Satin-finished stainless steel and a layer of pure nickel, designed to reduce carbon diffusion during forging and heat treatment, clads the 80Crv2 high-carbon steel core of this bold and handsomely styled full-size chef by Korben Bloomfield. Thoughtfully crafted one piece at a time in England’s south at Korben’s one-man studio, the homemade GoMai (five layer) steel formula is etched and polished to a striking sheen, the carbon alloy darkening to a deep black contrasted by the nickel’s bright shine, the cloud-like areas just above, and finally the stainless outer jackets’ hand-sanded faces. These silky smooth surfaces are complemented by the blade’s flats and the integral forged bolster’s rougher, forge-finished sections which bare the hammer marks of the tool’s hand-forged origins. At 257mm / 10.1″ long and standing a hair over 58mm tall at the heel, the robust blade is weighted and steady in the hand, balancing a half a finger’s width in front of the bolster for a natural and nimble feel on the board. Tall, wonderfully honed, symmetrical bevel geometry slims to a thin, razor-sharp edge, above which Korben has shaped a nicely convex stretch for food release and overall cutting performance, giving this hand-filling object the versatility needed to become any chef’s daily workhorse. Tapering only slightly for the first several inches, the rounded spine maintains toughness and rigidity for much of the blade’s length before slimming to a fine, aggressive tip positioned perfectly for precise slices and detail cuts. In the proportions his handles are known for, Korben shapes a beautiful piece of stabilized walnut wood to ergonomically fill the hand for comfort and control in a form that is suited to any grip, and will be especially rewarding to cooks with larger hands. Via a screw accessible at the rear, the handle uses a mechanical ‘take-down’ approach to construction as many of Korben’s builds do, and to set this knife apart Korben has opened a literal window into this feature by incorporating a ‘porthole’ in the center of the handle through which the retention bolt to which the take-down screw is connected can be seen.