Cangshan in Chinese characters above the word Cangshan.
Two lifestyle photos of the TC Series and TS Series 2 piece TAI Knife Block Combos. The paring knife from each set is laying flat in front of the knife blocks.

Cangshan Cutlery. Knives Designed For Every Need.

TAI is the knife block for tomorrow’s kitchen. Minimal, essential and beautiful it encompasses the essence of Cangshan. Crafted from robust walnut wood the knife block features two slots, securely housing an 8 inch chef’s and 3.5 inch paring knife combo. Each knife is forged from Swedish Sandvik 14C28N Steel and handcrafted by expert bladesmiths. This knife block fits perfectly in smaller, modern kitchens saving precious countertop space while offering all the foundational knife functions needed in the kitchen.

Side profile of the TC Series 2 piece TAI Knife Block Combo.

TC Series 3PC TAI Knife Block Combo

The TC Series is sleekly modern with the knife handle’s slim profile emphasizing the simple, smooth lines of the stunning knives. A singular mosaic rivet keenly offsets the straightforward aspects of the design, making the forged knife both bold and harmonious. A uniquely tapered tang makes each knife comfortable and well balanced for precise cutting.

TS Series 3PC TAI Knife Block Combo

The TS Series is sleek and slim, perfectly contrasting boldly angled lines and smooth curves, a story of dynamic balance and sharp focus. This is a fresh update to standard, simple done exceptionally well, a tool a chef can trust.

Side profile of the TS Series 2 piece TAI Knife Block Combo.
A steel press with smooth gears that roll the steel into place to be pressed flat.

The Power of Swedish Steel

A great knife comes from excellent materials. There is a wide variety of different steels that offer various levels of performance for knives of every caliber. German X50CrMoV15 Steel is commonly used because it is an exceptional blend of hardness and durability allowing for a precise and sharp edge that is easy to maintain.

Swedish Sandvik® 14C28N Steel is a huge upgrade to German steel with the perfect mix of incredible hardness, robust durability and stain resistance. This steel take a phenomenally sharp edge that lasts up to 5 times longer than competing knives currently in the marketplace. That means a knife that stays sharper, longer.

A view into the inside of a forge that is glowing bright orange red.

ULTRA6 Heat Treatment

It took 3+ years of research and development to dial in the specific heat treatment process that would ensure our knives are both hard enough to take a sharp 16 degree edge, yet durable enough to keep that sharp edge during heavy kitchen use. Every blade goes through our precise ULTRA6 heat treatment which brings out the best qualities of each steel allowing the blade to take a remarkably sharp edge.

The Results

An infographic showing the performance of Cangshan knives against the most popular brands in the market.

How SHARP is it?

Initial Cutting Performance[ICP] is a measurement that reflects how sharp the knife’s edge is after it has been sharpened. Any score over 110 is considered excellent while a measurement under 30 is rated as very poor.

How long will it stay SHARP?

Total Card Cut[TCC] is a measurement that reflects how long a knife will stay sharp and resist wear through use. Scores over 550 are considered excellent while scores under 100 are rated as very poor.

TEST RESULTS OF KNIVES FOR INITIAL CUTTING PERFORMANCE: Cangshan knife with German X50CrMoV15 steel 130 ICP. Cangshan knife with Swedish Sandvik 14C28N steel 151 ICP. High-end German cutlery 62 ICP. High-end German cutlery 88 ICP. High-end Japanese cutlery 100 ICP. High-end Japanese cutlery 108 ICP. Standard commercial cutlery 64 ICP. Standard commercial cutlery 85 ICP. Basically a spoon 31 ICP. TEST RESULTS OF KNIVES FOR TOTAL CARD CUT: Cangshan knife with German X50CrMoV15 steel 601 TCC.  Cangshan knife with Swedish Sandvik 14C28N steel 850 TCC. High-end German cutlery 481 TCC. High-end German cutlery 303 TCC. High-end Japanese cutlery 514 TCC. High-end Japanese cutlery 487 TCC. Standard commercial cutlery 171 TCC. Standard commercial cutlery 285 TCC. Basically a spoon 101 TCC.

The Results

How SHARP is it?

Initial Cutting Performance[ICP] is a measurement that reflects how sharp the knife’s edge is after it has been sharpened. Any score over 110 is considered excellent while a measurement under 30 is rated as very poor.

How long will it stay SHARP?

Total Card Cut[TCC] is a measurement that reflects how long a knife will stay sharp and resist wear through use. Scores over 550 are considered excellent while scores under 100 are rated as very poor.

TEST RESULTS OF KNIVES FOR INITIAL CUTTING PERFORMANCE: Cangshan knife with German X50CrMoV15 steel 130 ICP. Cangshan knife with Swedish Sandvik 14C28N steel 151 ICP. High-end German cutlery 62 ICP. High-end German cutlery 88 ICP. High-end Japanese cutlery 100 ICP. High-end Japanese cutlery 108 ICP. Standard commercial cutlery 64 ICP. Standard commercial cutlery 85 ICP. Basically a spoon 31 ICP. TEST RESULTS OF KNIVES FOR TOTAL CARD CUT: Cangshan knife with German X50CrMoV15 steel 601 TCC. Cangshan knife with Swedish Sandvik 14C28N steel 850 TCC. High-end German cutlery 481 TCC. High-end German cutlery 303 TCC. High-end Japanese cutlery 514 TCC. High-end Japanese cutlery 487 TCC. Standard commercial cutlery 171 TCC. Standard commercial cutlery 285 TCC. Basically a spoon 101 TCC.

Handcrafted

At the end of the day a knife needs to perform. All Cangshan knives proudly can do just that. The quality and craftsmanship of the knives ensure they precisely and effectively perform their cutting functions giving the user a responsive and refined tactile experience that enhances and augments their skills and process. Every knife from Cangshan is handcrafted and hand sharpened, these are real, passionate artisans creating beautiful, functional tools.

Henry Liu, the founder of Cangshan discusses knife designs with Chef Thomas Keller.

A Knifemaker in Pursuit of Excellence

Cangshan was created from a love and passion for innovative design, that perfect balance between forward thinking aesthetics and the foundational, practical function needed by professional chefs and home cooks. We believe tools should look great and perform perfectly. Our knives are handcrafted by real and passionate artisans creating beautiful, functional tools in Yangjiang, a knife district that has 1500 years of history in knife making. The founder of Cangshan, Henry Liu, is a Chinese immigrant who started the company so that he could bring the American dream to life, for his family and his employees. It was difficult to learn a new language and start over, but Henry wanted to build something new and great. His extensive background in manufacturing gave him distinct insight and experience to know how to build something of value and become a role model for future generations with their own hopes and ambitions. The Cangshan logo was handwritten by Henry’s father and it is his father's values, passed down to his son, that is the real spirit of everything we do at Cangshan. Henry’s vision and passion are the driving force that pushes Cangshan to achieve excellence and to strive to make perfect knives. Since Cangshan began in December of 2015 we have been awarded 31 design awards for the superior design and exceptional quality of our knife lines. In 2019 Michelin starred chef Thomas Keller became our brand ambassador launching an exclusive, premier knife collection that won a Red Dot, German Design and iF Design Award. At the end of the day, if we just made a great looking knife we would only be half done, we know a knife must also perform. All of our knives are balanced, the handles are comfortable and their edges are razor sharp and long lasting. This is always our goal. Beautiful Function.

Eleven knife handles of various designs and materials ranging from metal to plastic composites to wood.