Deep Space Step-Gyuto 163mm

Crafted from a unique and beautifully finished combination of materials, this ‘Step-Gyuto,’ a classic Don Carlos Andrade take on a versatile kitchen knife form, is the type of blade the California chef-turned-artisan would make for himself. An artist at heart, a skilled bladesmith, and a formally trained chef in a previous life, Don is known for his creative renditions of workhorse kitchen tools, and the 163mm / 6.4″ long by 46mm tall blade with nicely curved edge profile is just that. The darkly etched, differentially hardened 26c3 ‘Spicy White’ carbon steel, prized by culinary knifemakers for its clean grain structure and hard, sharp edge, delivers Don’s well-loved convex bevel geometry in superb fashion. Thin at the secondary bevel (cutting edge), the material flares out with free-hand convexity to offer food release, toughness, and overall performance no matter the ingredient on the board. With enough height in the rear to rock-chop, the ‘stepped’ spine then tapers only slightly at first, then more aggressively in the final inches, providing a slim, pointed tip for slicing and detail work that nonetheless maintains ample toughness for demanding cuts. In a tall, less-often-seen version of his shield-shaped wa handle, one which foregoes rounded side faces in favor of 12 total flat facets, Don sculpts dark, dyed and stabilized maple wood that tapers back to front for comfort and control. Finishing the build, Don gently domes the handle’s back face, secures it to the hidden blade tang with a single mosaic pin, caps it at the front with a tapering ‘Deep Space’ Corian ferrule, and gives it his trademark round inlay of the same.