The first slice is always the test. “Many of my customers are very impressed that they are able to do this cut on a tomato,” Loh Yiren declared enthusiastically.

The 36-year-old is the founder of The Polished Edge, a roving knife-sharpening and repair service he runs from his custom-fitted van. He told FMT Lifestyle that for some, it’s about nostalgia: perhaps a long-forgotten kitchen knife that belonged to a late parent, now restored to its former glory.

“They have a lot of gratitude, and that is a big reason why I do this,” said Loh, who travels across the Klang Valley, stopping at neighbourhoods, restaurants, hotels, and pop-up events. He even offers his services in locations such as Langkawi and Penang.

Armed with high-end sharpening tools, he restores dull knives in just 10 minutes. And the results are striking: not only does the blade regain razor-sharp precision, he also gives it a sleek, mirror-edge finish – an extra touch that leaves customers in awe.

But sharpening isn’t just about the cut; it’s about preserving the knife’s lifespan. Loh has seen too many blades ruined by improper sharpening techniques. “It’s painful,” he lamented.

To fix these mistakes, he often has to grind away even more steel, shortening the blade’s life. His advice? “If you know what you’re doing, that’s fine. But if you don’t, don’t try – let us do it right.”

This deep respect for the blade is what drew Loh into the world of knife sharpening. While working at an outdoor gear shop after a three-year stint as a butler at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, the Sabah-born – who has a background in hospitality, tourism, and events management – developed a fascination with knives and began collecting them.

Realising his collection needed to be maintained, he bought his first sharpening tool and experimented on his own blades, before eventually offering his service to others.

At first, he sharpened knives for free, using each request as practice. “But then one customer told me, ‘Your sharpening stones aren’t cheap, and your work’s really good. Why don’t you start charging people a fee?’”

That suggestion set everything in motion: realising that all households own knives, he saw a greater need for sharpening services and launched The Polished Edge.

A knife, to him, is more than just a blade; it’s a companion, a keeper of memories. “I feel like each knife has a spirit, a soul,” he said.

“Take your mother’s knife, for example. How many delicious, home-cooked meals has that knife made for you by your mother’s hand?

“That knife is not just a piece of metal. It’s instrumental in providing you that experience, those memories.”

Indeed, his attachment to knives runs deep, and seeing one carelessly discarded genuinely upsets him: “Maybe I’m just a little bit too sentimental, but that really makes me feel sad.”

Beyond honouring the knife, Loh also wants The Polished Edge to contribute to the sustainability movement. After all, in a culture of convenience, too many people treat knives as disposable.

To counter this, he offers a simple solution: if you have knives, scissors, or similar tools you no longer need, bring them to him. “I’ll service them the best I can and donate them on your behalf.”

To that end, Loh keeps a box filled with refurbished blades, ready to pass on to families who need them. “That way, that tool has a second life, another opportunity to serve its purpose.”

Finally, he advises people to choose their knives wisely. “I like the term ‘buy once, cry once’,” he said, believing that a quality knife lasts longer, which in turn reduces waste, lowers carbon footprints, and preserves the essence of a tool designed to last.

Truly, this is what puts Loh a cut above the rest.

Find out more about The Polished Edge here, and find out more on Facebook and Instagram.