Only Knives » damascus http://www.onlyknives.com Knives, Swords and Blades Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:44:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Chinese Yoroidoshi Tanto Dagger, Handmade | Ryumon Functional Sword, Forged Damascus Steelhttp://www.onlyknives.com/chinese-yoroidoshi-tanto-dagger-handmade-ryumon-functional-sword-forged-damascus-steel/ http://www.onlyknives.com/chinese-yoroidoshi-tanto-dagger-handmade-ryumon-functional-sword-forged-damascus-steel/#comments Wed, 12 May 2010 14:00:52 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=9691 Chinese Yoroidoshi Tanto Dagger,With quality similar to that of the designer's custom blades, this double-edged Tanto Yoroidoshi Dagger is actually a production version based on the work of Wally Hayes, a swordsmith from Ontario, Canada.

Manufactured for Ryumon Swords at the famous Longquan Village in mainland China, the Hayes Yoroidoshi Dagger was hand-forged by a master craftsman at one of China's most respected foundries. The swordsmith families of Longquan Village have made swords for the Chinese military and martial arts masters for hundreds of years, winning awards for their highest quality blades in both modern and ancient times.

This beautiful double-edged dagger shows finer workmanship and better materials than most knives in this price range. From the Damascus steel blade to the water buffalo horn butt-cap, everything is top-notch. Even the grip is a step above the usual cotton tsuko. The handle of this tanto is wrapped with silk cord over genuine rayskin.

The tanto's high carbon 1065 steel will need traditional care, since this isn't the usual stainless steel blade. Forged with a strong diamond cross-section and without the blood grooves of many fancier blades, this knife shows the strength of a genuine armor-piercing weapon. Built with close tolerances that do hold up to both close inspection and heavy work, the Yoroidoshi is not designed for hunting, fishing, or woodcrafts. Traditionally, this type of tanto was only used for combat and is now produced for "protection purposes only."

Other uses would include collection and display, in or out of the tanto's black lacquered wooden scabbard.

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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/chinese-yoroidoshi-tanto-dagger-handmade-ryumon-functional-sword-forged-damascus-steel/feed/ 0 Shun KAI Kershaw Chef’s Kitchen Knife | Forged VG-10 Damascus Stainless Steel, Classic 6 Inchhttp://www.onlyknives.com/shun-kai-kershaw-chefs-kitchen-knife-forged-vg-10-damascus-stainless-steel-classic-6-inch/ http://www.onlyknives.com/shun-kai-kershaw-chefs-kitchen-knife-forged-vg-10-damascus-stainless-steel-classic-6-inch/#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:01:28 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=9558 Shun Kershaw Chef's Kitchen Knife With the six-inch Shun/KAI Chef's Knife, expect the slick performance of a santoku but the familiar style of the standard chef's knife. Not just for light slicing, this high quality prep knife from Shun's Classic series has the strength for other work as well.

Forged with 33 layers of high carbon stainless steel, the Shun Classic Chef's knife incorporates a central layer of VG-10 stainless steel for the knife's cutting edge. Harder than the tough supportive layers that surround it, the VG-10 holds a more acute bevel than western-style kitchen knives, cutting with less effort and less maintenance than European blades. The slightly rippled surface of the Damascus-style steel sheds sliced food quickly and lessens the friction of the blade as it passes through food.

Shun's ebony-black handle is D-shaped with a flat side for instinctive orientation in the hand. Solid stainless steel end cap and bolster join to the pakkawood without gaps, eliminating the sanitary problems of a poorly built knife. The pakkawood itself is actually many layers of birchwood, colored nearly black and injected with long-lasting stabilizing resin. Pakkawood stands up to moisture, chemicals, and heat without damage and is dishwasher safe, although proper care of this knife demands hand washing after use.

The six-inch blade (good for mincing, chopping, slicing, and many other common kitchen chores) is better designed for small hands than a full-sized chef's knife. Because the VG-10 edge is extremely hard and could chip, don't use this knife for heavy chopping of bones or frozen food.

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Shun Classic 6 Inch Chefs Knife New DM0723Shun Classic 6 Inch Chefs Knife New DM0723
US $100.00   Paypal
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Shun Classic 6 inch Chef Knife New in BoxShun Classic 6 inch Chef Knife New in Box
US $99.95   Paypal
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New Kershaw Kai Shun Classic 6 Chefs Knife DM0723New Kershaw Kai Shun Classic 6 Chefs Knife DM0723
US $109.95   Paypal
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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/shun-kai-kershaw-chefs-kitchen-knife-forged-vg-10-damascus-stainless-steel-classic-6-inch/feed/ 0 Boker Yadama Paring Knife III | Damascus VG-10 Stainless Steel Bladehttp://www.onlyknives.com/boker-yadama-paring-knife-iii-damascus-vg-10-stainless-steel-blade/ http://www.onlyknives.com/boker-yadama-paring-knife-iii-damascus-vg-10-stainless-steel-blade/#comments Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:29:19 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=9526 Boker Yadama Paring Knife III If you skimp on quality where paring knives are concerned, loading up the kitchen drawer with bargain blades that don't hold an edge, think again. The Boker Yadama III paring knife could replace them all.

A Damascus steel blade, laminated hardwood handle, and stainless steel ferrule give the black Boker Yadama paring knife the simple traditional look of Japanese cutlery but the advantages of modern worksmanship and materials. Thirty-seven layers of high carbon VG-10 stainless steel form the rippled 3-3/4-inch blade of this paring knife. That gives the blades exceptional sharpness and edge-holding ability as well as functional flexibility and strength. Like the hollowed edge of a santoku, the layered Damascus steel cuts with less friction than a plain blade.

You'll be using this knife for more than peeling potatoes and trimming fruit. The handle is comfortable, and the plain edge slides through the work with ease. One polished rivet holds the handle to the tang, an old and sometimes crude way of building knives but done here with strong materials and close tolerances. Eight inches in overall length, the knife is still a very lightweight 1.7 ounces.

Tempered to HRC 58, the paring knife isn't too hard to maintain with ordinary stones and steels, but use caution when working with bones and other hard surfaces. Clean the paring knife by hand in a mild detergent and don't let food dry on the blade. Abuse or machine washing could mar the steel.

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BOKER YADAMA III DAMASCUS PARING KNIFE 8 OVERALL BO0410BOKER YADAMA III DAMASCUS PARING KNIFE 8 OVERALL BO0410
US $85.49   Paypal
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Boker Yadama III Paring KnifeBoker Yadama III Paring Knife
US $138.01   Paypal
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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/boker-yadama-paring-knife-iii-damascus-vg-10-stainless-steel-blade/feed/ 0 Shun Kitchen Knife Block Set, Damascus Steel | Bamboo Classic VG-10 6 Piecehttp://www.onlyknives.com/shun-kitchen-knife-block-set-damascus-steel-bamboo-classic-vg-10-6-piece/ http://www.onlyknives.com/shun-kitchen-knife-block-set-damascus-steel-bamboo-classic-vg-10-6-piece/#comments Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:57:04 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=9157 Shun Kitchen Knife Block Set, ForgedShun Cutlery's Classic six-piece knife block set gives home chefs the best foundation knives for kitchen prep plus a full-sized bamboo knife block with plenty of room for expansion. Add the best knives in your current assortment to the block and replace them with even better ones as time allows.

The three Shun Classic knives in this set cover a wide range of important kitchen tasks from peeling and removing flaws in fruits and vegetables to sandwich prep, carving, and slicing. The main knife is the eight-inch chef's knife, but the set includes paring and utility blades -- all three built with Shun's high quality Damascus steel. The outer shell of these blades consists of 32 layers of tough stainless steel for shock resistance and flexible strength. The inner core is a single layer of extremely hard VG-10 stainless steel, tempered to take an acute edge and provide long-lasting wear resistance.

Shun's Damascus knives cut with less friction than the best traditional western blades, partly because of the thin bevel and also because the layers of steel form a rippled surface. Less steel contacts the work, and like a good santoku, the knives shed slices of food easily and glide through the work. The dark grips of the Shun Classic knives form from layers of resin-saturated birchwood around a strong rat tail tang. This ebony black handle matches up perfectly to the forged stainless steel bolster and end cap. The D-shaped grip provides extra purchase for the fingers and a quick orientation to the blade.

A sharpening steel -- specially developed for the hard edges of Shun knives -- and a pair of Taskmaster shears complete the tools in the set. Shun's laminated bamboo knife block has the beauty and durability of hardwood but uses quickly regenerated natural materials.

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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/shun-kitchen-knife-block-set-damascus-steel-bamboo-classic-vg-10-6-piece/feed/ 0 Shun Paring Knife, Full Tang VG-10 | Damascus Stainless Steel 4 Inchhttp://www.onlyknives.com/shun-paring-knife-full-tang-vg-10-damascus-stainless-steel-4-inch/ http://www.onlyknives.com/shun-paring-knife-full-tang-vg-10-damascus-stainless-steel-4-inch/#comments Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:11:14 +0000 admin http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=9141 Shun Paring Knife VG-10 This four-inch Shun Paring Knife is the all-steel version of one of the best paring knives available today. While the D-shaped handle may seem a little slick to some, it completely eliminates worries about crevices where bacteria could hide and gives the knife an unmistakably clean look. The four-inch blade will fit larger hands than Shun's smaller paring knives and puts this blade at the low end of the utility knife range.

The handle itself is something you quickly get used to -- large enough to grip in the palm comfortably with a flat side that orients the blade and gives the user complete control of the cutting edge. The blade is the true gem here, forged from Shun's Damascus-style stainless steel. Sixteen thin layers of high tensile stainless steel on each side give the harder core of VG-10 steel extra support and strength. The VG-10 cutting edge is ground to an acute angle impossible to hold in the more resilient supporting layers. That gives this knife a strong blade and long-lasting cutting edge that outdoes western knives in cutting ability.

You may think it's expensive for a paring knife, but consider that the paring knife is one of the blades you use most often. It makes sense to put your best knife in the most useful area. The little chores you consider most tedious will go better if you allow yourself the best tools.

Shun knives require special honing systems and may chip if used on hard surfaces like glass, ceramic, or bone. Protect the cutting edge by hand washing and by storing the Shun Paring Knife in a good knife block.

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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/shun-paring-knife-full-tang-vg-10-damascus-stainless-steel-4-inch/feed/ 0 Shun Damascus Steel Bamboo Knife Block Set | Forged Chef’s Classic 8 Piecehttp://www.onlyknives.com/shun-bamboo-knife-block-set-forged-damascus-chefs-classic-8-piece/ http://www.onlyknives.com/shun-bamboo-knife-block-set-forged-damascus-chefs-classic-8-piece/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:57:18 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=9102 Shun Bamboo Knife Block Set This eight-piece bamboo block set from Shun offers knives from the Shun Classic series, with the focus on chef's knives rather than santoku. If you prefer the traditional European cook's knife style but also want the superior steel and cutting ability of Shun's Damascus blades, this set was designed with you in mind.

At the heart of the collection are the two chef's knives -- a ten-inch knife big enough for large hands to wield with comfort and a six-inch chef's knife for the finer work. The Damascus-style high carbon stainless steel build places sixteen layers of high tensile forged steel on each side of a harder core of VG-10 steel. The edge of that core layer, sharpened to an acute angle and supported by the tougher outer layers, provides the hard cutting edge that makes Shun the choice of many professional chefs.

With these chef's knives at hand, you'll probably not miss having a santoku since both slice with the frictionless ease of that good knife style. The Damascus layers shed slices as efficiently as the granton hollows of a modern santoku. If you've use the traditional chef's knife long enough that you don't care to change, these Japanese versions give you a step up to an improved version and a chance to keep most of your comfortable old habits.

Also in the set are a slicing knife, paring knife, and bread knife built with the same excellent steel and D-shaped pakkawood handles. Taskmaster kitchen shears and a beautiful laminated bamboo knife block complete the ten-piece assortment. The block even has room for several more of your good knives.

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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/shun-bamboo-knife-block-set-forged-damascus-chefs-classic-8-piece/feed/ 0 Petty Chef’s Knife by Kitasho, Full Tang Damascus Steel | Petit Blue Kitchen Gyukohttp://www.onlyknives.com/petty-chefs-knife-by-kitasho-full-tang-damascus-steel-petit-blue-kitchen-gyuko/ http://www.onlyknives.com/petty-chefs-knife-by-kitasho-full-tang-damascus-steel-petit-blue-kitchen-gyuko/#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:11:37 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=9055 Petty Chef's Knife by Kitasho, FullThe Petty Petit gyuko or chef's knife was created by the Kitasho Company of Seki City, Japan, a center of fine swordsmiths for 800 years. Kitasho began more recently in 1948 and manufactures a broad line of chef's cutlery and hunting knives built to Japanese specifications rather than toned down for the western consumer.

The Damascus steel of this knife uses the same 33-layer build -- tough outer layers of steel around a hard VG-10 core -- that other makers like Shun also favor. The handle design is a familiar one to western chefs, using resin-impregnated layers of wood triple-riveted to a forged full tang.

Many of the same processes used to create the finest samurai swords were also used to make the Petty Petit, but this is not the same steel the company uses for its field knives. While stainless steel is a popular and sensible choice for a chef's knife, the company still manufactures field knives in the old alloys known for exceptional sharpness and strength.

The six-inch blade of the Petty Petit Kanetsune Gyoku cuts with the same precision as the best santoku but does not need the santoku's multiple hollows to achieve the same smooth cuts. This knife's rippled surface provides more strength than a granton style and less actual contact between blade and food. Use this knife only on wood, plastic, or bamboo cutting boards, or the edge may chip. Pick a western style knife for chopping bones.

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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/petty-chefs-knife-by-kitasho-full-tang-damascus-steel-petit-blue-kitchen-gyuko/feed/ 0 Shun Carving Knife & Meat Fork Serving Set, Damascus Steel | Classic 2 Piece in Gift Boxhttp://www.onlyknives.com/shun-carving-knife-meat-fork-serving-set-damascus-steel-classic-2-piece-in-gift-box/ http://www.onlyknives.com/shun-carving-knife-meat-fork-serving-set-damascus-steel-classic-2-piece-in-gift-box/#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:08:49 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=9053 Shun Carving Knife & Meat Fork ServingShun Cutlery's Classic Carving Set brings that company's famous VG-10 Damascus style stainless steel to the dinner service. The look is the same as that of Shun's other chef's knives, with an elegant and simple ebony-style pakkawood handle and a forged stainless steel blade.

Both knife and fork provide eight inches of working length -- enough to handle large cuts of meat. D-shaped pakkawood handles surrounding rat tail tangs were built for right-handed use with a flattened side to correctly orient the user's fingers. Only the knife is Damascus steel, using Shun's 32-layer sandwich of tough high carbon stainless steel around a central layer of harder VG-10, which forms the actual cutting edge. The hard edge is ground to an acute angle, unlike Western styles which use softer steel and a thicker but less efficient bevel.

Shun's carving knife slices cooked meats paper-thin with practice, and the Damascus steel sheds the slices more easily than ordinary blades due to its slightly rippled surface. Less steel actually contacts the food, and the result is a more easily controlled cut. Shun recommends that these knives be used only on wood, plastic, or bamboo cutting surfaces to avoid damage to the cutting edge. Avoid bones while carving, since the VG-10 edge could chip if forced through a hard object.

This carving set comes in a handsome wooden storage and presentation box. Wash and dry the knife and fork by hand before storing in the case.

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Shun Kaji 9 Hollow Ground Carving Knife Brand NewShun Kaji 9 Hollow Ground Carving Knife Brand New
US $119.99   Paypal
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Shun Classic carving set bamboo boxShun Classic carving set bamboo box
US $16.00   0 Bid Paypal
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Shun Ken Onion Carving Slicing Knife and Fork Set NIBShun Ken Onion Carving Slicing Knife and Fork Set NIB
US $89.88   6 Bids Paypal
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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/shun-carving-knife-meat-fork-serving-set-damascus-steel-classic-2-piece-in-gift-box/feed/ 0 Bowie Knife w/ Stag Antler Handle | Damascus Laminated Steel, Heavy Fileworkhttp://www.onlyknives.com/bowie-knife-w-stag-antler-handle-damascus-laminated-steel-heavy-filework/ http://www.onlyknives.com/bowie-knife-w-stag-antler-handle-damascus-laminated-steel-heavy-filework/#comments Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:00:53 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=8920 Bowie Knife w/ Stag Antler Handle This very nice Damascus Bowie Knife has a traditional rustic build combined with fine filework on the spine of the laminated Damascus steel blade. It shows the beauty and unique flaws of natural materials and simple methods along with very modern refinements. The brass finger guard and colorful spacers -- alternating composite layers with metal -- add a contemporary design touch and make it look like a custom build. The balancing part of the look is the crude bolster, a flat brass spacer hammered to fit the butt of the antler.

If I hadn't seen way too many Damascus steel knives lately, I'd be much more impressed -- but obviously someone is responding to the market and supplying laminated steel stock to anyone who wants to step in and make a profit. That brings knives like this one into a price range more of us can afford, but it also does some damage to the collectability of Damascus blades. Rather than collect this one, just look at it as a good and extra heavy Bowie knife. The full length is 13-1/2 inches, and the weight is about 13 ounces. Natural stag antler in the handle will cause exact specs to wander a bit.

The knife's eight-inch blade is very similar in shape to the first knife designed by Colonel Jim Bowie. Later designs favored the ideas of James Black, the man who actually made the Bowie knives that set the trend. This Bowie shows the butcher knife characteristics of the original concept.

With the accompanying stitched leather belt sheath, this is a good hunting knife anyone should be proud to own, and it's enough of a bargain that somebody may actually test whether Damascus steel as it's made today is really better.

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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/bowie-knife-w-stag-antler-handle-damascus-laminated-steel-heavy-filework/feed/ 0 Shun Classic Knives Boxed Gift Set | 3 Piece Damascus VG-10 Steel | DMS300http://www.onlyknives.com/shun-classic-knives-boxed-gift-set-3-piece-damascus-vg-10-steel-dms300/ http://www.onlyknives.com/shun-classic-knives-boxed-gift-set-3-piece-damascus-vg-10-steel-dms300/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:52:03 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=7781 Shun Classic Knives Boxed Gift Set The three Damascus-type VG-10 steel blades in this Shun Classic Gift Box Set may cause you to put aside the knives you've owned and loved for years. Other companies make good knives, but these good knives have a difference you can feel at work. The 8-inch chef's knife, 6-inch utility knife, and 3-1/2-inch paring knife could take over your kitchen.

Not too many years ago, layered damascus steel was the stuff of legends, and few craftsmen actually attempted that process. Shun brought modern techniques to the art and transferred some of the legendary quality of fine samurai swords to chef's cutlery. Though it's not exactly the same technique, Shun's manufacturing system yields many of the same strengths. Sixteen layers of high tensile strength tool steel form each side of the blade, sandwiching a thin central core of hard VG-10 steel. Without the tool steel support, the edge would shatter, but the combination yields a thin edge that cuts with very little resistance and seems to fall through the work. The knives seldom need sharpening in ordinary, everyday use.

Shun's knives do require some changes in technique. The knives won't fare well if used on glass cutting boards or if used to chop bones and other hard objects. Edges of VG-10 tend to chip rather than fold. The steel is also too hard for resetting with a honing steel. Shun offers several grades of sharpening stones designed for maintaining the knives.

Pakkawood handles look simplistic, but the flattened sides of the round grips orient fingers correctly with the blades and allow the fine control needed for shaving thin, perfect slices of vegetables and meats. Handles of pakkawood resist chemicals and heat -- the layers of real hardwood bonded with resin have the look of dark wood grain without the problems of real wood.

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