Yaxell Zen knivesYou have heard of the ancient art of Japanese sword making. Now, you can have those techniques, passed down from generation to generation for hundreds of years from the sword capital of Japan, in your very own kitchen knives. These are knives used by the very best chefs and restaurants in the world and people like you!The bladesThe blade of each knife is extremely sharp, long lasting and durable. Yaxell does this with its special layering techniques. The core material, know as VG10, is a "super steel" is composed of cobalt, molybdenum, vanadium, and carbon. On each side of this core, the knife is clad with 18 layers of soft as well as hard, high-carbon stainless steel, for a total of 37 layers.The quality of the craftsmanship can be seen in the Damascus pattern (lines on the blade) as well as the tsuchime (indentations).Heated to high temperatures in a kiln before being ice hardened, this design helps maintain long-lasting sharpness without becoming brittle and is corrosion resistant.HandleErgonomically designed for a sure grip and good balance, it is constructed of a US FDA approved black canvas micarta, which is odorless, extremely durable and designed to last decades. It resists heat up to 150 degrees C (302 degrees F), and is held together by two stainless-steel rivets.About YaxellSince 1932, Yaxell has been a top knife supplier in Japan. Its knives are made in Japan, combining ancient Japanese know-how with modern techniques, and sold in 31 countries around the world. Yaxell focuses on producing top-quality knives for the top chefs, hotels and restaurants, as well as home users who only settle for the best.