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A Stock New Old Stock 12" Ideal Chef Carbon Rosewood Thiers, France 1980-90

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$246.00
Sale Price
$246.00
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New old stock unmarked 31cm / 12" carbon steel chef knives from the vintage bin! These knives are unmarked, so dating is a little difficult, but they were most likely made in the the 1980's being that the 23cm do not have a tapered tang and the 31cm do; the largest chef knives were the last to be hand forged after drop forging in the early 90's.

They were hand forged after being drop forged and hand ground in the old Thiers style. This lends to giving them a great geometry, making them nimble where they need to be and tough in the heel. These are the quintessential post war French chef knife design with integral bolster / ferrule first developed in the 1920's but really taking off in the 1950's and 60's.

A Stock are the best quality among the knives from this stock, we accepted small imperfections in the blade straightness which for the age is typical but rejected bends or waviness that would impede sharpening or use.

Please note these can have small rust spots or imperfections, slight cants or waviness to the edge are possible as well. We do strict quality control on these but small imperfections are part of the picture on knives of this era.

New Old Stock, Vintage, and New Old Stock knives do not come sharpened. Please request sharpening if desired in the order notes section during checkout.

All-around Use

Can handle almost any kitchen task.

Light Butchery OK

Safe for use around bones.

Carbon Steel

Reactive blade.

Tough Edge

Durable edge grind.

Ambidextrous

Suitable for all users.

Listed Length: 12"
Total Length: 18"
Edge Length: 12"
Heel Height: 2.25"
Spine Thickness: 6mm
Weight:
Orientation: Ambidextrous

Blade Type: Carbon Steel
Steel Type: Vintage Carbon
Steel Hardness (HRC):
Reactive: More Attention
Handle Type: Western
Handle Material: Rosewood

  • This is a reactive carbon steel knife.
  • Hand wash and towel dry after use. Do not air dry or place in the dishwasher.
  • Expect oxidation (color change, staining, spotting) with use.
  • Prolonged exposure to moisture or food debris will cause rust; remove any rust with a light abrasive.
  • Use only on a quality wooden cutting board.
  • Do not use on hard surfaces like bamboo or plates.
  • Don't twist or scrape the edge on the cutting surface to avoid early dulling and edge damage.

About Au Nain

Thiers, France

Founded in 1885, Au Nain is a multi-generational French maker of kitchen and professional cutlery. Originally serving butchers and chefs, the company still operates in Thiers, blending machine precision with traditional hand-finishing. Their carbon and stainless steel knives are designed for durability and edge performance—ranging from classic chef’s knives to robust butcher tools. The dwarf logo (“nain”) is iconic in France, representing generations of reliable, no-nonsense tools. With over 130 years of experience, Au Nain remains a trusted name in practical French knives for both kitchen and table.