Artist and ABS Master Bladesmith Jordan LaMothe presents a unique, flowing river of layered steel that pairs classic ‘ladder’ pattern damascus together with his homemade ‘crushed W’s’ creation to form a chef knife unlike any other. As though jacketing the ladder below, bold layers of the nickel-rich 15n20 carbon alloy shine brightly in the arrangement above. Along the edge where the beautiful ladder pattern is densest, to head-turning effect, the blade stretches lengthwise for 255mm / 10″, together with the profile’s 53mm-tall heel and deep-bellied forward section producing an heirloom workhorse for the chef’s kitchen. Jordan’s geometry and balance are second to none, the mid-height convex bevels slimming downward to an extremely fine, razor-sharp edge. Tough and dependable in the rear for big cuts, the rounded spine tapers steadily forward, giving the finished, precisely hardened blade a touch of lateral flexibility in the front half. Sitting low in relation to the handle and glass-thin in profile, the blade’s tip is akin to a needle, situated perfectly for delicate slicing and detail work, adding to this full-size tool’s adaptability in the kitchen. Held In the pinch grip the thumb and middle finger grasp a handsome, simply sculpted integral handle bolster forged of the same single piece of damascus as the blade. Finishing the one-of-a-kind build, the damascus meets rings of black G10 and brass and then, with stepped, museum-fit, a striking piece of figured walnut in a flowing, Western profile offers comfort and control.