Each culinary creation by bladesmith Benjamin Kamon is a work of art, engineering, and craftsmanship. For this 200mm long by 100mm tall vegetable cleaver forged by hand from ApexUltra high-performance carbon steel, that certainly holds true. Thin, light, and imparting a wonderfully rewarding sensation on any chef lucky enough to grasp its handle, this is, as Benjamin himself puts it, “a special one.” Wave texturing with a wabi sabi-esque kurouchi finish sits below the rounded, polished spine and above the especially slim, convex primary bevels and razor-sharp, very hard (67 HRC) edge. As the blade’s flats morph into a short-neck tang, the ApexUltra enjoys a subtle rainbow heat coloring before disappearing into the handle’s Torpedo-style front cap of bead blasted aluminum. For the bulk of the shield profile-inspired wa handle, Benjamin rounding the top and bottom at different radius’ with flat planes on the left and right, is a stunning piece of curly walnut that has been an advanced rokkaku hanmaru texture for a beautiful aesthetic unique tactile experience. Matching the front cap, an aluminum butt cap with screws for handle removal completes the build. A custom saya is included.