A big chopper

A couple of weeks ago, I invested in a big chopping knife, It's about 35cms long and weighs well over a kilo. Basically it is what the butchers use, I decided to get it as I often end up hacking away at whole beasts (kid, lamb, suckling pig etc) or big racks of beef ribs and was finding my usual (biggest) cooking knife inadequate. Since getting it I find I am using it all the time - chopping up a chicken for a curry for instance it goes straight through the leg and thigh bones like butter. Cost me 55 euros but worth every penny.

What's it like with hitch-hikers?

Chopping! Meat! raw meat! I've gone off red meat since I saw someone's enormous skin-graft several months ago..just can't eat it now....
ugh....

How can you get to the best bits if you don't rip off the skin WriteOn?

while we are at the topic of knives:

has anyone experience with Japanese handmade kitchen knives ?
are they worth the extra money ?