Mammoth Lotus Gyuto 215mm

There is power in beauty, balance in art, and elegance in the unyielding craftsmanship of an artisan creating at the highest levels. Throughout this exquisitegyuto by designer and bladesmith Casey Vilensky of North Vancouver, Canada, each of these holds true. Striking lines, transitions, and geometry, all of which are purposeful and refined in the name of cutting performance, define the nuances of the K-tip, mosaic damascus steel blade, and sculpted handle shaped from Indian Ebony, damascus, and fossilized mammoth tooth. The knife’s center of gravity lies at the point that integral bolster meets blade bevels, its 11.2oz / 316g overall weight offering a pronounced and rewarding feel in the hand, making immediately clear to its operator that anything is possible. Rigid and wide along the blade’s spine as it tapers, slowly at first before speeding toward a glass thin, needle-like tip, the knife is tough and robust where needed, with only the slightest hint of lateral flexibility. Symmetrical, convex bevels converge at a thin, hard, razor-sharp edge that extends outward from the 56mm-tall heel for 215mm / 8.5″ of cutting length, perfect for nearly every chopping and slicing task demanded by the hard-working kitchen. These superb technical attributes are overshadowed, if at all, by the gorgeous, feathered, lotus mosaic damascus steel which Casey crafted at this one-man shop before the knife itself could even begin to take shape. The amount of detail produced by the meticulous layering of carbon steel alloys, realized via various perspectives from the octagonal, integral bolster through to the blade’s tip, is extraordinary. Finally, for comfort, control, and an aesthetic as beautiful as they come, Casey has carved a grip in his shield-style wa rendition that welcomes every hand of every chef with its natural elegance and versatile form.