The Simple Knife
Our Favorite Underrated Gadget We Brought on Our Travel
My wife and I came to California to study. Spending nine months abroad comes with some challenges, and with just a suitcase and a backpack each, we had to be smart snakes about what to bring.
It’s a call for simplicity!
We packed light but only brought the good stuff. Fewer clothes, but better quality. Okay, I also brought my guitar and my pedalboard that fits in a carry-on. We’ve got our coffee grinder, the lovely AeroPress, and we even rolled up our favourite poster to make our new place feel like home.
Five months in, there are definitely things we’d leave behind or swap out. But this one thing? We’d bring it again without question.
A Swiss Victorinox Kitchen Knife!
A.k.a. a Schnitzer. Sounds fancy, right? But honestly, it’s just a ~$5 knife. But it is a good one! (Not sponsored, by the way.)
Back in Switzerland, this knife wasn’t anything special—we had a bunch, and probably every household has at least a couple. I mean, I grew up with these knives. But when you only have one, you start to appreciate it differently.
The Cut
In the morning, I cut half a banana into my "Müesli." In the afternoon, my wife slices an apple. And when we cook? We use this one knife for everything—onions, tomatoes, bread, peppers, garlic, ginger, meat, whatever, even bread! (We have a bread knife, but honestly? This one works better!) If my wife is using it, I patiently (or not so patiently) wait for my turn. We cut cheese, herbs, and did I mention bread?
Of course, I miss my Japanese Damascus knife that my family gifted me, but I’d rather have this one simple, sharp knife than a drawer full of unsharp, numb knives…
The Power of Simplicity
Back home, we had a couple of these knives in a drawer, yet somehow, there was never one ready—always dirty, always misplaced. But with this one knife, we use it, wash it, and put it right back in its spot, ready for the next cut.
I don't really like the style of the knife, but as I learned in art school: form follows function. It cuts well, it's ergonomic and easy to use.
My conclusion
Value simple tools! Give them a special spot. I’m even thinking of building a mini knife block just for this one knife—to have it always ready!
I wonder if there are areas of our lives that we could simplify like this. To use one good tool instead of ten numb, unuseful bulky knives… (1 vs 10 is quite a good ratio)
It’s a great product that inspires me. A pure form of simplicity. And as someone who loves product design, I truly appreciate that. Who knows—maybe one day, I’ll create my own products. If I do, I hope someone sees and enjoys their true quality and simplicity—just like we enjoy this one Schnitzer.
P.S. Thanks to Sämi for inspiring me to appreciate this one knife!
P.p.s. I just found out that it’s actually a „Victorinox Stake Knife“
P.p.p.s Mr English why is it One knife (singular) & Two knives (plural)?
P.p.p.p.s Thanks Josh Caliguire for inspiring me to write
Brilliant. We still use our victorinox knife from Migros… But its a bit bent now haha. We need to come back for more!
Thanks for writing this, it was fun to read!