Description
With the B&W Psychotropic Chef, Salem Straub once again redefines what a daily-use chefs knife can be. Forged from his Psychotropic mosaic damascus, a hypnotic interplay of 1084 and 15n20 high-carbon alloys, the 235mm / 9.25″ blade boasts Salem’s traditional and versatile Western chef profile, its flowing lines and broad stance balancing familiarity with originality. The steel itself is alive with movement, the pattern seeming to ripple, twist, and refract across the surface, creating the illusion of motion in solid form. Performance, of course, matches the spectacle. Salem’s finely tuned geometry and convex bevels create a tool that glides through food with power, precision, and grace. A tough, 61mm-tall heel provides strength and authority for the biggest cuts, while the spine’s distal taper and aggressive tip deliver agility for detailed work. With every transition across the blade, the knife rewards the chef with balance and confidence, Salem’s compound ‘S-grind’ geometry shaped purposefully for performance and food release. Completing this singular piece is a handle sculpted from exceptional cross-cut black-and-white ebony, its dramatic grain structure on full display. The dense, luminous wood contrasts against the bold damascus, a pairing that feels timeless yet otherworldly. In hand, the handle’s Western shaping offers both familiarity and elegance, turning a high-performance kitchen tool into an heirloom-worthy work of art. Taken altogether, Salem delivers a one-of-a-kind object, a piece of his heart and soul, to admire and use everyday.
