Richter Blackwood Chef 195mm

In the latest chef knife designed and built by Colorado artist Jayden Simisky is a confluence of materials, patterns, and thoughtful details that together form a deliciously artful kitchen tool. On the sharp side of things is Jayden’s head-turning Richter pattern damascus steel, inspired by Gerhard Richter, the German painter who experimented with the concept of dividing and recompiling an abstract work along its vertical axis. The fissure in the center of the damascus’ pattern undulates from the very thin, needle-like tip back to the blade’s 57mm-tall heel where it disappears just at the point that blade steel meets handle steel. To ensure the blade’s performance on the cutting board is finely honed Jayden leaves no stone unturned: tall, slim, convex bevel geometry flows downward from the rounded spine to an especially thin, hard, and sharp edge. Tough and rigid in the rear, the blade will excel at larger chopping tasks, a relatively flat stretch of edge making quick work of vegetables. Jayden then tapers the spine progressively forward to produce a beautifully balanced and versatile finished product that is precise enough for the most delicate slices using the curved belly of the edge profile and tip, where a touch of lateral flexibility is present in the forward inches well. Its center of mass falling just behind the the blade’s choil, this hand-filling knife with its octagonal, integral bolster handle enjoys a rear-weighted balance point, resulting in quick and nimble blade movements. For comfort and control in any grip, a symmetrical wa-style handle pairs the knife’s second damacus pattern, a bold mosaic of Jayden’s design used for the bolster, to a dark, handsome piece of African Blackwood, separated by an heirloom-fit, anodized titanium ring. With attention paid to every transition and surface, from subtle contouring and mico-faceting of the handle’s edges, to the rounding of the choil, the blade’s etch and polish, and the copper retention bolt cap, Jayden hits the mark at every level.