Lion Sabatier Santoku Knife with Hollow Edge Idéal Périgord Walnut Wood 18 cm

You know the feeling: you try to slice thin potato slices, but they stick to your blade - as if the knife has decided to adopt them. Or you chop a piece of salmon and half of it remains stuck. With the Lion Sabatier Santoku Knife with Hollow Edge Idéal Périgord Walnut Wood 18 cm, that is a thing of the past. This is the knife that transforms your cutting tasks from a struggle into a moment of pure kitchen pleasure.

Japanese logic, French craftsmanship - the best of both worlds

The santoku is no gimmick: it is the Japanese blueprint for an all-purpose kitchen knife that simply works. Wide blade, straight cutting line, slightly curved tip - the design allows you to slice, chop, and dice effortlessly without constantly switching techniques. Lion Sabatier, hailing from Thiers - the French town where knife-making is not a hobby but a calling - has translated that Japanese logic into their own high standard. The result is a knife that feels familiar right away, yet surprises you time and again with how comfortable it is in hand.

• Forged from a single piece - Blade, bolster, and tang are made from a single piece of 4116 Nitro+ steel: maximum strength and a perfect balance that you feel as soon as you pick up the knife.
• Hollows that really work - The indentations along the blade allow for air circulation between knife and product, causing thin slices of potato, fish, and vegetables to release effortlessly. Less hassle, more cutting pleasure.
• Sharp out of the box, easy to sharpen - You don't have to wait for this knife to become its best version - it already is. And thanks to the European sharpening method, you can keep it sharp with a regular sharpening rod.
• Walnut wood with character - The handle made of authentic walnut wood looks warm and chic, but is also designed for durability: three stainless steel rivets secure it firmly.
• 58-60 HRC hardness - This is the sweet spot between hard enough to stay sharp for a long time, and not so brittle that it chips or breaks under normal use.

The blade: nitrogen-enriched steel that makes a difference

Not all stainless steel is the same - and with knives, you notice that immediately. Lion Sabatier uses 4116 Nitro+ steel, a steel alloy where nitrogen is added during the melting process. That sounds technical, but the effect is simple: the steel becomes harder, more corrosion-resistant, and retains its sharpness longer than standard stainless steel. With a hardness of 58-60 HRC, this knife is right in the zone where professional chefs and home cooks benefit the most - sharp enough for fine work, robust enough for daily use.

And then there are the hollows. They are not just for show - although they look impressive with that 18 cm length. Each hollow reduces the contact surface between blade and ingredient. Slices of cucumber, watery tomatoes, soft cheese, fresh salmon - all ingredients that normally want to stick to your knife. Not here. You slice, the product falls away. Cooking can be that simple.

The handle: where comfort meets quality

A good knife cuts with the blade, but you experience it through the handle. Lion Sabatier knows this too, which is why they chose walnut wood - a type of wood that is not only beautiful but also comfortable to grip and less likely to become slippery than smooth lacquered wood. The warm brown colour gives the knife a character that you won't find with fully metal or plastic handles.

The three stainless steel rivets are not just decoration: they firmly connect the handle and tang and give the knife its characteristic solid feel. Place this knife next to an average supermarket knife and you will immediately understand what "forged from a single piece" means in practice. No wobbly handle, no play, no compromises.

Note: always wash this knife by hand and dry it immediately. The dishwasher is the biggest enemy of a good wooden handle and a sharp blade - the hot water and aggressive detergent damage both. Two minutes of care after cooking keeps this knife in top condition for years.

Made in Thiers - because origin matters

Thiers is not just any town in the French Auvergne - it is the knife-making town of Europe. For centuries, knives have been forged, sharpened, and perfected here. Lion Sabatier carries on that tradition with knives that are not only good on paper but prove their worth in practice - on your cutting board, in your hand, in your daily cooking routine. This is not a knife you buy for the packaging or the name. This is a knife you buy because you notice it works.

💡 Cookinglife Tip: Use this santoku knife for your finest cutting tasks: thin slices of aubergine for a casserole, finely chopped red onion for a fresh salad, or even strips of chicken for a stir-fry. The wide blade also works excellently as a scoop to transfer chopped ingredients from the board to the pan - saving you an extra step and keeping your kitchen a bit tidier.

Specifications

• Collection: Idéal Périgord
• Type: Santoku knife with hollow edge
• Blade length: 18 cm
• Total length: 30 cm
• Weight: 165 grams
• Blade material: 4116 Nitro+ steel (nitrogen-enriched stainless steel)
• Handle material: Walnut wood with 3 stainless steel rivets
• Hardness: 58-60 HRC
• Sharpening method: European
• Colour: Silver / brown
• Dishwasher safe: No - hand wash recommended
• Country of origin: France (Thiers)

In the package

• Lion Sabatier Santoku Knife with Hollow Edge Idéal Périgord Walnut Wood 18 cm

If you've ever had a knife that you reach for every time - not because it's the only one, but because it simply cuts the best - then you know what this knife will mean for you. The Lion Sabatier Santoku Knife Idéal Périgord is the knife for anyone who takes cooking seriously, but doesn't need a diploma for it. Add it to your kitchen and taste the difference at your next meal.