My previous blog “What Is A Damascus Chef’s Knife” from April 2021, talked about what a Damascus chef’s knife is and the greatness behind it. Let’s revisit this almost 4 years later.
In modern times, the Damascus chef’s knife is also a quality high end blade that has the ability to cut through most ingredients with ease. Sometimes with only 1 slice. It also has the advantage of an exotic appearance with its extraordinary patterns compared to standard counterparts. Here is a visual look of what I am referring to.
The Inspiration Of My Craft
The first episode of Forged in Fire aired six years ago in 2015. Back then, while there was a vibrant, growing community of custom knife makers, the proper term for us, “bladesmiths,” was known by only a select few higher end collectors. Likewise, outside of certain circles, not many people had ever heard of Damascus steel or knew about high end Damascus chef’s knives. Then Forged in Fire landed, and awareness of my chosen craft began to explode. These days people don’t respond with a blank stare when I tell them I’m a bladesmith, and now that they have glimpsed the work that goes into it, more and more of them have a greater understanding of, and appreciation for, the work that I do.
The Evolution Of My Craft
As awareness and evolution of my craft has broadened, so too has the market for my work. This broadening has in turn helped guide my understanding of what to make, and in retrospect it is no surprise that by the numbers, I make more chef’s knives than anything else. After all, most households use some kind of cooking knife on a daily basis, so it is easier to understand why someone might dive into custom knives in an area they are already familiar with—and will get real value from. Amongst all the culinary knives I make each year, the chef knife made of Damascus is far and away the most popular.
What makes a Damascus chef knife special is the attention that I put into each one at the end of the day. I shape each piece by hand; I choose my materials carefully; each line and the overall flow of the piece is tuned to be just so; the metallurgy is adjusted for the exact work the knife is for. And when all is said and done, it is an exquisite, elegant, useful object for years to come!
The Greatness Of A Damascus Chef’s Knife
When I make a blade I start with a nondescript bar of superior steel, I heat the bar in a raging forge fire and hammer it to the size and shape I want. Once I have forged the blade by hand, I take it to the grinder to refine the shape, and then it’s back into the fire for hardening and tempering. Throughout this process, I am able to guide the metallurgy of the material so that it will yield the right combination of hardness, sharpness, and toughness for the job at hand (and I do things very differently for an axe than I would for a straight razor). What all of this means is that one of my chef’s knives, Damascus or otherwise, will take a sharper edge than what you can buy in a store, and it will hold that edge longer.
Another thing that’s different when working with Damascus for a chef’s knife is that I have a visual pattern to work with, or to work against. Rhythm, flow, and contrast are three of the elements one can consider when working on a design, and when I am working with Damascus steel, I have to think how the pattern will present within the shape and scale of the piece. How will the pattern relate to the material(s) I use for the handle? In some ways it can be a constraint, but in other ways, it helps to describe the aesthetic space I can allow myself to play within.
If what I shared sounds exciting and makes sense to you, then a Damascus steel chef knife 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.