Artist-bladesmith Niko Nicolaides charts new territory in the use of ball-bearing ‘canister’ damascus with this head-turning Cluster Mosaic Chef Knife. Forged by hand at Niko’s Detroit studio, the one-of-a-kind blade begins with a mixture of 52100 ball bearings and nickel-rich 4800kc carbon steel powder. The resulting clusters are wrapped in enclosures of 1084 carbon steel, and the pods this creates are then separated by more 4800kc powder to produce the piece of mosaic damascus which forms the middle of the finished blade. Etching to the deepest black shade of the three alloys, more 1084 is jacketed around the initial mosaic steel bar to form the dark areas along the edge, spine, and at the tip. With superbly honed geometry and balance for daily use, the final product of Niko’s artistry is both visually striking and performance driven. Standing 52mm tall at the heel, the 253mm / 10″ long blade boasts a thin, hard, razor-sharp edge beneath the tall, wonderfully convex, symmetrical bevel geometry that we expect of Niko. Tapering steadily forward and rounded for comfort, the blade’s spine retains the toughness and rigidity of a kitchen workrhorse while balancing the finesse and precision of a tool designed to perform every cut, every day. Quite thin at the pointed tip, no slice is too delicate, no food too large. For comfort and control in the simple yet elegant Western style loved by Niko’s loyal customers, a handle is sculpted from boxelder, embellished with a subtle ring of carbon fiber, and capped with a forged integral bolster that presents the Cluster pattern mosaic damascus in a beautiful light.