This is a not quite 9" integral chefs made from ball bearing canister damascus. The steel used to make this beatiful tool was 52100 ball bearings and 1080 powder with 2% nickle. The handle is made from stabilized buck eye burl wood. This started life as a a bunch of 1/4" ball bearings and steel powder. Forged from a large canister billet, you can see the ball bearings start small at the integral bolster and flow into the main section and spread out, coming back together at the tip. This flow can only be accomplished by the forging process and leads to a beautiful patern. 
 
*note* All forged pieces are made from carbon steel and will patina over time and can rust if not propperly cared for. These are NOT dishwasher safe. Hand wash only and dry completely. Once dry use a light food safe oil like white mineral oil, or Odies Oil or Axe Wax. If propperly cared for, it will be an heirloom for you and your family over the years. Over time, it will develop a nice patina that will develop it's own character over time and tell the story of it's use.