From raw steel to a custom blade—this is the story of my first handmade chef’s knife. Guided by a world-class bladesmith, I shaped, forged, and finished a knife that’s both functional and ...

Built with a four-inch, hand-forged Damascus steel blade and curly maple handle, it’s a scaled-down version of Winkler’s Belt Knife. At five ounces, it’s meant for gutting and skinning.

At Middleton Made Knives in South Carolina, Quintin Middleton makes Damascus steel chef knives by welding two types of steel together. The bladesmith extends the concept of “blending” into his ...

Texture, bitterness, sweetness," Yauji said. "I think it is a knife specialised to bring out the true flavour of the ingredient itself." Knife makers can spend an entire day perfecting a single piece.