The word ‘extraordinary’ simply isn’t adequate in describing the latest chef’s knife by artisan Joseph Schrum. With integral bolster and blade forged by hand from feathered ball-bearing damascus, the Cedar Bearings Gyuto is functional, fine art at its best. In a classic and versatile profile designed for all manner of daily meal prep, the 243mm / 9.6″ edge is thin, razor-sharp, and rocks nicely on the board while at the same time delivering a flat stretch in the rear for efficient chopping work, and a low, incredibly slim tip for slicing and detail work. Balancing about an inch in front of the edge’s heel with the overall weight of a kitchen workhorse at 9.2oz / 262g, a stiff, rounded blade spine, and medium height, symmetrical, convex bevel geometry, Joseph has created a dynamic and tough yet refined tool built to do it all. Made in-house from thousands of 52100 carbon steel ball bearings combined with 1090 powder steel, the damascus is etched and polished to a gorgeous sheen, the dance of two alloys flowing beautifully from the comfortably sculpted bolster forward to the blade’s needle-like tip. Behind the bolster to complete a handle as striking as the steel itself are rings of black and brass, and finally a simply carved piece of cedar burl which Joseph received from woodworker Lucas Martin that boasts as much color, grain, and character as we have seen.