Honyaki Gyuto Chef's Knife (7") with Black and White Ebony

Product Description for Honyaki Gyuto Chef's Knife (7") with Black and White Ebony

Maker: Enso Forge (William Kalkbrenner) (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 102837
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 7.00 in.
Cutting edge length: 7.00 in.
Total length: 12.60 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.86 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.20 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.08 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.03 in.
Item weight: 7.40 oz.
Shipment weight: 30.2 oz.
Blade: Hand forged W2 carbon steel with a Japanese clay zone heat treatment
Bolster: Antiqued copper
Handle: Black and white ebony
Description: William Kalkbrenner of Enso Forge is a 32 year old talented blacksmith and bladesmith from Pittsburgh, PA. He has been welding and working with metal since he was 14 years old and was a full time welder until he made his venture into full time knifemaking. William specializes in making kitchen knives influenced by the high performing knives of Japan. He has an extremely high attention to the detail and builds knives that will be just as pleasurable to use as it is to look at. William uses the Enso sacred symbol in Zen Buddhism as his maker's mark. This symbol is traditionally drawn using only one brushstroke as a meditative practice in letting go of the mind and allowing the body to create, as the singular brushstroke allows for no modifications. While at first glance, the enso symbol appears no more than a misshapen circle, it symbolizes many things: the beauty in imperfection, the art of letting go of expectations, the circle of life, and connection. The Enso is a manifestation of the artist at the moment of creation and the acceptance of our innermost self. It symbolizes strength, elegance, and one-mindedness. An incomplete circle allows more movement for development as William is constantly improving his craft.
The gyuto is modeled after the French pattern chef's knife. This is the essential kitchen knife. Longer and slimmer than a santoku, it is the general purpose chef's knife. The long blade is needed for the sawing motion required to cut meat and the slim profile keeps the weight low and the balance right. Additionally, this knife has plenty of finger clearance for the rocking chop needed to chop onions and other vegetables. You won't want to put this workhorse down.
The 7 inch blade was forged to shape from W2 carbon steel. It was heat treated using a traditional Japanese clay zone heat treatment. This technique, known as honyaki, produces some of the longest lasting edges found anywhere. The ultra-hard edge steel is supported by the softer spine. The dramatic heat treatment line (called a hamon) shows the transition between the soft and hard steel. The Enso Forge mark is on the left side.
The handle is formed from black and white ebony (Diospyros malabarica). A distinctive, rare true ebony, black and white ebony grows in Southeast Asia and Laos. This variety of ebony has black variegations flowing across a pale background. It is an incredible wood with amazing contrast. Fluting along the handle is exceptionally elegant and provides an excellent grip. The handle is contoured to swell toward the front of the handle, move into a slimmer waist and finally to swell again at the end of the handle. An antiqued and textured copper ferrule completes the handle. Because this knife is made from carbon steels, we recommend using camellia oil to oil the blade and natural wood handle.
Excellent work throughout!


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