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

WHO WE ARE:
Cangshan Cutlery Company was created from a passion for innovation. From concept to kitchen, we are driven to craft kitchen cutlery that is as inspiring as it is razor-sharp, desired by professional chefs and home cooks alike.  

OUR COMMITMENT TO THE PAST AND THE FUTURE:
Cangshan bladesmiths are adept and experienced craftsmen with generations of experience. Our knives are hand-crafted and hand-sharpened with the reverence and skill known to this region of China for more than 1,400 years. These are real, passionate artisans creating beautiful, functional tools.  Our products are made in our family-owned factories, each with a large, dedicated quality-control staff to ensure the highest quality of production. Our factories are community leaders in providing wages that exceed industry standards resulting in staff and knowledge retention. Not to mention stronger, more vibrant communities.  Our International Headquarters, located in Georgetown, Texas, continues to grow with Sales, Marketing, Administration and Operations professionals onsite. Our state-of-the-art production facility, opening in 2024, will bring the world’s most advanced cutlery production innovation to the USA. We are excited to offer premium kitchen cutlery produced entirely in the USA.

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