About this project
- Ultra-sharp and stays sharp 5 times longer than other knives
- Knife edge made with patented alloy, developed by Caltech and tested by NASA
- Alloy is twice as strong as titanium
- We’ve licensed this patented alloy to use on the Habitat KNASA Chef Knife
- Our patent-pending process bonds the alloy to a stainless steel knife body
- Priced under $100, yet better than most professional knives costing hundreds of dollars
- Professional chef tested and recommended
The Chef Knife is the backbone of any kitchen – whether home or professional. If there is such a thing as the one indispensable tool, this is it. As a self-confessed food enthusiast and amateur chef, I wanted to own the very best Chef Knife I could find. And I wanted it to be the cornerstone of my new housewares company, Habitat. What I soon learned, though, was that not much has changed in knife-making in over 200 years!
Knife manufacturers have tried to address the same problems for centuries. The steel may be too soft, the knives get dull quickly, they need lots of maintenance, and they may react with food. Ceramic knives have problems, too. They can be brittle and break easily.
I felt certain there must be a way to move knife-making into the 21st century. My search led me to a remarkable metal alloy initially developed by Caltech and tested by NASA – and later patented. I acquired the rights to use this metal alloy and set about determining how best to use it in making a game-changing Chef Knife that would reinvent the industry and become the new standard.
A Chef Knife’s sharpness is THE most critical attribute – and the knife edge angle is the critical factor that determines sharpness. The harder the material is, the sharper the blade can be made. But in ordinary steel knives, a higher level of hardness also makes the knife harder to maintain, and the edge chips easily. The Habitat KNASA Chef Knife edge is made from this Caltech and NASA developed metal alloy, which is harder than any steel yet isn’t brittle and resists rust.
The hardness of a metal alloy is measured utilizing the Rockwell (HRC) testing standard. VERY expensive knives, costing hundreds of dollars, are made from higher carbon steel that is brittle and can rust. High carbon steel hardness can reach the low 60s on the Rockwell scale. (And it is interesting to note that two recent popular and successful Crowdfunded knives only have Rockwell hardness in the higher 50s.) The Habitat KNASA Chef Knife blows away the competition with a 70+ reading on the Rockwell scale!
Most importantly, what this means for YOU is that the Habitat KNASA Chef Knife surpasses anything else on the market. It holds its edge better and longer due to the hardness of the metal alloy. And it isn’t brittle because the edge is the patented metal alloy, not just steel. The combination of hardness, high elasticity, and corrosion resistance makes the metal alloy edge wear resistant.
It also allows us to sustain an aggressive angle for our edge of just 12.5 degrees on each side for a total of 25 degrees. (Most knives are manufactured with a combined angle of 30 degrees.) What does this mean? The sharper the angle, the easier and more precise the cut. And isn’t that what you want?
The Habitat KNASA Knife is ultra-sharp and lasts 5 times longer than ordinary knives.
This is the “super-secret sauce” that sets my Chef Knife apart from the competition and makes it the Gold Standard and star of any kitchen.
The patented metal alloy edge possesses a natural nano-serration at the molecular level. This serration is like microscopic, ultra-hard “teeth” that are what make the effortless and breathtaking cutting power of the Habitat KNASA Chef Knife possible.
Another benefit of this nano-serration is the self-sharpening aspect of the microscopic teeth. As the knife is used, these tiny teeth are exposed and essentially sharpen themselves – and this is part of what allows the Habitat KNASA Chef Knife to retain its ultimate edge far longer than other knives.
It wasn’t enough to just acquire the use of the NASA-tested metal alloy. We needed to develop a process for bonding this metal alloy to the high-quality stainless steel knife blank that would comprise the rest of the Habitat KNASA Chef Knife. This required the time and effort to perfect the process shown in this video clip.
The patent-pending edge bonding process is what sets the Habitat KNASA Chef Knife apart as the new standard of Chef Knife excellence. We believe this patented process will revolutionize the knife-making industry. You can be one of the first consumers to experience the ultimate Chef Knife.
While my Chef Knife reinvents the category with its revolutionary edge, there are still proven Chef Knife features that matter – and I have made certain they are part of the Habitat KNASA Chef Knife.
Here are a few:
- The tip is thin and sharp for precise detail cutting.
- Perfect weight so the knife feels like a balanced extension of your hand.
- A professional profile with a taller blade at the heel.
- The classic pinch grip preferred by experienced chefs.
- A gorgeous, distinctive handle that is ergonomically designed and made from pakkawood.
To accomplish these goals, my team and I spent countless hours working on variations of our Habitat KNASA Chef Knife – making sure we got it right. This video clip shares some of this important thinking with you.
Other knife-makers talk endlessly about the minor differences between their knives and others. They show pictures and diagrams and go on and on. Yes, these features matter, and I’ve paid close attention to them, too, as you have seen.
But these others don’t have anything more important and different to talk about. I do!
The sharpness and durability of my knife edge will become the GOLD STANDARD for knives.
See for Yourself!
Below is a chart that shows FIVE important attributes desirable in a quality Chef Knife – sharpness, durability, food safety, food taste, and being corrosion free. See for yourself how the Habitat KNASA Chef Knife compares to the competition. We aren’t afraid to name names.
Another important comparison is price – and we all know price is driven by value. Yes, there are knives that cost less, and there are knives that cost more. In fact, there are Chef Knives costing hundreds of dollars more. But if their cutting edge is not harder (and NONE have a harder edge), then they can’t match the performance of our knife. That means the value of the Habitat KNASA Chef Knife simply can’t be beat!
Who would know better about the performance of a Chef Knife than professional chefs? Most would say, “No one!” I have placed our prototype knives with a significant number of professional chefs – and the accolades are pouring in! See and hear for yourself what these chefs have to say about the Habitat KNASA Chef Knife in their own words!
Frankly, I can talk about the great performance of the Habitat KNASA Chef Knife all day long. But my opinion will never be as persuasive as those of these professional chefs. They have all rigorously tested our superior Chef Knife in their restaurant and home kitchens and have shared their honest and candid opinions.
There are more than a few “war stories” about Kickstarter projects that have failed to deliver their rewards in even close to a timely manner. It may have even happened to you! Not only do I want to reward you for backing my project, but I also want to be certain you receive your reward when promised.
So, I am offering you this Guarantee. If you do not receive your reward when promised (May 2017), then you can ask for 100% of your pledged Money Back – and it will be refunded to you – no questions asked. Such guarantees are rare in crowdfunding, but I am doing it to make your decision to pledge that much easier.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This guarantee applies only to the regular scheduled delivery of KNASA Chef Knives in May 2017, not to the Holiday Delivery specials.
Early Bird Special #1 – SOLD OUT!
Early Bird Special #2 – SOLD OUT!
Early Bird Special #3 – SOLD OUT!
Holiday Specials #1 and #2 – SOLD OUT!
Our Early Bird Special #1 was so successful that by popular demand, we are bringing it back! Once again, you can pledge to receive one Habitat KNASA Chef Knife and the FREE Bonus of one Habitat Weight Wizard Digital Kitchen Scale.
The Weight Wizard Digital Kitchen Scale is one of my Habitat products being sold on Amazon. It is a $27 value – but it is your BONUS with this reward, at no extra charge, for your support. (Its ASIN on Amazon is B00HGVPQLY. Go check it out.)
Look for this new Reward to the right - called the Blue Light Special. Don’t miss out - pledge now!
Double your cooking fun with not just one Habitat KNASA Chef Knife, but TWO - and get TWO bonus Weight Wizard Digital Kitchen Scales as well! Just look for the Blue Light Special - TWO x TWO over on the right. Pledge now before these are all gone too!
If you wish to give the Habitat KNASA Chef Knife as a holiday gift – and you did not or could not choose an Early Delivery Special, you can still give your intended gift recipient a wonderful surrogate gift. You can download our handsome Gift Certificate from our website (www.knasaknives.com/gift-certificate.html), print it, and wrap it in a package for gift-giving. Available in gold or silver – your choice! Here is what the Gift Certificates look like:
Starting a business and creating a new product is no easy task. And it requires capital! I’ve made serious progress in creating our Habitat KNASA Chef Knife and bringing it to the first phase of its business life. Now it is time to raise money to take the next steps – so here we are on Kickstarter.
The money we raise here will be used for automating and customizing production, improving our tooling, paying for materials, and hiring additional skilled labor. With your support, you can help make this possible!
My team has worked hard to bring us to where we are right now. Our prototypes have been thoroughly vetted and proven in the hands of our Chefs. And you have no risk of not receiving your product reward thanks to our iron-clad Guarantee.
If you're a cooking enthusiast and you’ve read this far, it is almost certain you have some kind of Chef Knife in your kitchen. Maybe it is depressingly ordinary – maybe you thought you were getting something special but it didn’t turn out that way – or maybe you spent a lot of money on what you have.
No matter what you have or how you got it, your knife is only some variation on what has been available for over 200 years!
Now you will have the chance to be among the very first to have a Chef Knife that will be the game-changer that redefines the category because it reinvents the category!
Our use of the Caltech developed and NASA tested metal alloy (subsequently patented) – plus our patent-pending process of bonding this alloy to stainless steel – is what makes all this possible.
You can have a Chef Knife that is ultra-sharp (CATRA proven) and lasts 5 times longer. This is what is truly different about our Chef Knife – and is what makes it better than Damascus steel knives or anything else you have owned or used.
After all, getting something new and better is what crowdfunding is all about!
Compare the proven metal hardness and sharpness of my Habitat KNASA Chef Knife – and its knife edge angle – to all other Chef Knives. You will see why I call it the new Gold Standard of Chef Knives.
You can get twice the knife for the same price – or you can get a better knife for half the price. Either way, you win!
Look at our rewards to the right of this page, and pick the one that’s right for you. Help support us here on Kickstarter and be the first among your cooking enthusiast and foodie friends to have this game-changing Habitat KNASA Chef Knife.
Pledge now, and get THE best Chef Knife you will ever own!
Risks and challenges
We’ve been successful at developing and selling other products for years, and during that time we've built an extensive network of supply chain relationships.
We believe our knife manufacturer to be very reliable, but unforeseen circumstances can occasionally cause manufacturing delays, especially if the campaign is hugely successful. We're prepared for that possibility. We have relationships in place with other manufacturers who could make some of the knives for us if need be (under close adherence to our specifications, of course).
We want our supporters to know just how seriously we take our duties to them, and we pledge to keep them fully informed if any issues arise. We believe in full transparency and will provide frequent updates and timelines so you’ll know how things are progressing.
In short, you WILL get your knife or knives, and on time. And if you don't get them by the promised delivery date, you can ask for a refund and get it. Period.
Learn about accountability on KickstarterFAQ
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The Habitat KNASA Chef Knife edge is formed from an ultra hard metal alloy permanently bonded to a body of high quality stainless steel. The edge material has Rockwell (HRC) hardness in excess of 70. The maximum Rockwell hardness for steel is in the range of 64-65. Steel gets increasingly brittle as the HRC increases. This is not the case with KNASA. The ultra hardness and ductility of the KNASA edge are the reasons for dramatically extended edge life.
Proper care and maintenance of a steel knife involves hand washing and drying, using knife friendly cutting surfaces, and storing in a safe place to protect the edge. We recommend all of these steps as well. Using a honing edge to align the edge of a steel knife will briefly bring back the fine sharp edge. You have to hone a steel knife because steel is relatively soft, folds over, and must be re-aligned. The KNASA is so hard and strong it does not fold over. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND using a honing edge on the KNASA Knife.
When you feel the knife is not as sharp as you would like, we recommend one of the following:
1) Send it to Habitat for complimentary lifetime sharpening - which involves a small service charge to cover return shipping.
2) Sharpen it by hand on ceramic or diamond "whetstones".
3) Use a ceramic specific home electric sharpener such as the Chef's Choice Model 700. These use diamond sharpening media which is necessary to cut the KNASA edge. We recommend a very light touch (i.e. don't grind off a lot of material).
Our testing shows dramatically extended sharpening intervals, which will, of course, vary from user to user depending on factors specific to your use and the quality and type of your steel knives.
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The over-all length of the knife is 13 and 1/4 inches and the length of the blade itself it 8 and 1/4 inches. The width at the widest point of the heel is 2 and 1/8 inches. It is 2.15mm at the spine. The balance point is at the centerline of the bolster. The weight of the KNASA Knife is 8.1 ounces.
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When you receive the knife, you will be able to see the transition from one material to the other. The edge material is 3-4mm "tall". Unless the knife is carelessly sharpened, this is adequate to stand up to years of use - probably a lifetime of use. Be sure to read the sharpening instructions we have published here with other FAQ.
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Both CPM110 and M390 are good materials and reach up to 62 HRC. However, powder metallurgy is challenged to maintain thin, long, and straight crystalline structures. Thus, these
alloys are usually limited to shorter hunting or tactical applications.Our alloy is a composite of super hard granules or “teeth" with hardness over 70 HRC dispersed in a ductile matrix. This extreme differential in hardness between the hard and the ductile phases is what gives the KNASA Chef Knife edge its superior properties. The KNASA edge has similar hardness to ceramic, without being brittle.
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High quality knives should not go in the dishwasher as a general rule. The KNASA knife also has a wood grip that will degrade over time if subjected to the dishwasher. Hand wash and dry is best.
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