Damascus Chef Knives
Black Friday Month up to 30% off · Free tracked shipping · 30-day returns
A damascus chef knife (gyuto) is the all-purpose knife of the kitchen: it slices, minces and cuts meat and fish. Our Japanese-style chef knives have a damascus steel blade around a 10Cr15CoMoV core hardened to 60 HRC, in 8-inch (20 or 21 cm) and 9-inch (23 cm) lengths.
-20 %Eclipse · Damascus Chef Knife 8"
-25 %Eclipse · Damascus Kiritsuke Knife 8"
-25 %Dune · Damascus Kiritsuke Knife 9"
-25 %Dune · Damascus Kiritsuke Knife 8"
-20 %Dune · Damascus Chef Knife 9.5"
-20 %Dune · Damascus Chef Knife 8"
-23 %Olea · Damascus Kiritsuke Knife 8"
-23 %Olea · Damascus Chef Knife 8"
-23 %Obsidienne · Damascus Bunka Knife 7.3"
-29 %Obsidienne · Damascus Kiritsuke Knife 9"
-27 %Iris · Damascus Kiritsuke Knife 8"
-28 %Cosmos · Damascus Chef Knife 8"
-23 %Carmin · Damascus Chef Knife 9.5"
-23 %Carmin · Damascus Chef Knife 8"
-23 %Cobalt · Damascus Chef Knife 9.5"
-28 %Cobalt · Damascus Chef Knife 8"
-23 %Iris · Damascus Chef Knife 8"
-28 %Marea · Damascus Chef Knife 9"
-23 %Marea · Damascus Chef Knife 8"
-28 %Azur · Damascus Chef Knife 8"
-28 %Magma · Damascus Chef Knife 8"
Buying guide
How to choose a damascus chef knife
Blade length is the first thing to decide when choosing a damascus chef knife. An 8-inch blade (20 to 21 cm) suits most home kitchens and standard cutting boards. A 9-inch blade (23 cm) gives more reach for large cuts of meat, cabbage and big boards, at the cost of slightly less maneuverability.
Damascus blades: what really matters
The cutting performance of a damascus chef knife depends mainly on the blade core and its hardness. Every Damascus Knife chef knife has a 10Cr15CoMoV stainless steel core hardened to 60 ± 2 HRC, wrapped in 37 or 67 layers of damascus steel that create the pattern. From there, the choice comes down to taste: pattern, handle and weight.
Chef knife or santoku knife?
A chef knife is longer and more versatile than a santoku knife, with a tip for fine cuts and a curved edge that lets you rock-chop. The santoku knife is shorter and flatter. If you mostly prep vegetables, also take a look at our damascus santoku knives and our nakiri knives.
Model comparison
| Model | Blade | Damascus steel | Handle | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magma · Damascus Chef Knife 8" | 8" (21 cm) | 37 layers | Black G10, resin and copper mesh, decorative mosaic pin | 6.2 oz (175 g) |
| Azur · Damascus Chef Knife 8" | 8" (21 cm) | 37 layers | Brown marbled resin, turquoise and white brass collar | 6.7 oz (190 g) |
| Marea · Damascus Chef Knife 8" | 8" (20 cm) | 67 layers | Burl wood and blue resin, stainless steel bolster | - |
| Marea · Damascus Chef Knife 9" | 9" (23 cm) | 67 layers | Burl wood and blue resin, stainless steel bolster | - |
| Iris · Damascus Chef Knife 8" | 8" (21 cm) | 67 layers | Abalone shell in resin, steel bolster, rivets and decorative mosaic pin | 8.5 oz (242 g) |
| Iris · Damascus Kiritsuke Knife 8" | 8" (21 cm) | 67 layers | Abalone shell in resin, steel bolster, rivets and decorative mosaic pin | 8.4 oz (238 g) |
| Cobalt · Damascus Chef Knife 8" | 8" (19 cm) | 67 layers | Burl wood and honeycomb midnight blue resin, stainless steel bolster | 7.1 oz (201 g) |
| Cobalt · Damascus Chef Knife 9.5" | 9.5" (24 cm) | 67 layers | Burl wood and honeycomb midnight blue resin, stainless steel bolster | 8.5 oz (240 g) |
| Carmin · Damascus Chef Knife 8" | 8" (19 cm) | 67 layers | Burl wood and red resin, stainless steel bolster | 7.1 oz (201 g) |
| Carmin · Damascus Chef Knife 9.5" | 9.5" (24 cm) | 67 layers | Burl wood and red resin, stainless steel bolster | 8.5 oz (240 g) |
| Cosmos · Damascus Chef Knife 8" | 8" (21 cm) | 67 layers | Blue marbled epoxy resin, steel bolster and end cap, decorative mosaic pin | 8.5 oz (240 g) |
| Obsidienne · Damascus Kiritsuke Knife 9" | 9" (23 cm) | 129 layers | Black resin and carbon fiber, octagonal Japanese-style shape | - |
| Obsidienne · Damascus Bunka Knife 7.3" | 7.3" (18 cm) | 129 layers | Black resin and carbon fiber, octagonal Japanese-style shape | - |
| Olea · Damascus Kiritsuke Knife 8" | 8" (20 cm) | 67 layers | Olive wood, stainless steel bolster and end cap | 7.8 oz (220 g) |
| Olea · Damascus Chef Knife 8" | 8" (21 cm) | 67 layers | Olive wood, stainless steel bolster and end cap | 7.9 oz (223 g) |
| Dune · Damascus Chef Knife 8" | 8" (21 cm) | 67 layers | Light pakkawood (resin-impregnated laminated wood), steel bolster and end cap, decorative mosaic pin | 7.1 oz (202 g) |
| Dune · Damascus Chef Knife 9.5" | 9.5" (24 cm) | 67 layers | Light pakkawood (resin-impregnated laminated wood), steel bolster and end cap, decorative mosaic pin | 7.8 oz (221 g) |
| Dune · Damascus Kiritsuke Knife 8" | 8" (21 cm) | 67 layers | Light pakkawood (resin-impregnated laminated wood), steel bolster and end cap, decorative mosaic pin | 7.5 oz (213 g) |
| Dune · Damascus Kiritsuke Knife 9" | 9" (23 cm) | 67 layers | Light pakkawood (resin-impregnated laminated wood), steel bolster and end cap, decorative mosaic pin | 8.2 oz (232 g) |
| Eclipse · Damascus Chef Knife 8" | 8" (20 cm) | 67 layers | Black pakkawood, copper-tone rings, steel bolster and end cap, decorative mosaic pin | 8.7 oz (246 g) |
| Eclipse · Damascus Kiritsuke Knife 8" | 8" (20 cm) | 67 layers | Black pakkawood, copper-tone rings, steel bolster and end cap, decorative mosaic pin | 8.7 oz (246 g) |
Questions
Before you buy
What is the best length for a chef knife?
An 8-inch (20 to 21 cm) chef knife is the most versatile length for a home kitchen. Go up to 9 inches (23 cm) if you often break down large cuts or work on a big cutting board.
Does a damascus chef knife cut better than a regular knife?
The damascus pattern on a chef knife is aesthetic; cutting performance comes from the core steel, its hardness and how fine the edge is. A 10Cr15CoMoV core at 60 HRC holds its edge longer than the softer steel of an entry-level knife.
Will a damascus chef knife rust?
The 10Cr15CoMoV core of our damascus chef knives is stainless steel. As with any knife, hand wash it and dry it right away to prevent spots, and never put it in the dishwasher.
Do I need to oil my Damascus knife?
You only need to oil a Damascus knife regularly if the blade is carbon steel or the handle is unfinished wood. A thin coat of food-safe mineral oil or camellia oil protects against moisture. Stainless Damascus needs oil only now and then, for storage. Avoid WD-40 and cooking oils that turn sticky on a kitchen knife.
Can Damascus knives go in the dishwasher?
No, Damascus knives should never go in the dishwasher. Heat, long exposure to moisture and harsh detergents dull the pattern, encourage rust and damage the handle. The blade also knocks against dishes and loses its edge. Hand-washing with warm soapy water and drying immediately takes under a minute and keeps the knife in shape.
Can you sharpen a Damascus knife?
Yes, you can sharpen a Damascus knife like any kitchen knife, ideally on a whetstone. A medium grit around 1000 rebuilds the edge and a finer stone polishes it. Japanese-style blades are usually sharpened at a lower angle than Western knives. Skip pull-through sharpeners, which are too harsh for hard steel, and use a ceramic honing rod between sessions.
Which Japanese-style knife should I buy first?
The best first Japanese-style knife is a chef knife (gyuto) or a santoku. Both slice, dice and chop meat, fish and vegetables, so one blade covers most daily cooking. Pick a gyuto if you like a longer blade and rocking cuts, a santoku if you prefer a shorter, lighter knife. Add a nakiri later if you cook a lot of vegetables.