Kramer Chef's Knives: Stainless Damascus, Cumulus, Meiji, Carbon 2.0
Time to read 7 min
If you appreciate the value of exceptional craftsmanship and cutting-edge performance in the kitchen, we are excited to introduce you to Kramer Chef's Knives, the pinnacle of culinary tools.
Crafted with precision, artistry, and a commitment to quality, these knives are as functional as they are breathtaking. At Cutlery and More, an authorized dealer of Kramer Chef's knives and many other knife styles, we proudly present four iconic series that embody the legacy of this legendary bladesmith: Stainless Damascus, Carbon 2.0, Meiji, and Cumulus.
Want to watch instead of read? Check out our video on all four of the Kramer Chef's Knives series.
Table of Contents
Who is Bob Kramer?
Bob Kramer is one of the few Master Bladesmiths in the United States, specializing in hand-crafted kitchen cutlery. Kramer began as a professional chef who saw firsthand the need for knives that could endure the demands of a professional kitchen. What started as a hobby, sharpening the knives of his fellow kitchen colleagues, quickly turned into a passion, so he decided to leave the line and start making knives of his own; a risky decision that ultimately paid off.
Bob Kramer's extraordinary skills as a knife maker led him to become a certified Master Bladesmith through the American Bladesmith Society, an honor and title that less than 150 people have earned in the United States.
Kramer’s knives are renowned for their meticulous attention to detail, combining traditional techniques with innovative materials. Known as “The Master of the Blade,” he creates equal parts performance-driven tools and aesthetically stunning pieces. One of Kramer's specialities is called insert welding, where intricate patterns, symbols, and even fish, are welded into the Damascus blade of a knife.
Bob Kramer knives commonly sell at auctions for upwards of $20,000-30,000 USD. Fortunately, his partnership with Zwilling has allowed him to bring his artistry to a wider audience without compromising the quality or craftsmanship of his designs and at a much more affordable price.
Image Source: Kramer Knives YouTube Channel
Kramer Chef's Knives: Four Series
In this blog, we will focus our attention on the 8" chef's knife within each series. Not only is the 8" chef's knife the most popular size, but the Kramer chef's knives are the most prized among the four collections. However, remember that you can get entire Kramer sets, which include knives like santoku, bread, paring, slicing, and more.
The Original: Carbon 2.0
The Carbon 2.0 series is a return to traditional straight carbon steel, a material nearly lost to many home kitchens in the United States.
Crafted with a 52100 carbon steel blade at 61 Rockwell Hardness, this knife offers unmatched sharpness and edge retention. The blade develops a natural patina over time, enhancing its beauty and protecting against rust. Although carbon steel requires more maintenance than stainless steel and must be kept dry while prepping and immediately after washing, it's a lot easier to hone and sharpen. Carbon steel at this Rockwell provides a balance of a blade that will hold its edge while also being more resilient to chipping or cracking, like other higher Rockwell Japanese knives.
Its full tang, triple-riveted linen Micarta handle, paired with a brass bolster and a signature mosaic pin, adds durability and elegance. This knife is perfect for chopping, slicing, and dicing, rewarding proper care with performance that only carbon steel can deliver.
Kramer Chef's Knife: Stainless Damasus
The Stainless Damascus series combines artistry with strength. Its 101-layer blade features a deep-etched chevron Damascus pattern. The SG2 super-steel core, cryogenically hardened for exceptional durability, is encased in alternating layers of nickel and stainless steel, creating a visually stunning and razor-sharp blade.
The full-tang, triple-riveted handle is made of black linen Micarta with a decorative mosaic pin. Hand-finished and sharpened using the traditional Honbazuke honing technique, this knife is ideal for precision tasks and offers unparalleled sharpness and balance.
Something you'll notice about Kramer Chef's Knives is that they have a very girthy and bulbous handle. Interestingly, although they are broader and more rounded than most German or Japanese knives, they fit many handle shapes and sizes. So, whether you have petite hands, large palms, long fingers, or wide fingers, Kramer Chef's Knives should fit just fine!
The "Narrow" Stainless Damascus
Kramer Chef's Knives traditionally have a very tall heel and a rounded belly edge. The shape of these blades makes them ideal for the European-style rock chop, but they also perform well with the tap-and-push chop when using the bottom third of the blade or the very tip.
Since many prefer tap and push chopping over rock chopping, Kramer created a narrow version of the Stainless Damascus. The edge profile is comparable to the Cumulus, which we'll cover next. With its shorter heel and straighter edge profile, more than half the blade makes surface contact with the cutting board. The narrow blade performs more like a Japanese-style gyuto than a traditional German chef's knife, which is stellar at tap and push chopping.
Although the blade is narrower and lighter, the handle shape, size, and weight are the same as those of the original stainless damascus.
Cumulus: The Cloud Handle Stainless Damascus
Inspired by the beauty of cloud formations, the Cumulus series combines elegance and high performance. Like the Stainless Damascus, the 101-layer blade is made from SG2 powder stainless steel and features a deep-etched chevron Damascus pattern.
The Cumulus's blade is similar to the narrow version of the stainless Damascus. Where things get lighter is in the handle. The full-tang white linen Micarta handle has a smaller profile, reducing weight while providing that iconic Kramer Chef's Knife feel. So, if you're itching to get your (smaller) hands on any of the Kramer Chef's Knives but are concerned about the size of the bulbous handles, then the Cumulus is the knife for you!
Kramer's Japanese-style Chef's Knife: Meiji
The Meiji series bridges traditional Japanese craftsmanship and modern innovation. With a core of FC61 fine carbide stainless steel surrounded by 100 layers of stainless steel and nickel, this knife features a polished ladder Damascus pattern for both beauty and durability.
Although the heel resembles the Carbon 2.0 and the Stainless Damascus Chef's Knives, the edge profile is more like the Cumulus, making more surface contact with the cutting board. About two inches before the tip of the knife, the edge curves, only to flatten again to the tip. The edge profile of the Meiji makes it excel for tap and push chopping with more than half of the edge while also performing well with the rock chop due to the curve toward the tip. What's unique about the Meiji is that the relatively flattened tip of the knife also makes excellent surface contact, allowing an effortless tap chop with ingredients like mushrooms, shallots, garlic, and softer fruits.
Its ergonomic, D-shaped charcoal Pakkawood handle, accented with a mosaic pin, ensures comfort and control. Unlike most d-shaped Japanese handles, the hard angles of the Meiji handle is predominantly for right-handed use. However, if you feel like the Meiji is the knife for you and are left-handed, we ask that you hold the knife for a while before using it to ensure it's comfortable for your grip. If not, we'll gladly take the knife back and help you find another stellar blade!
Which Kramer Chef's Knife is Best for You?
Rock Choppers:
If you're a fan of the European-style rock chop, where the tip of the knife remains on the cutting board throughout the cut, then we recommend the Carbon 2.0, Stainless Damascus, or Meiji chef's knives. The heel height and edge curvature create a beautiful flow when rock chopping.
Tap & Push Choppers:
The reality is that all Kramer knives work for tap and push chopping. Still, the Narrow Stainless Damascus, Cumulus, and Meiji will perform better since their straighter edge profiles allow more surface contact with the cutting board.
These knives will make a significant impact when prepping larger ingredients and need to ensure a single push, cuts through everything. If you commonly julienne large onions, carrots, and English cucumbers, battonet bell peppers, slice up zucchini on a bias, or enjoy cooking with squash, this straighter edge profile will help.
Care and Maintenance:
The only knife in the Kramer Chef's Knives line-up that requires a little extra TLC is the Carbon 2.0 series. The carbon steel blade needs to be kept dry. So if you decide to go old school with the 2.0, please get in the habit of wiping the blade down while in between prepping ingredients, and be sure to only hand wash and immediately dry the blade! With proper care, the blade will develop a unique patina over time, which will help protect the knife from rusting.
As for the other stainless steel Damascus knives, care and maintenance are a bit easier. The stainless steel blades can handle being wet while prepping, and you should be fine if left to air dry by accident. That said, you should still protect your investment by only hand washing and drying your new Kramer chef's knife after each use.
Honing & Sharpening:
Kramer offers steel and ceramic honing rods that we recommend using after each use, even if only a couple passes on each side. We highly suggest one of two options when sharpening a Kramer Chef's Knife.
- First, if you're uncomfortable sharpening a knife, please have a local professional knife sharpener with a strong reputation sharpen your Kramer knife.
- Secondly, for those who are comfortable using a whetstone or are willing to learn, we recommend the Kramer sharpening kit.
A final tip: Kramer's leather strop is a must-have to keep the best edge possible!
Kramer Chef's Knives: Legacy, Artistry, & Excellence
Kramer Chef's Knives are more than kitchen tools; they are works of art meant to be treasured by those who appreciate their unparalleled quality. These knives are for individuals who will honor their craftsmanship through care.
At Cutlery and More, we are proud to be an authorized dealer of Kramer knives, ensuring you receive authentic, world-class cutlery. Whether you’re a professional chef or a passionate home cook, owning a Kramer knife means embracing a tradition of excellence and artistry.
