THE CHEF KNIFE

                

        The knife: it is a primitive tool that has been around (in different forms of course). Around 3000 B.C.E., humans began to use metal knives produced in Southwest Asia. Swords and other weapons were being made there previously to the knife and any other cutlery. Consequently, the knife originated from swords.

 

HOW IT'S MADE

 

                 A chef knife and its parts can be constructed in several different ways. The blade, for example, can be inserted in two different ways. The best option being: the blade that goes from the tip of the knife all the way to the butt and the other being the one that ends just at the knife's heel. Starting with the blade's construction, there are two types of ways in which the blade of the knife can be crafted: hot-forged and stamped. A hot-forged blade is created usually through manual labor, first heating the metal and pounding it by hand to shape it. Afterwards, it is ground and sharpened. A stamped blade is simply created by stamping a sheet of the cold metal that is then ground, sharpened and polished.

 

WHAT IT'S MADE OF

 

                There are four main materials used for blades: carbon steel, stainless steel, laminated, and ceramic. Laminated are actually made of multiple metals layered onto creating a single blade. Ceramic blades are the most delicate of all. Also, in order to sharpen a ceramic blade you must have certain equipment and expertise. Carbon steel is a tougher much more reliable metal which will provide a chef with a much studier and long-lasting blade. However, some chefs prefer stainless steel due to the fact that it is more facile to sharpen, but on the other hand, dulls more rapidly.

 

EDGES

 

                The edge of the blade can be ground in multiple ways such as double-grind, V-shape, single bevel, double bevel, convex edge, hollow ground, single grind or chisel edge and many more. Each edge is used for a different but specific purpose just like there are many kinds of knives for many kinds of purposes.   

 

ADDITIONAL INFO PROVIDED

 

                Due to the many types of chef knife models that have been revolutionized since the first chef knife was created for the sole purpose of to chop meat; the chef knife is the most used knife amongst all knives. On the right photographs of several knife edges have been provided. A YouTube video demonstrating the basic instructions of how to use a chef knife has been included as well.