Artifex II BD1N Gyuto 210mm

The Artifex II is CKTGs own knife, designed specifically for professional cooks who need serious edge performance without the anxiety of carrying an expensive blade into a busy kitchen. At HRC 63, Carpenter BD1N is among the highest-performing stainless steels available in this price range — harder than most production knives, which translates directly into exceptional edge retention through long shifts and demanding prep. The blades are manufactured to CKTGs specifications using American-made BD1N steel, and the result has become one of the best-selling knives in the catalog among line cooks across the country.

The blade is laser cut from BD1N mono steel with a thin grind — 2.2mm at the heel tapering toward a fine edge at 16 degrees per side — that gives the knife a fast, precise feel well beyond what the price would suggest. At 210mm blade length and 44.6mm height the profile is versatile and well proportioned, with enough belly for comfortable rocking cuts and a flat section near the heel that handles push cutting efficiently. At 6.2 oz the knife is light enough to use for extended periods without fatigue. The G-10 fiberglass handle scales are attached with two rivets, essentially impervious to moisture, and built to absorb the kind of daily punishment that a professional kitchen delivers. One note worth passing on from multiple reviewers: the choil has sharp edges out of the box that benefit from a few minutes with sandpaper — a quick fix that several owners mention as the only thing standing between this knife and perfection.

What Customers Are Saying: The reviews on this knife span culinary school instructors, sushi chefs, home cooks making their first Japanese knife purchase, and line cooks who have been using it daily for years. A culinary instructor in Boston has purchased close to 30 of these for students and gives them to graduates as a gift — a more meaningful endorsement than any individual review. Professional cooks describe it as the knife that holds its edge better than anything else in their kit, with one owner comparing it favorably to a knife at four times the price. First-time Japanese knife buyers consistently describe the out-of-the-box sharpness as a genuine revelation. Edge retention is the most frequently cited strength, with multiple owners noting they used it for weeks or months before the first sharpening was needed. It has been purchased as a gift repeatedly, given away to friends and family, and repurchased — sometimes multiple times by the same buyer.

Care Instructions: BD1N stainless steel is low maintenance and highly corrosion resistant. Hand wash and dry after each use — avoid the dishwasher. The steel responds well to water stones and strops readily between sessions. Avoid hard bones and frozen foods. A quick pass on a honing rod during service will extend edge life considerably.

• Brand: Richmond
• Line: Artifex II
• Construction: Laser Cut, Mono Steel
• Steel: Carpenter BD1N Stainless
• HRC: 63
• Edge Grind: Even, Double Bevel
• Bevel: 50/50, 16 degrees per side
• Handle: Western (Yo)
• Scales: G-10
• Blade Length: 210mm
• Total Length: 335mm
• Spine Thickness at Heel: 2.2mm
• Blade Height: 44.6mm
• Weight: 6.2 oz (176g)