A symbol of royalty associated most often with France but used throughout the world since at least the 12th century, Salem Straub makes the Fleur-De-Lis his own with a striking rendition of the iris-inspired design realized in folded steel. In three distinct carbon alloys, this extraordinary mosaic damascus pattern inspires awe and respect, much as the symbol itself has for hundreds of years. The symmetrical, elegant complexity of the pattern stretches from the forge-welded integral bolsters and throughout the 225mm Western chef profile that stands 56mm tall at the heel. Even thinner at the edge that some from this Washington-based maker, the blade is designed for a wide variety of cuts in the chef’s kitchen with Salem’s superb compound ‘S-Grind’ bevel geometry, a steady distal taper along the rounded spine to a slim, pointed tip, and a touch of lateral flexibility. To match the bar set by the blade, Salem takes his handle construction to a new level with a beautifully curved, heirloom-fit transition from the bolster to a two-layer wooden grip that lays dark, striking chacate preto atop a recessed inlay of dyed box elder burl. Visible at the rear is a flush, two-tone retention bold cap of steel inside a collar of bronze.