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Carbon-steel chef knife resting on a linen cloth

Cutlery

Everyday chef knife, 20 cm

One knife that does most of the work.

$118 CAD

In stock, ships from Toronto in 1–2 business days

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A 20 cm blade is the size that handles the widest range of jobs: onions, herbs, a chicken, a squash. This one is carbon steel, which means it takes and holds a sharper edge than stainless, and it will darken over time into a grey patina. That patina is protective, not a flaw.

The handle is oiled hardwood, shaped to sit in the hand without a bolster digging into your knuckles. It comes sharp. You should not need to sharpen it for a while, and when you do, a whetstone or a visit to any Toronto sharpener will bring it right back.

Blade
20 cm carbon steel
Edge
Sharpened to roughly 15°
Handle
Oiled hardwood, riveted
Hardness
approx. 61 HRC
Weight
172 g
Not for
Bones, frozen food, dishwashers

Care & use

Hand wash and dry immediately. Do not let it air-dry in a rack and never put it in the dishwasher. A quick wipe of camellia or neutral oil keeps rust off if your kitchen is humid.

  • Hone before use, sharpen on a stone every few months.
  • Cut on wood or plastic, not glass or stone.

Good to know

It will develop dark spots and a grey patina within weeks. That is carbon steel doing its job. If you want a knife that stays mirror-bright with zero care, buy stainless instead, and we mean that.

Free returns 30 days Defect warranty Ships across Canada
Close-up of the knife's oiled hardwood handle and riveted bolster
Oiled hardwood, riveted through the tang. No bolster to grind away as you sharpen.

One knife, most of the work

A 20 cm blade is the sweet spot: long enough to rock through a pile of onions or break down a chicken, short enough to feel controlled when you are slicing garlic thin. Learn to guide it with a claw grip on your other hand and this single knife covers the vast majority of what happens on a cutting board.

Carbon steel is the trade-off worth understanding. It takes a keener edge than stainless and holds it longer, so it simply cuts better — but it reacts with acid and water, so it darkens into a grey patina and will spot if you leave it wet. A quick wash-and-dry after each use is the entire cost of a genuinely sharper knife.

Keeping it sharp

Hone it on a rod before a big prep session and it stays keen for months. When it finally dulls, a few minutes on a whetstone — or a drop-off with any Toronto sharpener — brings it right back. We are happy to point you to a stone and a two-minute video.

  • One 20 cm carbon-steel chef knife, sharpened and ready
  • A slim edge guard for the drawer
  • Care card with our honing and storage notes
Carbon steel vs. stainless
 This knifeTypical stainless
Edge sharpnessKeenerGood
Holds its edgeLongerShorter
Patinas / can spotYesNo
Care neededDry after useLittle

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