"Tsih" Custom Chef's Knives Matched Pair
"Tsih" Fine Custom Chef's Knives Matched Pair
- Size (Knives): Thick: Length overall: 13.0" (33.0 cm), Blade Length:
8.6" (21.8 cm), Thickness: .200" (5.1 mm)
Thin: Length overall: 13.2" (33.5 cm), Blade Length: 8.8" (22.4
cm), Thickness: 0.090" (2.2 mm)
- Size (Knives in Block): 12.0" (30.5 cm) tall,
3.5" (8.9 cm) wide,
13" (33.0 cm) long
- Size (Book Case): 15" (38.1 cm) long, 6.5"
(16.5 cm) wide, 1" (2.5 cm) thick
- Weight: Thick Knife: 8.6 oz. (244 grams), Thin
Knife: 6.1 oz. (173 grams), Knives in Block: 7 lb. (2.7
kilograms), Knives in Book Case: 3 lbs., 5 oz. (1.5 kg.)
- Blades: CPM 154CM powder metal high molybdenum martensitic stainless
tool steel, proprietary T3 deep cryogenic treatment, hardened and tempered to Rockwell C60.5
(thin blade), Rockwell C61(thick blade), mirror polished
- Fittings/Bolsters: 304 austenitic stainless steel, mirror polished
- Handle: Polished Deschutes Jasper Gemstone (Oregon)
- Stand/Block: American Black Walnut, Paradiso
Classico Granite Migmatite (India)
- Book Case: Leather shoulder, American Bison
Skin, Stainless Steel, Nylon Thread
- Knives: These fine custom knives were made to
order for a great client. He requested two knives in my "Tsih"
pattern, one with a thin blade, and one with a thicker blade. The
blade style is a great crossover in two thicknesses, with the
thicker blade a more stout, harder, and immovable tough knife useful
for slicing large, heavy, and thick foodstuffs, a true workhorse.
The thinner blade is slightly longer, with a needle-like point, thin
enough for fillet of large fish without bending, and more delicate
boning and slicing operations. Together, they make a magnificent
pair.
- Blades: The Tsih blades are CPM 154CM
powder metal martensitic stainless steel. They are
corrosion-resistant, extremely tough, and have extremely high wear
resistance, while capable of an extremely thin, sharp, and
long-lived cutting edges. This is not only due to the steel alloy
content, it's because of my specialized proprietary heat
treatment. These blades are treated with my T3 deep cryogenic process, one that is
extremely lengthy and complicated and takes a full week, with
33 specific steps and temperatures ranging from over 1900°F
to -320°F! This process is so dynamic and transformative
that it creates extremely fine grain, low asperity, maximum
development of martensite, and a tremendous amount and
distribution of complex carbides. The performance of these
blades will be exemplary, blades that will literally last for
generations with minimal sharpening, high toughness, and high
overall strength. I will flatly claim that the condition of this
blade is superior to all others made; no one has or employs this
level of treatment detail in any knife, anywhere! The extremely
high molybdenum assures high toughness and plenty of
multi-element complex carbides for wear resistance and
stability. The blades are smooth and clean, with fully
tapered tangs for balance. The curves are sweeping and gentle,
and the narrow point of the thinner blade can be used in the
most delicate of cutting chores. The blades are hygienic and smooth and beautifully mirror-polished for easy
cleaning and high food safety.
- Fittings: I bolstered the Tsih knives with
high nickel, high chromium austenitic stainless steel.
This is the same steel used in stainless nuts, bolts, and
fasteners, and with 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel,
it's incredibly tough. This is a food contact safe zero-care stainless steel, it
will not corrode, no matter what it could encounter in any
kitchen. The bolsters are rounded, contoured, and polished for a
comfortable grip. The bolsters are dovetailed to anchor,
support, and bed the knife scales permanently to the handle.
- Handles: The handle scales chosen for
this project were at the request of my client, who wanted a
distinctive, handsome look with tremendous longevity. He
chose Deschutes Jasper gemstone, part of the Biggs Jasper
basalt flow near Biggs Junction, Oregon. Deschutes is the
premium material in this area, prized for its tremendous
pattern and color, a true picture jasper. It's hard, tough,
and solid and will keep its glassy finish indefinitely,
outlasting the stainless steel of the knife! The scales are bedded to the tang
with a stress-free mounting, locked under the bolster
dovetails, rounded and smoothly polished. The fit is
flawless.
- The knives feel different in the
hand; the thicker blade is a noticeable contender in the
kitchen, ready for hard work, while the graceful thin blade
feels light and extremely keen. The handles form well into
the hand, comfortable and smooth. These are knives that will
work and maintain their beauty for generations.
- Stand/Block: The block I designed for this
custom project is simple, bold, and functional. It's made of
American Black Walnut hardwood, matching the color and handsome look
of the gemstone handles. I carved it with a graceful curved top to
break up any angularity, and protect the sharp blades and owner on
the counter. I angled the handles differently so they would be easy
to grasp and pull from the block in use. The walnut is sealed with tung and polymer oils, and
sealed with clear acrylic. The base is held stable with a thick,
polished block of Paradiso Classico Granite Migmatite from India,
secured with large stainless steel screws. The base has inset
neoprene feet to protect the counter without sliding, and an
engraved lacquered brass legend plate inset into the bottom for
provenance.
- Book Case: My client also requested a way to transport the
knives, and while one consideration was a chef's roll, these knives
deserved so much more. So I created one of my thick, heavy, and
protective Book Cases, made of heavy 10 oz. leather shoulder, dyed
dark brown, stitched with heavy nylon thread, with stainless steel
snaps, and covered with American Bison Skin. This is an elegant,
tough, and extremely safe case that will protect the knives, and
more importantly, protect the owner while transporting.
- This was a great project; one of my finest, and I'm happy it all
came together so beautifully. Sets like this make me proud to be a
professional custom knifemaker and my wish is for my client to use it for
the rest of his life in great health and happiness!
Thanks M. T.!
Hi Jay,
Just received the knives. They are amazing. Beauty in form and function. The leather case
is phenomenal and perfect for transporting these knives to wherever I may go. These truly
are an heirloom that will be handed down for generations to come within my family. Thank
you for the mastery of the work that you’ve performed in creating these knives and leather carrying case.
--M.
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