Dune · Damascus Paring Knife 4", side view
Dune · Damascus Paring Knife 4", on white background
Dune · Damascus Paring Knife 4", in the kitchen (photo 2)
Dune · Damascus Paring Knife 4", in the kitchen (photo 3)
Dune · Damascus Paring Knife 4", in the kitchen (photo 4)
Real Damascus · 67 layers 2-year warranty-20 % 01 / 05

DuneDamascus Paring Knife 4"

$79 $99 Free tracked shipping
Blade length
4" (10 cm)
Steel
67-layer damascus, S35VN-type powder steel core
Hardness
62 ± 2 HRC
Handle
Light pakkawood (resin-impregnated laminated wood), steel bolster and end cap, decorative mosaic pin

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The Dune paring knife is the smallest in the series: a 4-inch blade and 2.7 oz to peel an apple, hull strawberries, remove the germ from a garlic clove or score a duck breast while you hold the food in your hand. It complements the chef knife or santoku. 67-layer damascus blade with an S35VN-type powder steel core, 62 ± 2 HRC, light pakkawood handle with a mosaic pin.

The paring knife is the smallest knife in the kitchen. Its short blade sits close to your hand for precise work: peeling an apple, shaping vegetables, hulling strawberries, de-germing garlic, scoring meat. Japanese-style blade, thin and hard.

Blade and Handle

The Dune Damascus Paring Knife 4" has a blade made of 67 layers of damascus steel around an S35VN-type powder steel core, hardened to 62 ± 2 HRC and sharpened to 9-12° per side. Powder steels have a very fine, even structure, prized for edge retention. The fine, rippled damascus pattern differs on every blade. The handle is light pakkawood, a laminated wood impregnated with resin: it has the color of blond wood but handles moisture far better. A steel bolster and end cap frame it, with a decorative mosaic pin. It is the most complete series in the range: 14 knives.

Shipping and Returns

Damascus Knife ships free with tracking across the United States: 1 to 3 business days to prepare, then 8 to 14 business days in transit, import duties included. You have 30 days after delivery to return your order.

See also: Damascus Paring and Utility Knives · Dune S35VN Powder Steel Damascus Knives

In the kitchen

Our knives at work

the board after dinner
Magma · the board after dinner
watermelon on the terrace
Azur · watermelon on the terrace
salmon in a tiny kitchen
Marea · salmon in a tiny kitchen
the Christmas gift
Iris · the Christmas gift
steak at the campsite
Cobalt · steak at the campsite
a late-night tomato
Carmin · a late-night tomato
first cooking lesson
Cosmos · first cooking lesson

Our models in use (styled scenes).

Dune · Damascus Paring Knife 4", side view

Fig. 01 · Damascus Paring Knife 4"

Specs

The blade, by the numbers

Steel67-layer damascus, S35VN-type powder steel core
Layers67
Hardness62 ± 2 HRC
Blade length4" (10 cm)
Overall length8.0 in (20.3 cm)
Blade height24 mm
Spine thickness2 mm
HandleLight pakkawood (resin-impregnated laminated wood), steel bolster and end cap, decorative mosaic pin
Weight2.7 oz (77 g)
EdgeDouble bevel
SKUCD-DU-OFFI10

Care

3 habits, years of sharp

01

Hand-wash it

Warm water, a drop of dish soap. Never the dishwasher.

02

Dry it right away

One towel, ten seconds. Never leave it in the sink.

03

Sharpen on a stone

1000 grit rebuilds the edge. Low, steady angle.

Questions

Before you buy

What is a paring knife used for?

Peeling, trimming and small precise cuts, often in the hand rather than on the board.

Do I need a paring knife if I have a chef knife?

Yes: a chef knife is too big for peeling or in-hand work. The two complement each other.

What is S35VN-type powder steel?

A steel made by powder metallurgy: its very fine, even structure is prized for edge retention. It forms the core of the blade, wrapped in 67 layers of damascus. Like any hard steel, it is best sharpened on a whetstone.

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.