Lion Sabatier Santoku Knife with Hollow Edge Idéal Provençao Olive Wood 18 cm
Forged from a single piece of steel, so sturdy and nicely balanced
Comes sharp out of the box and is easy to sharpen yourself
Thanks to the dimples, potatoes and fish do not stick to the blade
Japanese technique, French soul, and an olive wood handle that feels like it's made for your hand. The Lion Sabatier Santoku Knife with Hollow Edge Idéal Provençao Olive Wood 18 cm is the knife you reach for every day - whether you're slicing thin potatoes, chopping chicken fillets, or snipping fresh herbs. This is not a showpiece for the drawer. This is the knife you actually cook with.
The all-round knife that can handle everything
The Santoku is the Japanese answer to the French chef's knife: wider, straighter blade, and perfectly balanced for slicing, chopping, and dicing. Lion Sabatier has combined that Japanese shape with centuries-old French forging tradition - made in Thiers, the city where French knives have been made to the highest standard for centuries. The result? A knife that feels like an extension of your hand and cuts as you want a knife to cut: smoothly, accurately, and without fuss.
- Forged from a single piece - Blade, bolster, and tang are made from a single piece of 4116 Nitro+ steel. No weak points, no loose parts - just solid craftsmanship that lasts for years.
- Hollows that really work - Those small hollows along the blade are not just decoration. They break the air vacuum, allowing thin slices of potato, fish, or cucumber to simply fall off the knife. Every time.
- Olive wood handle - Warm, beautifully grained, and comfortable in hand. Olive wood is naturally sturdy and has a weight that works perfectly with the blade.
- Sharp out of the box, easy to sharpen - You don't need to take a sharpening course first. This knife is pre-sharpened and can be easily sharpened in the European way - simply with a sharpening steel or sharpening stone that you probably already have.
- 58-60 HRC hardness - Hard enough to stay sharp, but not so hard that it becomes brittle. The balance between cutting performance and ease of maintenance has been deliberately chosen.
4116 Nitro+ steel: nitrogen makes the difference
Not all stainless steel is the same - and you notice it as soon as you pick up this knife. The blade of this Santoku knife is made from 4116 Nitro+ steel: a nitrogen-enriched stainless steel that is harder, more corrosion-resistant, and easier to sharpen than regular stainless steel. With a hardness of 58 to 60 HRC, you're right in the sweet spot: the edge lasts longer than with softer steel, but the knife is not so brittle that an unfortunate fall is immediately a problem.
The entire forged piece - from tip to tang - consists of this steel. No welded joints, no separate parts. This gives the knife its characteristic balance and sturdiness that you immediately feel as soon as you lift it. This is quality that you don't need to reason - you simply taste the difference in everything you prepare.
Olive wood: the handle that tells a story
The olive wood handle is perhaps the first thing you notice. No smooth plastic, no shiny metal - but warm, living wood with a grain that is slightly different for each knife. Olive wood is naturally extremely hard and durable, with a beautiful warm brown hue that becomes more beautiful as you use the knife more. Three stainless steel rivets hold the handle securely in place, and the bolster - the piece of metal between the blade and handle - provides a comfortable finger rest and good balance.
The only thing to watch out for: wash this knife by hand and dry it immediately. In the dishwasher, the blade doesn't fare well and the wood deteriorates faster. Two minutes of hand washing - that's all this knife needs to serve you for years.
The Santoku in your kitchen
What makes the Santoku such a special all-round knife? The wide, slightly curved blade makes chopping and dicing vegetables particularly pleasant. You work with a downward motion - efficient, quick, and precise. For onions, leeks, courgettes, but also for meat and fish, this knife is soft and precise enough. And thanks to the hollows, nothing sticks: no thin slices of potato that cling to the blade, no fish flesh that sticks to the steel. Just cut and go.
With a blade length of 18 cm and a total length of 30 cm, this is the ideal size for daily use. Not too big, not too small - just right for most cutting tasks in a home or professional kitchen.
💡 Tip from Cookinglife: After washing this knife, lay it flat on a clean tea towel and pat it dry - this keeps both the blade and the olive wood handle in top condition. Treat the wood a few times a year with a drop of olive oil or wood balm for extra protection and an even richer appearance.
Specifications
- Brand: Lion Sabatier
- Collection: Idéal Provençao
- 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: Olive 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 (made in Thiers)
In the packaging
- Lion Sabatier Santoku Knife with Hollow Edge Idéal Provençao Olive Wood 18 cm
If you're looking for a knife that you'll enjoy using day after day, year after year - a knife that is beautiful, cuts sharply, and only gets better as it becomes accustomed to you - then you already know what to do. Add the Lion Sabatier Santoku Knife Idéal Provençao to your collection and discover the difference between a knife you have and a knife you use.
