Breaking Knife, Hand Forged Carbon Steel with Black Micarta Handle

A breaking knife is the straighter cousin of the cimeter. Where a cimeter curves through its whole length and climbs to a raised point, a breaking knife runs a long mostly straight edge with only a gentle sweep at the front. This one is a 10 inch breaking knife in 1095 high carbon steel, with black canvas micarta scales over a full tang and a hand tooled leather sheath.

Specification

The blade

The steel is 1095 high carbon, which takes a keen edge and comes back on a stone quickly. The finish is dark gray off the hammer with faint marks across the flat and a wide bevel polished mirror bright. The shape is what separates this from a cimeter. The edge is long and mostly straight and sweeps only gently to the point, so it tracks in a line instead of following a curve. The trade is rust, since carbon steel darkens with use and will spot if it is left wet.

The handle

Canvas micarta is layered cloth set in resin, shaped like a wood scale but with none of the movement. It does not swell, shrink or take up water, and it never needs oiling. The finish is matte black with a fine tooth, so the grip firms up rather than turning slick when hands are wet. Three brass pins run through the scales into the steel, and the tang shows as a bright line all round the outside of the handle.

What it is for

This is the knife for the straight cuts in a home butchery session, dividing a large piece into portions and then trimming them square. The long flat edge lets a whole slice come off in one pass, and the stiffness keeps the cut where it is aimed. It suits hunters portioning game and cooks working through a bulk meat order. It is not built for chopping.

The leather

The sheath is cut to the shape of this blade, so the knife goes in snug. The leather is vegetable tanned. A welt is sewn into the seam so the stitching sits clear of the edge, a wide belt loop is stitched to the back, and a snap strap closes over the handle. The cream stitching is done by hand. The face carries a basket weave stamp inside a carved border, worked into damp leather so the weave sits proud and the border frames it.

Who it suits

This is the plain working choice in the batch, bought for what the blade does.

• Hunters portioning venison and hogs at home
• Home butchers working through a bulk meat order
• Anyone who prefers a handle that needs no upkeep

What comes in the box

• The breaking knife
• The tooled leather sheath
• A care card

Every piece is different

Each blade is forged, ground, heat treated and sharpened by hand, so runs stay small and no two come out identical. The hammer marks and the depth of the stamping on the sheath vary from the photographs.

Looking after it

Hand wash in warm water and dry it straight away. Never leave it standing in the sink and never put it in a dishwasher. The gray patina that builds with use is normal and protects the steel underneath. Put a light coat of food safe mineral oil on it before it goes away. Sharpen on a stone following the bevel already there. More in our knife care and sharpening page.

Put a name on it

Laser engraving is 20 dollars per piece and you add it on this page. Around 30 characters fits on a blade or a handle, so a name and a date sits better than a long message. We send a proof image before the laser runs, and it adds 3 to 5 business days. See the engraving page.

Questions buyers ask

What is a breaking knife? A butcher blade with a long mostly straight edge that sweeps only gently to the point. It is used for dividing a large cut and trimming portions square.

How is it different from a cimeter? A cimeter curves through its whole length and rises to a point above the handle line. A breaking knife is straighter and stiffer, with only a gentle sweep at the front.

What is micarta? Layered canvas set in resin. It does not swell or shrink, needs no oiling, and stays grippy when wet.

Will this steel rust? It can. Dry it after washing and oil it lightly before storage.

Can it go in the dishwasher? No, hand wash only and dry it straight away.

How sharp is it out of the box? Every blade is sharpened by hand before it ships. Free sharpening for life is included.

For the curved version, look at the hand forged butcher cimeter with a rosewood handle, or the longer Damascus cimeter with a buffalo horn handle. More sits in cleavers and butcher knives, in 1095 high carbon steel, and in kitchen knives.