Breathtaking from tip to handle, artist and bladesmith Silas Blacklow has forged this inaugural chef’s knife to grace our collection from homemade wootz steel of his own making. Visible throughout the polished, convex, symmetrical bevels are the bands of alloying and carbon migration inherent to homemade crucible steels like this one. Containing 1.5% carbon and ample vanadium, Silas aimed his heat treatment and hardening process at a high hardness of 67-68 HRC to produce a thin, sharp edge designed for slicing work with finesse. Toughest in the rear where it stands 39mm tall, the blade’s spine measures 2.8mm across; at the midpoint it has tapered to 1.6mm; an inch from the tip 0.8mm; and further still until a fine, paper-thin point is at hand for the most precise cuts. The spine’s steady distal taper also produces a nicely balanced amount of lateral flexibility in the blade’s front half. For comfort and control, this one-of-a-kind chef knife boasts a handle and accompanying elements as artful and inspiring as they are elegant in form. Carved using traditional techniques that include a hammer, chisel, and little else, fine silver forms a blade collar emblazoned with various flowers and leaves in beautiful detail. Frequently imbuing his art with images of the natural world, the striking approach seen in this object is sure to turn heads. Capping the Curly Tasmanian Blackwood is an additional fine silver element, file-worked on the left and right sides.