This month, Rich has been working on a batch of the most technically challenging blades he’s ever made. Meanwhile, James has been completing the third blade in his year-long project: a kitchen classic, the Western Chef Knife.
Intricate • Sculpted • Precise
These little knives really embody what our special edition batches are all about. Rich has really pushed the boundaries of his knifemaking skill with this project, incorporating two very challenging elements into one design: Mosaic Damascus steel and a forged integral bolster. The result is a paring knife that’s both visually striking and razor-precise in the hand.
The complex, flowing pattern running through the blade is created using a pattern welding process known as mosaic Damascus. It involves carefully stacking, forging, and re-stacking different alloys in specific orientations to form a billet with a cross section that, when etched, reveals an explosion pattern throughout. Small sections are then cut from this billet and forged into individual blades. The forging process further distorts and enhances the pattern, with the layered steel flowing seamlessly from the bolster into the body of the knife.
Best for: Intricate prep work, fruit, herbs, small vegetables, and fine garnishes.
Dimensions
*Blade length – 110mm
*Overall length – 225mm
*Blade thickness at the spine – 3mm
*Blade Depth – 38mm
Materials
*Blade – Mosaic Damascus
*Handle – Reclaimed Hardwood
Price
*Paring Knife – £500
Classic • Versatile • Workhorse
The most versatile blade in the 5-knife collection, this Western-style chef’s knife is designed to be the true workhorse of the set. The knife features a classic Western chef’s profile with a thin, tapered tip and a gently curved edge—ideal for rock chopping. Moving back toward the heel, the spine thickens and the edge straightens out, making it perfect for powerful, downward chopping through tougher ingredients.
As with the other knives in the set, these blades are forged from a laminate using a core of Blenheim Black. This is an alloy that we had specially made for us, to our own exact recipe—tailored to suit our specific way of forging and style of knives. On either side of this core are multiple layers of stainless steel, forge-welded to create a durable, corrosion-resistant cladding. The result is a high-performance blade with a hard, fine-grained cutting edge and the added resilience and protection of stainless Damascus
Best for: All-purpose kitchen tasks – slicing, dicing, chopping, and mincing.
Chef Knife
*Blade length – 215mm
*Overall length – 335mm
*Blade thickness at the spine – 3.5mm
*Blade Depth – 53mm
Materials
*Blade – Stainless Damascus clad Blenheim Black
*Handle – English Walnut
Price
*Damascus Chef Knife – £630
