My previous blog “What Is A High Carbon Chef’s Knife”, which talked about how a high quality carbon steel chef knife is a beautiful thing and what is needed to cook the best of meals. It also took a look at the truth and the hype of these types of knives. Let’s revisit those.
The Truth
For most people, a $10 grocery store chef knife will get the job done. It may not cut like a laser, but you’ll be able to cook with it, and if it doesn’t last your whole lifetime…well, you can just go and buy another $10 knife. In fact, it would take quite a few $10 knives to add up to the cost of one custom made high carbon chef knife.
A $100 store bought knife will do the job better than your $10 option, but a handmade carbon chef knife of high quality by Jonas Blade is in another league altogether. In such a knife you will find a level of sharpness that you didn’t even know existed. An example of would be my 10” Chef’s Knife, which offers excellent strength and hardness with a handle made from 35,000 year old swamp kauri from New Zealand.
Imagine how your knife will absolutely sail through food items—no more sawing back and forth just to ultimately smush the tomato into two ragged pieces. No more thwacking your blade into a potato and then hammering the thing against a cutting board just to cut it in half or even cut your finger. The difference is probably even more pronounced than you can imagine. Here is a quick demonstration of how the knife is made and slices through a sheet of paper. It also includes some of my 2025 pieces as well.
The Hype
So is it worth the hype? That’s up to you. If a knife is purely a means to an end, then the answer is probably not. Your knife can be more than a means to an end. It can be a part of the experience of preparing food with added joy and safety, while enjoying the food. After all, it is the journey that can be just as important as the destination. In this case, the journey is the preparation of the food while the destination is the food itself.
If that sounds good to you, then a high carbon steel chef knife—whether it includes damascus or not—may be right up your alley.
Deciding on a design is where the collaboration between you as the client and myself. Commissions do start at $1000. If you are interested, and even have a vision of what you are looking for, fill out a contact form at JonasBlade.com to reach me.
Want extra inspiration? Come check out the damascus chef knives from Jonas Blade’s Collection made over the last 10+ years!
About The Author
Zack Jonas was born and raised in Massachusetts in the 1980’s and is still a New Englander today. With his growing love for art over the years, he took an introductory bladesmithing class at MASSart. It was there that he learned one of his most valuable lessons, which is that everyone has some insight worth learning. Today, he is a full-time bladesmith and feels incredibly fortunate to have found his calling.