Meola 1084 Carbon 7.75 Inch Chinese Chef Knife

This Chinese Chef Knife, or Càidāo (菜刀), is hand-forged in Berthoud, Colorado by bladesmith Akiva Meola using 1084 high-carbon steel. The blade is forged, ground, heat treated to 62 HRC, polished, and sharpened by hand. Designed with roots in traditional Chinese kitchen knives and built with modern craftsmanship, this style offers the versatility of a Western chef knife or Gyuto with a distinct profile. Despite its square blade shape, this is not a meat cleaver. The blade is thinner and made for precision—perfect for chopping, slicing, dicing, and mincing. Its tall profile makes it easy to scoop ingredients, while the substantial spine gives the option to tenderize meat when needed. The handle features a 3/4 hidden tang with a Western-style profile, sculpted in-house from curly silver maple stabilized in deep blue resin. It’s flame-finished for character and paired with a white Corian ferrule. The spine and choil are mirror-polished and rounded for comfort during long prep sessions. Wi