The complete guide
Exotic hardwood handles: what sandalwood brings to a knife
Once you have decided you want a wooden-handled knife, there is a second choice most people never realise they are making: which wood. The handle material changes not just the look but the density, the weight and how the knife balances, and premium hardwoods like sandalwood sit at the top of that range for a reason.
Red sandalwood is dense and close-grained, which does two things. It looks rich and warm in a way pale or dyed woods cannot fake, and that density makes it hard-wearing and resistant to the deforming and cracking that softer woods suffer. It is the kind of handle you notice every time you pick the knife up.
The steel paired with it here is German 1.4116, and it is worth understanding the choice. German stainless is a little softer than Japanese steel, which makes it tough, very rust-resistant and easy to bring back to a keen edge — a forgiving, low-maintenance blade for a home cook, matched to a handle that is anything but ordinary.
A set like this is really bought for the pleasure of it: a knife that is a beautiful object as well as a working tool. The care is the same as any wooden handle — hand wash, dry, keep it out of the dishwasher — and in return the sandalwood keeps its warmth and colour for years on your counter.