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The Forseti Steel Gourmand Knife is a sturdy 8 inch kitchen knife with a folded steel blade with a highly attractive finish. With a fine grip G10 handle, through tang and a lanyard hole this knife is thick and sturdy enough for most tasks in the kitchen but appealing enough as an heirloom gift too. The knife comes with an attractive presentation box and a small dropper of knife oil to keep the blade at its best.
Full In Depth Review
I guess I’m not always outdoors. I usually review outdoor gear but using a hunting knife in the kitchen at home doesn’t quite feel right. I’ve come to really love the range of Forseti outdoor knives for camping so when I found Forseti had created a range of kitchen knives too I had to take a closer look at their Gourmand Knife.
What is Damascus Steel ?
Damascus Steel was originally forged in India, Sri Lanka and Khorasan from a type of steel called Wortz steel about a 1000 years ago. It was renowned for its sharpness and strength and its swirled pattern that was distinctive.
The Forsetti Steel Blade
The Gourmand Knife Blade is high carbon which means you get a very VERY sharp edge from it. There is a slight trade off though with this type of steel compared to stainless steel and that is that the damascus steel will require you to be more careful with not leaving it wet for too long. I suggest anytime you use the knife for anything ‘dirty’ you wipe the blade clean and dry and also regularly wipe the blade with a light mineral oil ( or even household cooking oil) just to its wiped and then buffed clean. This thin layer will ensure the edge stays keen and the blade doesn’t get a few rust spots on it.
The Blade
The Gourmand blade is a roughly a 8 inches blade. Its well balanced and feels like a high end Japanese knife when you hold it in your hand. The through handle tang is thick and very well fitted through the handle. The drop point tip and 2mm thickness of the blade gives you a strong edge and the 256 folded layers makes a stunning pattern finish which is different for every single knife.
Handle
The handle on the Gourmand isn’t wood at all! Although it looks like a rich dark wood its actually G10 which is a fibreglass laminate which I’ve seen used on a number of good quality mil spec knives in the past. The advantage is that it has a texture added to give it superb grip even when your hands are wet and for a knife thats often wet you wont have issues with the shrinkage and expansion of a wooden handle. This is a departure from the usual Forseti line and I like it for this particular type of knife.
It’s the little things that make you smile ….
When you open the box from Forseti the first thing that hits you is the smell of pine. The knife itself comes with a charming wooden slide top box that’s filled with straw and has the knife nestled inside. Its a nice touch. You can also see the knives have a generous application of oil on the blades too and arrive incredibly sharp.
Gripes
I love the design and I’m impressed by the blade. Usually this is the bit where I have a bit of a moan about one thing or another but I find it hard to be critical about a knife that balances hand made unique appeal with quality and price. My only real gripe is how quickly they seem to sell out. I would maybe have liked the knife to come with some kind of wooden display block so I could leave it out on show more in my kitchen.
Lifetime Guarantee
All Forseti Knives come with a lifetime guarantee and they even provide a free sharpening service too.
Verdict
The Forseti Steel Gourmand Knife is a sturdy 8 inch kitchen knife with a folded steel blade with a highly attractive finish. With a fine grip G10 handle, through tang and a lanyard hole this knife is thick and sturdy enough for most tasks in the kitchen but appealing enough as an heirloom gift too. The knife comes with an attractive presentation box and a small dropper of knife oil to keep the blade at its best.
PURCHASE $136.99Specs and Features
- Overall Length: 13″
- Handle Length: 5″
- Blade Length: 8″
- Blade Material: Damascus Steel 1095/15n20
- Blade thickness: 1/8″ or 2mm
- Tang: full tang
- Damascus pattern: Twist
- Number of layers: 256
- Handle Material: Black G10
- Handle Thickness: .67″
- Includes a wood presentation box and a 3ml. bottle of premium knife oil with dropper
About Forseti Steel
The secret to forging authentic Damascus steel knives has long been lost, but Forseti Steel stays as true to the tradition as we can by commissioning blade-smiths with Damascus ancestry to hand-make all of our blades. The artists behind the enamoring water-like patterns of folded and pounded steel have all learned their skills and techniques from the generations that worked the metals before them.
In addition to paying tribute to the Damascus practice in technique and appearance, Forseti Steel shows its respect for history’s heroes, legends, and characters with our knives’ names and inspiration. The 12″, Hugh Glass Hunting Knife, for example, honors the the mountain men and frontiersmen who tried to tame this land and is a blade we are certain Hugh Glass would have wanted to carry on his expeditions.
All of our knives are made by hand. You read that correctly. Every one of our knives are painstakingly crafted one at a time. That is why no two knives are the same. The knife you receive will be similar to what you see on our site, but will vary slightly due to the materials used and individual craftsman that builds the knife. Our quality and craftsmanship is unparalleled. For that reason, we offer a 30-day unconditional money-back guarantee. If you don’t like the knife for any reason, send it back and we will refund 100% of your money, including shipping. Plus, each of our knives comes with a lifetime manufacturing defects warranty. We promise, you will not be disappointed.
