Ken Onion "Rain" and "Sky" - Just Now Stumbled Upon These

[redsquid2]

So I was clicking around online, and discovered these today. Besides the model and model number, they have "BD1N Steel Made in USA Chef Works" or "Stratus Culinary" etched on.

I never heard of these. They look promising. How do they compare with similarly priced items?

 

[Vinifera]

It is being sold using Ken Onion's name, but that is about the only thing positive I have to say about it. Way too much belly and not very good ergonomics. Not very impressive, especially when compared to a decent gyuto or comparable chef's knives for less money than these. I guess Lamson is trying to get their knives into Williams-Sonoma, Bed, Bath and Beyond and similar markets.

 

[flphotog]

It is being sold using Ken Onion's name, but that is about the only thing positive I have to say about it. Way too much belly and not very good ergonomics. Not very impressive, especially when compared to a decent gyuto or comparable chef's knives for less money than these. I guess Lamson is trying to get their knives into Williams-Sonoma, Bed, Bath and Beyond and similar markets.

I saw this a year or so ago and also didn't like the shape of the knives at all and the price was way above what it should have been.

 

[Accedo]

I have used both of the sky and the rain serious and I must say I love them. The photos on mine don't do them justice as the ergonomics are absolutely incredible in hand. To compare I've used 6 or 7 different shuns including Ken Onions Shun which are great. These feel similar in regards to ken onions shuns. I have also used wusthof gran prix (sucks), global (just ok), J.A Henkels (fair), vintage high carbon blades (killer sharp!) and others. All in all I'm very impressed with the the knives and would recommend you at least try one for a while before you knock them off your considerations.

 

[jdm61]

My understanding is that they are not being made by Lamson.

 

[Vinifera]

A seller of said knives says they are. http://www.knifemerchant.com/products.asp?manufacturerID=306

The knives have not received very good reviews on kitchen knife forums. I don't want to link to other forums but a google search will produce those sites and commentary.

Edit: The Ken Onion "Sky" series by ChefWorks (a chef's clothing company) is supposedly made by Carpenter Technological Company, http://www.stratusculinary.com/collections/sky a multi-national company with its corporate headquarters located in Reading, PA.

 

[jdm61]

Carpenter is a steel company and makes the steel, not the knives. I was told that Mr, Onion had issues with Lamson like several other companies did when they were having trouble and declared bankruptcy. IIRC. Mark Richmond moved the production of his house brand knives form Lamson to Japan. Lmaons moved their plant to another city in Massachusetts and according to their own website is no longer even drop forging their traditional western style knives. They are having he blanks forged in Germanynad girding there over here. They have also significantly reduced their offerings from a year or two ago. The original 2013 run was made by Lamson. I was told by another reseller, IIRC, that they are no longer producing them.

A seller of said knives says they are. http://www.knifemerchant.com/products.asp?manufacturerID=306

The knives have not received very good reviews on kitchen knife forums. I don't want to link to other forums but a google search will produce those sites and commentary.

Edit: The Ken Onion "Sky" series by ChefWorks (a chef's clothing company) is supposedly made by Carpenter Technological Company, http://www.stratusculinary.com/collections/sky a multi-national company with its corporate headquarters located in Reading, PA.

 

[Vinifera]

Not much current information about the knives other than they are the Ken Onion by Chef Works and are made in the USA. I doubt Chef Works assembles the knives as it is primarily a culinary apparel company. Evidently Chef Works has contracted production to different companies over the past few years.