Antique KRAUT & DOHNAL Chicago XL Kosher Shochet Butcher 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. Without a doubt, it would be difficult to overstate the quality, beauty or rarity of this beautifully preserved antique Kosher slaughter knife.

Especially rare about it is that it was made in Chicago here in the United States, with the vast majority of such knives being made in Germany or sometimes in Eastern European countries like Lithuania or Czechoslovakia. I've been able to learn that its maker, Kraut & Dohnal, went out of business in 1937, so this knife is no newer than that and no older than 1902, the year the company was founded. With its RAZOR sharp 12" blade (measures 17.25" overall) hand-forged from some of the finest carbon razor steel ever forged into a blade, and with a gorgeously grained (bovine) bone handle, bolstered in brass, it's also incredibly beautiful, as you can plainly see in the photos. Handle enjoys a high-degree of refinement, and a bit of creative flourish in its shape and method of bolstering. It's unmarked on blade, but one side of its brass bolster is deeply stamped, KRAUT & DOHNAL, CHICAGO.

Knives like this, sometimes called a chalaf, were always made with the finest steel available, always capable of the finest possible edge, more commonly found on straight razors in order to permit humane, kosher slaughter of an animal with the minimal suffering, as proscribed by Kosher law. Such steel was a highly-prized and closely guarded secret in each company that produced it, and it was usually fired in very small batches, used in only the finest knives produced. This knife was made to comply with kosher law, which requires livestock to be slaughtered with a single stroke across the throat. Of course, one not need be a shochet or even Jewish to fully enjoy the quality of such a knife. The quality of its carbon steel blade is remarkable, and it has many of the properties of a barber's straight razor, with a FRIGHTENINGLY keen edge, polished to a mirror's finish, most of which is still intact.

It has been used, but is in beautiful shape, as you can see in the photos, and it will still perform as well as new for several lifetimes if properly cared for. It will, without doubt, create the finest, most gossamer-thin slices of whatever it is against which you may wield it: turkey, roast beef, or onion. Its blade is sturdy, and it has the keenest possible edge, and if you have never experienced the performance of such a knife, you'll probably be VERY pleasantly surprised by what it's capable of. If you've only used stainless steel knives until now, you will also find a refreshing experience in how easy it is to hone to a razor's edge and easier still to keep it that way. Carbon blades require the user to keep them dry to prevent rusting, but this minor inconvenience is more than offset by the superior performance provided. Knowledgable chefs and butchers alike have always preferred carbon to stainless blades, and once you've used one, you'll soon know why. A superb knife for use or for inclusion in any knife collection and an heirloom-quality piece you'll be proud to pass down to generations to come. 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. I will gladly send you the forms necessary to file. Late, so again, we ask you in advance to please forgive our humanity. We take customer service very seriously and want to do whatever it takes to meet your needs. If you're not in total agreement with us here or disagree for any reason, we can only urge that you PLEASE shop elsewhere. International packages will be calculated on the basis of a MINIMUM ONE POUND weight. IMPORTANT: After TWELVE YEARS of doing everything we could to hold the line on int'l.

If you're not in total agreement with us here or disagree for any reason, again, we can only urge you to PLEASE shop elsewhere. We'd like to sell'em cheaper.. But MY WIFE won't let me!!

The item "Antique KRAUT & DOHNAL Chicago XL Kosher Shochet Butcher Knife RAZOR SHARP" is in sale since Sunday, February 28, 2021. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Kitchen & Home\Flatware, Knives & Cutlery\Flatware Sets". The seller is "ralph1396" and is located in Los Angeles, California.

This item can be shipped worldwide.

Country/Region of Manufacture: United States