Damascus Chef Knives: The swirling beauty of Damascus steel is obvious, but the processes involved in its production actually make Damascus chef knives more durable. New West combines the history of several blade working traditions- the Damascus steel of the Saracens and the unparalleled precision of the Japanese samurai sword. From the ashes of the old, a new standard of excellence is born. Our Damascus chef knives are ground in Fusion Japanese shapes with Damascus steel by the craftsmen of Seki City, Japan. The custom designs of New West Knifeworks create the most cutting edge Damascus chef knives in the world. Innovative, function-based design, western handle shapes, and unique material selection have made New West Knifeworks renowned at the nation's finest art shows and in leading magazines. The quality of our Damascus chef knives is based on years of commercial cooking experience, the advice of many top chefs, and the legacy of Japanese craftsmen.

The Knife

The Steel

Different kinds of steel have different properties. New West combines a durable, stainless Damascus steel with an incredibly sharp tool steel core. 16 layers of stainless Damascus are forged together, then forge-welded onto both sides of a pure, extra high-carbon stainless tool-steel sheet. The outside stainless Damascus layers provide stain resistance and durability to the tool steel core of the chef knives. Due to its purity and high-carbon content, Aus-8 is the ideal steel to form the edge of a chef knife and is the finest available for sharpening ability, fineness of edge (sharpness), and edge holding. The process of forge-welding the laminate refines and tightens the steel's grain structure, thus improving its edge-holding and sharpness (Rockwell C Scale Hardness 59).

The Handle

The handle of our Damascus chef knives is constructed of Nobel-Lite, a Corian-like material often used in premium countertop design. In addition to being waterproof, this material is resistant to stains, chemicals, bacteria and molds. Not only does it's non-porous quality make it the most durable handle material on the market, it also gives it an attractive, seamless appearance. The elegant color patterns of Nobel-Lite have been ergonomically shaped into a unique, western-style grip making the Japanese blade as comfortable as it is durable and beautiful. The Damascus steel blade and Nobel-lite handle prompted Wine Spectator magazine to describe the Phoenix line as ‘…virtually indestructible.’ New West designed the Damascus knives to withstand the demands of the professional chef.