Rolin Knives GoMai 195mm Gyuto Lohman Carbon Spalted Maple & Copper with Saya

Hand forged GoMai style gyuto made from carbon steel from Friedr. Lohman. in Germany. The hand laminated 5 layer GoMai is made from a mild steel outer, 15n20 middle and 1.2419.05 hagane (core steel) and features a wide convex grind with a medium-thin edge with strong distal taper that allows for a precise and smooth cutting action with a substantial feel. The rokkaku hanmaru - half hexagon and half circle shaped - handle made from spalted maple and topped with a heirloom fit copper ferrule. Comes with a custom maple saya with a leashed copper pin, matching the copper ferrule.

1.2419.05 carbon steel is a special, low volume melt that is intended for the small market. Its name contains 100% German charm and its alloy contains a high carbon content at 1.3%, placing it in between Aogami 1 and Aogami Super while its 1.3% tungsten matches both Aogami 1 and 2. This tungsten, in combination with small amounts of Vanadium and Molybdenum, contribute to the formation of fine carbides that create a bitey cutting feel with great edge retention and toughness, without sacrificing sharpenability when heat treated appropriately.

Spalted maple is not a species of maple but is common maple that has been allowed to enter into a state of controlled spalting (partial decay) where the fungus that has begun to break down the wood fibers creates high contrast and distinct lines between the pale cream tones and the tan and gray patches. When the spalting is halted at the correct time, the fine grain structure and overall integrity of the wood are not compromised.

The copper ferrule is secured to the handle with epoxy and hidden pins with a slight bevel in between the handle and the ferrule. This style called heirloom (or museum) fit means that the handle and ferrule are not exactly flush to each other - an intentional detail that protects against hard edges becoming exposed if there is any shrinkage at the joint over time.

All aspects of this knife were meticulously laminated, forged, treated, ground, machined, worked, shaped and fit with an incredible amount of detail and intention by Nick Rolin. Originally from the Bay Area, Nick's blade shapes and styles are inspired by his years as a fine-dining line cook that preceded his time spent in NYC as a bartender after earning a degree in Sustainable Agriculture from UCSC. After a weekend knife making class in 2016, Nick began making knives for friends and the eventual demand lead to returning to the Bay Area in 2022 to make knives full-time.

We were able to test a few of Nick's knives and were impressed not only with the craftsmanship and aesthetics but also the edge performance, cutting feel and sharpenability of the knives. We are lucky to have Nick in our backyard and are proud to be able to introduce his work to our knife community.