We are setting a new benchmark in knife craftsmanship and cutting culture. Unique items are created from the interaction of the unique blade appearance with its hammered finish and the carbon look as well as the handle made of valuable indestructible oak wood.
The anthracite blade is coloured by means of a special environmentally friendly process. This gives the knives their pure industrial beauty. The hammered finish on the blade underlines its uniqueness and functionality. The oak handle symbolises endurance, power and strength. The sharp and clear line of the handle reinforces the knife's aesthetics.
The knife is the extension of a chef’s arm. The harmony between the blade shape, bolster and handle must therefore be correct. The perfect cutting ability, ergonomic handle and bevelled bolster shape make the knives from the DarkNitro series a first-class knife and meet the highest requirements of professional chefs and ambitious amateur cooks The knife is ideally balanced and sits comfortably in the hand.
Matthias Gfrörer is a chef and restaurateur from Hamburg, and is fully committed to promoting the key topics of sustainability and local cuisine. He was one of the first to be enthused by the DarkNitro series. “DarkNitro means pure craftsmanship. The knives fit perfectly with my vision of sustainability and natural beauty. Back to the roots, no frills, with plenty of sophistication and attention to detail. The interplay between the dark blade and the hammered look immediately reminds me of classic blacksmithing, and I think of the power of fire. For me, the DarkNitro knives are simply GREAT.”
The extremely thin, sharp blade makes cutting a "weightless" pleasure. The hammered technique also creates many small air cushions between the blade and the food being cut. This makes it easier to remove any food from the blade surface and reduces the amount of food that sticks to the blade.
We use a special martensitic, stainless and nitrogen-alloyed steel in the DarkNitro series. This results in a unique combination of excellent cutting performance, exceptional hardness of 61 HRC and special corrosion resistance. For a perfect material structure, DarkNitro knives are forged in a special process and then ice-hardened at temperatures down to -197°. The very fine microstructure of the steel allows for simple sharpening, resulting in a very sharp cutting edge.
Selected wood made from robust oak is used for the handle. Oak trees are known for their longevity; a tree can grow over 800 years old. The oak tree is shrouded in legend and steeped in history and is known for being one of the main deciduous trees in Europe. Ships were built with oak as long as 1,000 years ago and until today, oak barrels are used to store special whisky and wine. So it’s no wonder that Friedr. Dick has chosen a handle from oak wood for the new unique series of knives.
The handle, ground by expert craftspeople, makes each piece a unique item with its own colour character and wood grain. Each knife is an individual item because of the extraordinary and unique blade and handle surface and no two knives are the same. Thanks to the aesthetic, perfectly shaped handle, the knives sit safely and comfortably in the hand.
The range of forged F. DICK knives in the DarkNitro series meets all the requirements of different applications. In the DarkNitro series, Chef's Knife, Paring Knife and Sharpening Steel are available immediately. Santoku and Bread Knife will also be added to the range from February 2024 and can already be pre-ordered now.