{"product_id":"damascus-serbian-chef-knife-burl-wood","title":"Damascus Serbian Chef Knife with Burl Wood Handle","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Serbian chef knife is the wide bellied butcher shape, deep near the handle with the spine sloping away toward the tip, so the blade reads as a wide wedge. This one is forged in Damascus, 7 inches of blade on a 12 inch knife, with a full tang under burl wood set in dark resin and a tooled leather sheath. People buy it as a general kitchen knife and as a gift.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecification\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOverall length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDamascus over a high carbon core\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEtched raindrop pattern, mirror bright bevel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStabilized burl wood in dark resin, brass pins\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull tang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSheath\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTooled leather sheath\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngraving\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 dollars per piece\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMade in\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForged and finished by hand in High Point, North Carolina.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarranty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifetime warranty against defects, free sharpening for life.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe blade\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe steel is Damascus, pattern welded over a high carbon core and etched so the light and dark layers show, with a raindrop pattern across the wide flat and the bevel polished bright. The blade stands about 3 inches at its widest, just ahead of the handle, and the spine slopes away from there to the tip. That gives the wedge look and puts the mass close to your hand. The honest trade is the core steel, which is carbon, so the face darkens with use and rusts if left wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe scales are stabilized burl wood set in dark resin. Burl is the wild figured growth from a trunk, all swirl and eye instead of straight grain, and the resin fills the voids in near black so the amber and brown sit against dark. Stabilizing pushes resin into the wood, which keeps it steady in a damp kitchen. The tang is full, running the whole length of the handle and showing as a line all round the scales, with three brass pins.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat it is for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a general kitchen knife. The tall flat gives your knuckles room over the board, so a pile of onions goes as easily as a squash, and the weight near the handle does the work. Butchers use the shape for trimming and portioning, and the wide face carries what you have cut to the pan. It does not suit thin flexible work, so for filleting a fish, pick a narrower blade.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe leather\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe sheath is cut for this blade, so it goes in snug. The leather is vegetable tanned. A belt loop is stitched to the back, a strap with a snap closes over the handle, and a welt is sewn into the edge so the stitching sits clear of the sharpened side. The hand stitching is cream thread against the tan. The face carries a carved sunflower inside a beaded border, cut and shaded with a swivel knife and stamps, not printed on. Most sellers stop at the words genuine leather.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Damascus face and the burl handle make this a piece people give as often as they buy it for themselves, though plenty of cooks keep it on their board.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHome cooks who want one knife for most board work\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone shopping for a wedding gift\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuyers who like a figured handle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCooks moving up from a stamped kitchen knife\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat comes in the box\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Damascus Serbian chef knife\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe tooled leather sheath\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA care card\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEngraving quote on request\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEvery piece is different\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach knife is forged, ground and finished by hand, so no two leave the shop alike. The Damascus pattern shifts with the forging, and the burl and resin swirl their own way in every block. Yours will not match the photographs exactly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLooking after it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHand wash it in warm water and dry it straight away. Never leave it in the sink and never put it in a dishwasher. The gray patina that comes up with use is normal and it protects the steel. Wipe on a light coat of food safe mineral oil before it goes away. Sharpen on a stone, following the bevel already there. More in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/knife-care-sharpening\"\u003eknife care and sharpening page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003ePut a name on it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eLaser engraving is 20 dollars per piece, added on this page. Around 30 characters fits on the blade, and clean line art engraves well where a photograph does not. We send a proof image before the laser runs, and it adds 3 to 5 business days. Free on orders of 10 pieces or more. See the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/engraving\"\u003eengraving page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is a Serbian chef knife?\u003c\/strong\u003e The wide bellied butcher shape, deep at the handle with the spine sloping to the tip.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow wide is the blade?\u003c\/strong\u003e About 3 inches at its widest.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it full tang?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes, the steel runs the full length of the handle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Damascus rust?\u003c\/strong\u003e It can, the core is carbon, so dry it after every wash.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan it go in the dishwasher?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. Hand wash and dry it straight away.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it look like the photo?\u003c\/strong\u003e No, the pattern and handle differ on every piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor this shape in plain carbon steel, see the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/serbian-chef-knife-rosewood\"\u003eSerbian chef knife in rosewood\u003c\/a\u003e, and for a natural handle the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-cleaver-stag-antler\"\u003eDamascus cleaver in stag antler\u003c\/a\u003e. More sits in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/cleaver-butcher\"\u003ecleavers and butcher knives\u003c\/a\u003e, in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/damascus-steel\"\u003eDamascus steel\u003c\/a\u003e, and in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/chef-knives\"\u003echef knives\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viper Edge USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44140544753782,"sku":"VEF-BUT-DAM-SRB-709","price":199.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/damascus-serbian-chef-knife-burl-wood_29040b41-24d0-4481-ac8b-b7367f9eb76f.jpg?v=1788796219","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/damascus-serbian-chef-knife-burl-wood","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}