Cut Brooklyn founder Joel Bukiewicz’s first ambition was to write novels… now he makes knives. An MFA grad who’d moved to Georgia to write but had failed sell his manuscript, he wandered into a tool shed one day, and after a few hours with a belt sander and some old steel, he’d fashioned his first knife. Before long, there was a six-month wait list for one of his handcrafted cutting tools.

After some experimenting, Bukiewicz eventually landed on kitchen knives– He moved back to New York and opened a shop in the Gowanus neighborhood in Brooklyn. Made from high-carbon steel (the kind used in turbine engines) and glass laminate for the handles, each handmade knife is cut, ground, and finished by Bukiewicz himself. What also sets Cut Brooklyn blades apart from other knives, and accounts for their hefty price tag, is the strength of the steel. Generally speaking, the harder the steel the better it is, but if it’s too hard it has a tendency to chip. Whereas most carbon steel knives are about 55 Rockwell (the standard measure of hardness for steel) Bukiewicz got his up to 62 with no chipping issues. The unique finishing touch is the high-gloss handle–in bold, unconventional colors ranging from classic black to brilliant blue to hot pink.

Check the Cut Brooklyn website for ordering info. Or, if you’re every in New York, stop by the Brooklyn Kitchen in Williamsburg or visit Bukewicz’s shop in Gowanus, where he performs free in-shop service as often as you need, for as long as you need it. At GearCrave, we’re all about staying sharp no matter what– that includes the kitchen.

Buy: from $180 to $350