{"product_id":"one-of-a-kind-damascus-chef-knife-buffalo-horn","title":"One of a Kind Damascus Chef Knife, Buffalo Horn and Brass","description":"\u003cp\u003eOnly one of these was made and the photograph is that knife, so when somebody buys it the page comes down. It is an 8 inch chef knife, Damascus over a high carbon core, with black buffalo horn on the handle. The question I get about pieces like this is whether anybody ever cooks with them. Some do, some hang them up, and both are fine by me.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecification\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOverall length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e13 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, high carbon core\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEtched to the edge, no bare bevel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePattern\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRaindrop\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\u003eHandle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlack buffalo horn\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFittings\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBrass bolster and three copper mosaic pins\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSheath\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHand carved acanthus scroll leather blade cover\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngraving\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 dollars per blade\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\u003eDamascus, meaning layers of steel welded into one bar. A raindrop comes from pressing dimples into the surface and forging it flat again, so the layers ring around each mark like water landing. Acid brings the rings up. The pattern is decoration and does nothing for the cut. The high carbon core under it takes the edge and holds it, and the etch runs to the edge so no bright bevel breaks the pattern. Eight inches is a working chef length. Carbon steel darkens with use and spots if left wet, which matters more in a kitchen than anywhere.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eBlack buffalo horn, dense and cool in the hand, polished until it goes almost glassy. It is not a uniform black. Held to a window there are lighter streaks in it, and those belong to the piece of horn these scales came off. A brass bolster closes the front where the blade meets the grip. Three copper mosaic pins hold the scales to a full tang. Those pins are made from small rods bundled and fused, so the pattern goes right through and shows the same on both sides of the handle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe leather sheath\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA blade cover rather than a belt sheath, because a chef knife does not go on a belt. Vegetable tanned leather cut to this blade's own outline, hand stitched, with a welt in the seam keeping the thread off the edge. The face is carved, an acanthus scroll cut with a swivel knife into damp hide and then shaped with punches so the leaves lift. It lets the knife sit in a drawer without ruining the drawer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSomebody always asks whether a knife like this is wasted on cooking.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCooks who want their best knife to look like it\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone with an empty spot on a magnetic rail\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuyers who want one piece rather than a set\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeople who will use it and accept a patina\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat comes in the box\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 8 inch Damascus chef knife pictured\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe hand carved acanthus scroll blade cover\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA care card\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn engraving proof if you order one\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThere is only one of these\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat you see is the knife, photographed on my bench, not a sample standing in for a batch. The raindrops fell where the press put them, the horn came from one piece with its own streaks, and the scroll on the cover was cut freehand. When it sells the listing goes and nothing here is repeated, not the pattern, not the handle and not the carving.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLooking after it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWash it by hand and dry it straight away. Acidic food will grey carbon steel faster, so wipe as you go if that bothers you. A film of oil before it goes in a drawer keeps rust off. Do not store the blade inside the leather cover, since leather holds damp against steel. Hone it on a stone rather than a pull through. There is more on 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 blade and you add it here. Around 30 characters fits, which is a name and a date. A proof image comes before the laser runs and nothing is marked until you say so. It adds 3 to 5 business days. Since there is only one of these we agree the placement with you first. See the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/engraving\"\u003eengraving page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes anybody actually cook with a knife like this?\u003c\/strong\u003e Plenty do. It is ground as a chef knife and the edge behaves like any other carbon steel edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this the exact knife photographed?\u003c\/strong\u003e It is. There is no second one in a drawer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it rust?\u003c\/strong\u003e It can. Carbon steel and a wet sink do not get on. Dry it after washing, oil it before storage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDishwasher?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. Heat and detergent wreck the horn and mark the steel.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the pattern make it cut better?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. The core does the cutting. The pattern is there to look at.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow fast does it ship?\u003c\/strong\u003e Most US orders arrive in 5 to 7 business days.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSomething heavier for the board is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/one-of-a-kind-damascus-cleaver-spalted-maple\"\u003eDamascus cleaver in spalted maple and amber resin\u003c\/a\u003e, and for fish there is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/one-of-a-kind-damascus-fillet-mother-of-pearl\"\u003efillet knife in mother of pearl and ebony\u003c\/a\u003e. Single pieces are gathered in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/custom-builds\"\u003ecustom builds\u003c\/a\u003e, etched blades in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/damascus-steel\"\u003eDamascus steel\u003c\/a\u003e, the working range under \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/all-knives\"\u003eevery knife we make\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viper Edge USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44145581195382,"sku":"VEF-CST-1803","price":329.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/custom-03-damascus-chef-buffalo-horn_0f1b160f-73e0-4cc5-a445-7652c205e8e7.jpg?v=1788851456","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/one-of-a-kind-damascus-chef-knife-buffalo-horn","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}