Sign of the Bear Kitchenware
HammerStahl's Extraordinary 5.5" Santoku
Our most often-gifted-from-chefs-to-chefs tool, HammerStahl's lovely 5.5" Santoku cuts your favorite fruits and veggies with much less sticking.
- Hollows in the blade, sometimes called "granton edges" break the vacuum, which is what makes high-starch foods like apples or potatoes stick to your blade
- This Santoku is also available as one of the 21 knives in Hammerstahl's extraordinary 21-piece block set (shown in the cheese knife's secondary photos, and also listed separately).
Knife Skills & Sharpening Videos
Learn to hold + use your knives ("pinch grip" and "claw hold") wash your blades, hone and sharpen them.
At Sign of the Bear (we LOVE knives and will LOVE to show you) OR spend a moment
with the exceptional online knife skills videos from the extraordinary Jacques Pepin (below) who reminds us to make a flat surface before you cut.
Knife Skills:
Knife Sharpening:
Family-owned in Clarksville, TN,
Hammer Stahl's Extraordinary Knives Begin With their beautiful German Steel.
Hammer Stahl cutlery is made from top-quality German X50CrMoV15 high carbon stainless steel. For science-fans, that breaks out as:
- Carbon makes iron (& steel) stronger and harder. High-carbon blades hold their edge better, and take a sharper edge. Without other metals, high-carbon stainless can (a) be brittle and (b) rust, so they add:
- Chromium makes stainless steel stainless (or at least rust-resistant).
- Nickel adds toughness to the blade.
- Molybdenum helps a steel maintain strength at high temperatures.
- Vanadium increases wear resistance and makes the blade harder
It is forged and tempered to precise specifications and a Rockwell hardness of 55 - 57 that provides a superior edge and lasting durability.
RAZOR SHARP EDGE
The razor sharp edges are precisely measured by laser for a world-class cutting edge. The blades are sharpened to a 20 degree bevel angle.
COMFORTABLE GRIP
Our knives are engineered with a sloped bolster to provide a comfortable grip.
BEAUTIFUL HANDLE
Our Pakkawood handles are infused with phenolic resin that combines the beautiful look of wood with the durability of plastic.
QUAD TANG DESIGN
The quad tang design, with the handle's steel exposed on all four sides, provides exceptional balance and superior comfort.
GIFT BOXING
All individual knives as well as our carving set and steak knife sets are packaged in a beautiful gift box. The knife is packed in foam and the box features magnetic latches.
MANUFACTURING PROCESS
The process starts in Germany, where X50CrMoV15 stainless steel is fully forged and tempered for ideal strength and durability. The forged steel is then shipped to our state-of-the-art factory in China, where the detailed process of applying the Pakkawood handles is meticulously done by hand. After the razor sharp cutting edge is measured for precision by laser, the knife is polished, inspected and packaged. The finished product is an impeccable combination of beauty and functional design.
A Bit About HammerStahl's History.
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1874 Vollrath is founded in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
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1892 Vollrath adds sheet steel stamped ware to their line.
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1945 Vollrath wins the Army-Navy “E” Award for excellence in equipment production.
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1965 Donald Henn starts selling Vollrath cookware directly to consumers.
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1974 Vollrath adds a cookware facility in Clarksville, Tennessee.
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1982 Donald Henn purchases Vollrath's consumer division and its Tennessee production to bring superior products to home kitchens.
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1985 Ta-Dah: Induction-ready cookware.
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1987 The very first 7-ply surgical stainless steel cookware.
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2007 A New 63,000 ft2 efficient, environmentally-friendly factory and state-of-the-art chemical-free washing system.
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2008 Hammer Stahl Cutlery - high quality German steel and an affordable manufacturing process.
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2013 The most advanced version of its 7-ply stainless steel cookware has their innovative handle design and state-of-the-art stainless steel.
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2015 Cookware Goes to local independent retailers.
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2017 Cookware production Converts to 316Ti interior steel, making its cooking surface the most durable and non-reactive on the market.
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2019 The Heritage Steel Name celebrates the company's heritage of quality goods manufactured in the USA.