Oppositions San Mai Chef 230mm

This handsome and unique build by Washington artist Salem Straub will fill a hole in any kitchen: that of a single blade with which to do it all, and to do it in head-turning style. For the 230mm / 9.1″ blade shaped to perform every cut, Salem layers 416 stainless steel over a core of 02 high-carbon steel, then forges the resulting san mai by hand to form the handsome blade seen here. Especially thin at the hard, razor-sharp edge, the primary bevels above are tall and convex, providing strength and performance-driven geometry that balance finesse and precision with toughness for every ingredient and type of cut. Wide and weighted out of the handle, the rounded blade spine, in which the three-layer material formula is clearly visible, tapers toward the tip, becoming steadily slimmer until an extremely fine, needle-like tip is reached. Beautifully etched and finished to a silky, foggy, matte aesthetic, the stainless cladding meets carbon core through a series of opposing, cross-hatched seams that results in an eye-catching look. At the tang and short blade flats, Salem contrasts the hand-sanded bevels with a dark, textured, forge-finish. To wield the blade with comfort and control is a handle sculpted in Salem’s recognizable Western form that combines flat facets and elegant transitions in a paring of black-and-white ebony and striking maple burl. Secured mechanically using a hidden retention bolt, the capping of this construction method is visible as a flush, polished steel pin at the handle’s rear face.