Gibbous Apex Chef Set

Defined by the chef knife’s asymmetrical geometry, convex primary bevels, hard, razor-sharp edges of ApexUltra tungsten-carbon steel, and matched paring knife, the Gibbous Apex Chef Set by Oliver Märtens is poised to rule the kitchen. At his Kassel, Germany studio, Oliver begins by forging this high-performance blade steel with hammer and heat, the marks of this ancient technique visible in the finished products along the blade’s flats and tang of both pieces. The chef knife’s 210mm / 8.3″ blade then receives full-convex geometry along the left face, with compound geometry on the right for food release and cutting efficiency provided by way of milled channels which culminate at a half-inch of convexness that leads to the thin, near-zero edge. Balancing just in front of the 63mm-tall heel, the larger of the two knives, with its relatively stiff spine, versatile profile, and extremely fine, pointed tip, is the chef’s do-all daily workhorse. For the remaining cuts the kitchen demands, from utility work to handheld carving and peeling to detailed and precise slicing jobs, the 96mm / 3.78″ paring knife is superbly outfitted. Slim and lightweight with a thin but tough edge, symmetrical convex bevel geometry, forge-finished flats, and needle-like tip, the parer is the sidekick every chef needs. For comfort and control, matching handles are sculpted from stabilized maple burl with heirloom-fit spacers of stainless steel.

CHEF: Blade length: 210mm / 8.3″. Overall length: 327mm / 12.9″. Blade width at choil: 4.0mm. Blade width 1″ from tip: 1.6mm. Blade height at heel: 63mm. Weight: 5.8oz / 164g.

PARER: Blade length: 96mm / 3.8″. Overall length: 215mm / 8.5″. Blade width at choil: 2.6mm. Blade width 1″ from tip: 1.0mm. Blade height at heel: 26mm. Weight: 2.2oz / 62g.