Regarding knives, he’s sharp as can be

David Marks was watching an old episode of “The French Chef’’ recently when he recognized the knife Julia Child was using to slice turkey. It was an English-made Granton, and he remembers when she bought it at his family’s cutlery store. Marks is the third generation to run Stoddard’s, a business his grandfather bought in 1930, where you can find knives from the top brands and have them sharpened by hand. Located for decades on Temple Place in Boston, then later in Copley Place and Chestnut Hill Mall, the store moved two years ago to Newton. “There’s a comfort level being in a neighborhood,’’ he says. He started at the store when he was 16, so there’s little he doesn’t know about knives. Twice a month, he leads Kitchen Cutlery 101 ($30 for a 2-hour class), offering advice on what knives you need and how to sharpen and maintain them. Classes start Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m. Of course, asking a knife merchant if you need a knife is like asking a barber if you need a haircut. Stoddard’s, 360 Watertown St., Newton, 516-244-4187, www.stoddards.com.