Love ya, twr. :) I had dinner with the Chief Medical Examiner for the state of Georgia once after a speaking engagement where he'd rolled this beautiful collection of leather-cased Solingen knives out on the table for display. He gets a kick out of having the credentials to pass through airport security with those babies. Perks of the job, I guess. :D

*makes note to use self-defense argument in discussion with self about knife purchase*

Supposedly not, and I'm inclined to believe them. The knives would never have gained any sort of popularity if they did, I shouldn't think.

*grins* Regrettably, the aforementioned inner child is not the one who would be buying it, seeing as how the lazy git has neither her own credit card nor her own job. :D

I think I am going to take theano's suggestion, though, and go see if my local Cook's Warehouse has one so I can test it for weight and balance. :)

That's a good idea. Hmmm. I'm wondering where in my locality I could test drive one? I'll have to call Cook's Warehouse and see if they carry such a thing.

And thank you kindly for the birthday wishes!