5 Knives You Should Never Buy: Steel Metallurgy, Origin Myths, and Practical Pitfalls

In an era dominated by hyper-targeted social media ads and high-commission influencer marketing, buying kitchen cutlery has become a minefield. From misleading "Japanese style" OEM rebadging to extreme 70 HRC super-steels that resist standard waterstones, we break down five knives you should never buy—and the metallurgy behind why.