RARE Antique HUMPHREY's & CO. Sheffield Carbon Steel Chef Knife RAZOR SHARP

Please read our Terms below for details. PLEASE NOTE: We take our photos in natural light outdoors and as a result there are sometimes reflections or shadows or glare shown in the blades. In person none of these exist; we will say so in the description if it may be otherwise. This is a rare and beautiful piece of exceptional quality made in Sheffield, England by Humphrey's & Co.

Legendarily famous for making some of the finest razors, cutlery and tools every produced in that city. Made sometime in the late 1800's-early 1900's, this superb knife was hand-forged and crafted in a timeless style that is uniquely British (though heavily influenced by the French), a model of beauty, functionality and craftsmanship. Stylistically, it is the embodiment of a British chef's knife.

In terms of its quality, materials and condition, it lacks for nothing. It was probably used on a daily basis in some huge country estate's private kitchen or in one of the fine haute cuisine eateries of London. If you have seen the film "Gosford Park" then you've seen knives like this before--there's are some similar ones laying on the table ready to be sharpened by the servants. It comes in the quintessential chef knife size (15.25" long with 10" blade) and the fit and finish of its carbon steel blade and old-growth ebony handles is exquisite. Condition, as you can see in the photos, is nothing less than astonishing.

Like all fine knives, it has a fully forged tang that extends the full length of the knife, tapering towards both ends for maximum balance. When you use a knife like this, it feels like an extension of your hand, not a mere object that you're holding. It's superb aesthetics are matched by it's performance. You will not find a sharper, more functional blade than those hand-forged from Sheffield steel.

This is the perfect knife for a wide variety of kitchen tasks, and is, for many old-school chefs, the only knife you'll ever need. From creating paper-thin slices of turkey breast, tomato, cucumber, onion or whatever, to reducing large piles of your garden's freshest herbs into small piles of aromatic goodness, this outstanding knife will outperform just about any other. This exceptional knife was recently given an EXTREMELY sharp professional edge and must be treated with extreme care or will land a careless user in the ER needing stitches. In the old days, many classically trained French chefs didn't consider a knife fit for professional use until it received its first "working" edge upon receipt from the factory.

Sushi chefs continue this tradition with their rituals of water stones and the resulting keen of their blades is virtually alien to casual (and to many professional) users of Western indoctrination. This knife comes pretty close to just that kind of sharpness and you'll have no trouble finding a myriad of uses for it. Notice that the knife incorporates the slightly rounded French bolster, which allows your fingertips to achieve maximum contact with the knife for better control than its German counterparts. The one truly British design element it enjoys, however, is the flare at the base of the handle, reminiscent of a saber's handle.

The blade still shines like stainless, though will definitely discolor over time and will rust if not kept dry with each use. Whether you're an amateur or professional chef, you know how important the finest cutlery is to your state of mind while cooking. Here's your chance to relax and let your hands take over. And it's never too early to find the perfect gift for that hard-to-shop-for loved one!

An instant heirloom for user and collector alike. Our store's inventory is searchable using the search field or may be browsed by clicking on categories, with each option found on the left side of the store's homepage. Don't see it or can't find what you're looking for? It's wrong--it's STEALING--and you WILL be turned in to us by one of the legion of our loyal customers, who inevitably see your plagiarism and notify us about it.

All items come from a smoke-free home. There will be NO EXCEPTIONS to this policy. If you dislike this or find this unfair, PLEASE shop elsewhere; we only want happy customers and it's our feeling that no one should be able to claim dissatisfaction with this policy, since we're stating it up front. It's not an attempt to profit, simply the only way my elderly bones can continue to offer so many items. WE SELF-INSURE using our business policy.

The seller is "ralph1396" and is located in Los Angeles, California. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom