This work of culinary art by Salem Straub represents the final creation in which a unique and rare piece of material will be used at his shop: in 2023, five renowned bladesmiths and damascus artists came together to create a new pattern with a pentagonal element to represent each of their contributions. The result of this collaboration between Salem and fellow makers Mareko Maumasi, Joshua Prince, Charlie Ellis, and Will Stelter is the polyrhythmic mosaic damascus steel witnessed here coursing through the center of this chef knife's blade. Surrounding Polyrhythmic are top and bottom edge bars of Salem's bold chevron-pattern damascus, and the same is used for the integral bolsters, presenting beautiful, contrasting artistic styles that encourage the viewer's gaze and highlight the intricate complexity possible in folded, turned, and tiled layers of steel, directly alongside what may be described as the opposite. With even a magnifying glass in hand, new details will be constantly discovered in polyrhythmic, while the chevron wears its heart on its sleeve. These are not mere raw materials, of course, and Salem has done, as expected, a meticulous job shaping them into a blade worthy of the most skilled operator. Compound 'S-grind' bevel geometry delivers cutting performance and versatility, the lower, convex portion slimming to a razor-sharp, thin edge. Dynamic and designed for every cut in the kitchen, the blade is stiff and tough at the rear for chopping tasks, becoming slimmer and more flexible as the spine tapers towards the tip where it is fine enough for the most precise slicing work. A striking and unexpected profile, a little different from much of Salem's work, rocks beautifully on the board, delivering a mid-high tip that users of both Eastern and Western-inspired styles can appreciate. Completing the handle beyond the damascus steel, with stepped, heirloom fit-up are two pieces of jaw-droppingly gorgeous stabilized and double-dyed cedar burl with faceted, Western-inspired sculpting, all around a recessed frame of black G10. A stainless nut securing the through-tang mechanical retention bolt is accessible at the rear.
