{"title":"Dominik Filip","description":"\u003cp\u003eDominik Filip, who works under the name Merion Forge, developed a passion for history and craftwork early, and that interest carried through into formal study: he trained as a blacksmith for three years at school, learning the discipline of metalwork before he came to knives. A parallel interest in food and the culinary arts eventually pulled him toward kitchen knives specifically, which presented a real challenge given the limited resources for specialising in knife making in the Czech Republic. He was fortunate to secure a position training under the renowned swordsmith Pavel Bolf, where he developed his skills further and absorbed many of the Japanese techniques that now underpin his work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlongside the bench training, Dominik also studied Artistic Foundry at university, learning casting — a skill he still applies today, most visibly in the cast metal bolsters that recur through his kitchen knives. The wider Merion Forge vocabulary includes full tapered tangs, forged layered steels and high-performance stone-polished bevels, with each blade finished using fine Japanese whetstones. The combination is unusual: traditional forging and Japanese stone work on the cutting edge, paired with cast metalwork on the fittings, giving his knives a recognisable character without slipping into ornament for its own sake.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat sets Dominik apart is the breadth of his training relative to his age and the way he integrates those disciplines into a single coherent maker voice. Merion Forge knives read as the work of someone who has thought carefully about both the steel and the structures that hold it, and the casting work in particular gives the range a distinct workshop signature. For Modern Cooking, he is a welcome addition to the Collectors Selection — a young artisan smith with the technical grounding to produce kitchen knives that feel considered, performance-led, and made to be lived with.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"gyuto-245mm-damascus-sanmai","title":"Gyuto 245mm Damascus SanMai","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e1.2562 German tool steel at the core and clad in beautiful house made Damascus. A brushed brute de forge graduates into a stone polished hazy finish on the Damascus before hitting the mirror finished edge band.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWide convex bevels give this beautifully finished blade great performance. Satisfying weighted and perfectly balance the blade extends back into a tapered full tang grip that feels ergonomic and comfortable in the handle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe full tang coke bottle grip features a marbled, stabilised grip in in dyed maple with brass pins. Dominik Filip of Merion Forge has done a beautiful job with this 245mm full tang Gyuto.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dominik Filip","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44199660224777,"sku":"MC-79-613","price":1135.3,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0581\/7273\/5626\/products\/Gyuto245mmDamascusSanMaiFullTang-4.jpg?v=1754644357"},{"product_id":"kiritsuke-245mm-sanmai","title":"Kiritsuke 245mm SanMai","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRarely do you see authentic Kiritsuke blades forged by western makers. The very low radius of the edge profile of this traditional Japanese profile is designed for the most senior of chefs in the kitchen, perfect for the tasks that are performed by this senior position.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis beautiful piece of work by Dominik Filip of Merion Forge features a 1.2008 core and is clad in mild steel. A stone finished bevel mottled and hazy, that meets the edge in an almost mirror polish. Incredibly sharp!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe stabilised maple and black buffalo horn handle with exposed dowel is a contemporary take on the traditional Japanese octagonal handle. Another exceptional piece of work from Dominik.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dominik Filip","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44199672742153,"sku":"MC-79-614","price":1041.02,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0581\/7273\/5626\/products\/Kiritsuke245mmSanMaiBruteDeForgeKasumi-4.jpg?v=1754644343"},{"product_id":"merino-forge-gyuto-260mm-wrought-iron-clad-sanmai-1-2652","title":"Gyuto 260mm Wrought Iron Clad SanMai 1.2652","description":"\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAn absolutely stunning piece of work from Dominic Filip of Merion Forge. Let’s set aside for a moment the beautiful styling and focus on what's important, blade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIncredibly thin behind the razor-sharp edge, I can't emphasis this enough, this is a razor blade! Dominic has done an extremely impressive job on this blade. The refined wrought iron clad 1.2652 blade features a beautiful full kasumi polish, which shimmers beautifully with a hazy radiance. The clearly Japanese inspired profile is gently tapered and quite tall. At the edge a graceful almost flat radius tapers to the thin santoku style tip. On the board this is a seriously enjoyable kitchen knife.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe tapered full tang handle features a beautifully crafted and ergonomic coke bottle profile. Dominic is a thoughtful craftsman and considers the details at the forward point of the handle the handle is shaped to accommodate thumb and index finger in a comfortable pinch. Very nicely done!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSo, let’s talk about the style. Classic and beautiful material selection, rich ebony, a luxurious ray skin wrap, and white fibre come together tastefully to compliment the incredible quality of work that has been put into the blade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWow! That’s it, nothing more to say.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dominik Filip","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44489001992457,"sku":"MC-79-615","price":1620.46,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0581\/7273\/5626\/files\/Gyuto260mmWroughtIronSanMai-70.jpg?v=1754643675"}],"url":"https:\/\/moderncooking.com\/en-cz\/collections\/dominik-filip.oembed","provider":"moderncooking.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}