Gyuto 230mm Damasteel Clad Apex Ultra GoMai By Tobias Hangler & Erik Gulikson
This exceptional handmade kitchen knife is a singular creation by metallurgist and blacksmith Tobias Hangler, featuring a design created in collaboration with the MCX Design studio and inspired by the Birch & Bevel pointed gyuto. The blade showcases a gentle sweeping radius edge, a pointed tip, and an ergonomic finger rest, ensuring both precision and comfort during use. The knife’s geometry is meticulously crafted with thin convex bevels and a gradual taper from 3.6mm to 1mm just before reaching a needle-like tip, optimizing cutting performance and control. Every element of this knife has been designed with both function and artistry in mind, making it a standout piece in the world of high-performance kitchen cutlery.
At the core of this blade lies ApexUltra steel, an advanced carbon steel developed in Europe through a collaboration between Tobias Hangler, Marco Guldimann, and Larrin Thomas. ApexUltra is renowned for its high purity, fine carbide distribution, and exceptional toughness, allowing it to achieve a hardness of up to 66 HRC while maintaining edge stability. This steel offers incredible edge retention and wear resistance, making it a top choice for professional and enthusiast chefs alike. The core is clad in Damasteel’s premium stainless Damascus steel, specifically their “Dense Twist” pattern. Produced in Sweden, Damasteel is a leader in powder metallurgy stainless Damascus, offering superior corrosion resistance, durability, and an intricate layered aesthetic. The marriage of ApexUltra’s cutting performance with the resilience and beauty of Damasteel creates a knife that is as durable as it is visually striking.
Beyond its technical excellence, this knife is a testament to European craftsmanship and innovation in knife making. Both the ApexUltra core and Damasteel cladding are European-produced materials, underscoring the region’s leadership in metallurgy and cutlery refinement. The handle, designed by Tobias Hangler and Peter Buckwalter of the MCX design studio, features a faceted rokkaku hanmaru (hex-round) shape with a carved pattern on the side, ensuring a comfortable and secure grip. The lamination of the steel was assisted by Erik Gulikson of Gullikson Knives, further emphasizing the collaborative effort behind this rare and extraordinary blade. The combination of ApexUltra and Damasteel cladding has only been executed on a few occasions, making this knife truly one of a kind. With a perfect balance of performance, durability, and artistic expression, this knife represents the pinnacle of European knife-making expertise.
Product Specification
Blade Type: Gyuto
Overall length: 380mm
Edge Length: 230mm
Spine Heel: 3.6mm
Spine Mid: 2.89mm
Spine Tip (20mm before): 1.33mm
Blade Height: 57mm
Weight: 225g
Cutting Edge Steel: Apex Ultra
Stainless: No
HRC: 66
Blade Construction: 5 Layer (Go Mai)
Blade Finish: Acid Etched (Forced Patina)
Grind: Convex
Handle Construction: Hidden Tang
Handle Materials: Bog Oak, Silver
Handedness: Ambidextrous
Saya, Hand Crafted Storage or Display Included: No
Shipping & Returns
Shipping
We process orders 5 days a week (Monday - Friday) and ship from our shop in Berlin, Germany. We ship with FedEx, UPS and Deutsche Post.
We are happy to offer free international shipping on a variety of orders depending on location and order value. You can check to see where things sit for you here.
Returns
At Modern Cooking we want our customers to be inspired and delighted by the products they purchase through our shop.
However, we understand that you may need to return products occasionally. If you are not entirely happy, you can return your purchase in its original condition within 14 days for a refund. Please email if you wish to return any goods.
In the unlikely event that you receive faulty goods or your order is damaged in transit, please contact us for instructions on how to return the goods as in this case we will meet the cost of return postage, though only if this is arranged through our authorised carriers. Any claim for refund or exchange resulting from faulty goods or goods damaged in transit must be raised within 5 business days.
All Modern Cooking logistics partners provide insurance in case of damage, but the coverage is only valid if we are notified within 5 business days. Please make sure to inspect your order immediately upon receipt to ensure that there is no damage.
Once we have the goods back, we will issue a full refund or send replacements where possible, as you prefer.
Product Care:
Cleaning: Clean by hand with warm water. Avoid wetting the handle when possible.
Sharpening: We advise using whetstones to sharpen your knives and a honing rod or steel to maintain the burr between sharpening sessions.
Reactive Steels: Reactive steels like Aogami Super, Apex Ultra or one of the many premium reactive German and Swedish steels are susceptible to rust if not properly cared for. In this case we advise that you keep the knife dry between uses and when storing the knife for longer periods wiping the knife blade with Tsubaki oil or another food safe oil is a wise choice. This will not stop a patina forming on the blade, but it will stop rust. A patina can be a beautiful personal feature on your knife and helps to stop rust forming. So, dry your knife regularly between uses, store in a dry place and apply some Tsubaki oil from time to time when storing for long periods.
A reference guide to steel types
Handle Care: If you have a knife with a non-stabilised wooden handle, you can apply Tsubaki oil or another food safe oil to your handle from time to time. Food safe wax can be applied to both stabilised and no-stabilised wooden handles. Never apply hot wax or oil as you risk warping or damaging the handle.
