Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

Saussure Master Chef's Knife, Sasserides Bread Knife

Sasserides and Saussure are a matching pair of exquisite custom chef's knives. Both have 440C high chromium stainless tool steel blades, and are mirror finished, hollow ground, milled, fully fileworked, with fully tapered tangs. The high polish finish allows easy cleaning and remarkable beauty. The both have front and rear 304 austenitic high chromium-nickel stainless steel bolsters, for excellent longevity and durability, and are dovetailed and fully pinned for a solid, permanent fit. The handles are doublet cut gemstones of Australian Tiger Iron (hematite, red jasper, and tiger eye quartz) and Larvikite, an orthoclase feldspar granite (Blue Pearl granite). Both knives feature double thickness kydex slip sheaths with nickel plated steel Chicago screws.

Here are thumbnail photos of the original designs for the client:

Sasserides is a very long, serious bread knife with 11 inches of cutting length at the blade, designed to slice through large, round loaves of hard-crusted breads, but is also suitable for carving, with its thin .1875" thick blade. My theatre curtain serrations are very aggressive and razor keen, able to penetrate hard crusts and leaving minimal crumbs. The comfortable handle and slight blade curvature allows long, sweeping cuts at a comfortable grip angle and the long sculpted and finished bolster extends into the blade for additional support. This has got to be one of the finest bread knives ever made.

Saussure is a masterpiece of blade evolution. What started out as the Vega group design has evolved into this master chef's knife made for the serious chef. This is a massive knife, made from .250" thick stock, and nine inches of cutting edge lengths is definitely not a dainty Japanese sushi knife! Don't let the meaty blade fool you, it's got one of the thinnest, most aggressive hollow grinds I've ever executed, and is super-razor-keen at the cutting edge. The weight of the blade will help it glide through most cutting chores, and the entire knife is remarkably well balanced. The curvature of the edge allows comfortable cuts and mincing, and the multitude of artistic milled holes will help with food release from the polished stainless steel. The front bolster extends along the spine, creating a convenient purchase for a top pinch-style grip. The handle is massive, full, and round, designed to reduce fatigue and provide a comfortable angled grip that allows the wrist a relaxed angle. This is a fantastic, full, and gorgeous master's knife.

These are wonderful, professional, creative works of art that I thoroughly enjoyed making. They will offer the client decades of service and beauty.

Thanks, M. M.!