Description
Salem Straub’s Chains damascus debuted several years ago and has since been presented through culinary blades in formats that each push the pattern further, exploring the creative possibilities of mosaic steel as an artistic medium. This iteration goes further still.
Made in collaboration with California bladesmith and Eatingtools artist Nick Anderson, this reimagining of Chains was forged together at Salem’s Washington shop in 2025, the product of a friendship and creative partnership spanning more than fifteen years. From razor-thin tip through the faceted integral bolster, the darkly etched surfaces present a field of chains woven together in a style inspired by Nick’s past work, wrapping the blade like a robe stitched from two distinct and interlocking patterns. At rest, it barely holds still.
On the board, symmetrical compound bevels, concave through the tall upper portion and slimming downward through superb convexity to a thin, hard edge below, combine with a full distal taper that ends at a needle-like tip to produce the kind of versatile, all-purpose kitchen tool Salem’s work is known for. Standing 62mm tall at the heel with a tip positioned for dextrous detail work, it’s built for the largest ingredients and the thinnest slices. Toughness where it is needed, precision and finesse everywhere else. A touch of lateral flexibility through the forward inches rounds out a blade built for every cut in the kitchen.
Salem’s handle marries subtle curves and flat facets with carefully detailed edges into a Western-inspired grip of boxelder burl set around a black composite frame, finished with a flush stainless pin at the rear face marking the handle’s internal retention bolt construction.
Extraordinary steel. A one-of-a-kind chef knife.
