sharp knife shows care for the cut and the customer. It made me slow down on my own trim work the next day, focusing more on hand-finishing even the cheaper cuts. Has anyone else had a simple piece of advice that changed how you handle your tools?

3 comments

3 Comments

xena_webb2mo ago

That "knife is for respect" line hits hard.

patricia_king2315d ago

I lived in a rough part of the city for a few years. Carried a small pocket knife on my keys, just a basic one from a hardware store. Never had to use it but it made me stand a little taller walking home at night through the alley near my place. That feeling of having something gave me enough confidence to not look like an easy target.

nora_wells582mo ago

Yeah, that line gets me every time. You ever carry something just to feel a little more solid walking home?