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Carbon Steel Knives

Carbon Steel Knives
Use & Maintenance
For centuries, carbon steel has been the material of choice for artisans and chefs seeking sharp, durable, and high-performance blades. While stainless steel knives gained popularity in the 20th century for their ease of maintenance, carbon steel is making a strong comeback among serious cooks and professionals who prioritise precision and longevity in their kitchen tools.

Carbon steel is a blend of iron and carbon, with carbon content typically ranging from 0.5% to 1.5%. The presence of carbon is what allows the steel to be hardened, which results in a sharper and longer-lasting edge. Unlike stainless steel, which contains chromium for rust resistance, carbon steel has a simpler composition that enhances its ability to form a fine, keen edge.
Both high carbon steel and stainless steel share iron as a base element, but their differences significantly impact a knife’s performance and maintenance needs. Carbon steel tends to keep its edge longer due to its higher hardness and fine grain structure, which allow it to be honed to an extremely sharp finish. While high carbon stainless steel blends can retain sharpness reasonably well, most stainless steels are softer overall, meaning they lose their edge more quickly than the finest carbon steels.

Carbon steel is often easier to sharpen because its simpler grain structure allows sharpening stones to “bite” more effectively for quick, precise honing. Stainless steel can be trickier to sharpen due to its chromium content and other alloying elements. Although some specialised stainless formulations do sharpen nicely, they typically require more effort or specific sharpening techniques.

Carbon steel is more reactive to water or acidic ingredients, which helps it to develop a protective patina, however if a carbon blade is left in contact with these kind of fluids there is a risk of rust. It can be a good idea to wipe your knife with a cloth regularly whilst in use. Stainless steel contains at least 13% chromium which makes it much more corrosion-resistant and less prone to discolouration. 

Once you have finished using your knife, it should be hand washed using a gentle soap or detergent, before drying thoroughly with a soft, absorbent cloth. It is important to store your knife carefully to avoid it being exposed to damp conditions. Carbon steel knives are best stored on a magnetic knife strip, with a blade guard, or in a knife block to protect the blade edge from damage and damp.

Further Information

Rust Prevention and Care

To avoid rust and dulling of the blade, carbon steel knives should never be left soaking in water, placed in the dish washer, or kept in a damp environment. We recommend washing the blade as soon as possible after use and wipe any remaining moisture off with a tea towel. Oiling the blade lightly with a food grade mineral, vegetable, or camellia oil from time to time will also help repel moisture. Rusted areas should be cleaned immediately with a light abrasive such as baking soda or metal polish.

Patina

Due to the nature of the material, carbon steel knives will develop a uniquely beautiful and equally useful patina over time, often caused by the metal's reaction to acidic ingredients. This darkening of the blade in fact helps in creating a protective barrier from rust.

Further Reading

A classic Spanish ‘goat-legged’ folding pocket knife with pointed, leaf shaped blade in carbon (rustable) steel. Hand made in Catalonia by Cuchillería Pallarès, the one surviving knife maker in a town once dotted with manufacturers. Blade length about 8cm. Closed length 10cm. Carbon steel is extreme..
£53.00
Ex Tax:£44.17
A classic Spanish ‘goat-legged’ folding pocket knife with pointed, leaf shaped blade in carbon (rustable) steel. Hand made in Catalonia by Cuchillería Pallarès, the one surviving knife maker in a town once dotted with manufacturers. Blade length about 8cm. Closed length 10cm. Carbon steel is extreme..
£53.00
Ex Tax:£44.17
A special grafting knife from Pallares Solsona in Spain, with a strong and sharp narrow, tapered blade around 8cm carbon steel (rustable) blade and full tang beechwood handle. Great for detailed work in the garden. Hand produced in Catalonia at the workshops of Cuchillería Pallarès the one surviving..
£16.00
Ex Tax:£13.33
A classic black-handled French pattern carbon steel filleting knife with brass rivets. Made by K Sabatier, one of the two original Sabatier families working from Theirs, France, and a company renowned for the quality of their classic hand-ground knives.This blade is made from carbon steel, which kee..
£58.00
Ex Tax:£48.33
An Aragon pattern kitchen knife with a 15cm carbon steel (rustable) blade and full tang beechwood handle. A more typical chef's form than the Classic Solsona knives, these too make excellent general purpose food preparation slicing and chopping tools. Hand produced in Catalonia at the workshops of C..
£27.00
Ex Tax:£22.50
An Aragon pattern kitchen knife with a 20cm carbon steel (rustable) blade and full tang beechwood handle. A more typical chef's form than the Classic Solsona knives, these too make excellent general purpose food preparation slicing and chopping tools. Hand produced in Catalonia at the workshops of C..
£36.00
Ex Tax:£30.00
A small, narrow bladed butchers’ 15cm boning and filleting knife with a traditional boxwood handle and carbon steel (rustable, but keeps a great edge) blade. Hand produced in the Catalonian workshops of Cuchillería Pallarès, the one surviving knife and tool maker in a town once dotted with small man..
£25.00
Ex Tax:£20.83
A classic near rectangular No1 (6cm by 18cm) lightweight and thin bladed peeling and slicing cleaver with a beechwood handle and carbon steel (rustable, but keeps a great edge) blade. Hand produced in the Catalonian workshops of Cuchillería Pallarès, the one surviving knife and tool maker in a town ..
£31.00
Ex Tax:£25.83
Simple yet elegant kitchen knives with carbon steel (rustable) blades and boxwood handles. Amongst the most traditional of Solsona patterns these make excellent general purpose culinary knives designed to be used with a rocking action following the curve of the blade. Hand produced in Catalonia at t..
£24.00
Ex Tax:£20.00
Simple yet elegant kitchen knives with carbon steel (rustable) blades and boxwood handles. Amongst the most traditional of Solsona patterns these make excellent general purpose culinary knives designed to be used with a rocking action following the curve of the blade. Hand produced in Catalonia at t..
£28.00
Ex Tax:£23.33
Simple yet elegant kitchen knives with carbon steel (rustable) blades and boxwood handles. Amongst the most traditional of Solsona patterns these make excellent general purpose culinary knives designed to be used with a rocking action following the curve of the blade. Hand produced in Catalonia at t..
£34.50
Ex Tax:£28.75
Simple yet elegant kitchen knives with carbon steel (rustable) blades and boxwood handles. Amongst the most traditional of Solsona patterns these make excellent general purpose culinary knives designed to be used with a rocking action following the curve of the blade. Hand produced in Catalonia at t..
£60.00
Ex Tax:£50.00
Simple yet elegant kitchen knife with a carbon steel (rustable) blade and ebony handle. Amongst the most traditional of Solsona patterns these make excellent general purpose culinary knives designed to be used with a rocking action following the curve of the blade. Hand produced in Catalonia at the ..
£35.00
Ex Tax:£29.17
A set of 4 Spanish-made knives with a bespoke waxed cotton knife roll made in Oxfordshire. With boxwood handles, the knife set consists of 22cm, 16cm, 13cm and 11cm Classic kitchen knives, with rounded boxwood handles and distinctive Pallares Solsona leaf-shaped blades, made from carbon steel. The b..
£149.00
Ex Tax:£124.17
A carbon steel rectangular bladed nakiri style vegetable slicing cleaver with a through tang and smooth boxwood handle. From the workshops of Cuchillería Pallarès, the one surviving knife and tool maker in a town once dotted with small manufacturers. Now with a workforce of 15, the management still ..
£89.00
Ex Tax:£74.17
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