Sabatier Idéal 8" Honing Steel

Contrary to popular belief, honing steels don't actually sharpen by removing metal, but they are an important tool for maintaining European and American knives. These knives are typically made from relatively soft steel, which is made to withstand hard impact but deforms and dents with use. A few strokes before or after each use with a high-quality steel will straighten the dented or misaligned edge, keeping it cutting freely for much longer before intensive sharpening with a sharpening stone is needed.

Sabatier Idéal blades are forged from N4116 Nitro+, a nitrogen-infused stainless steel with a hardness of HRC 58-60. This relatively hard, highly corrosion-resistant medium offers a middle ground between hard but brittle Japanese steels and tough but soft German steels. As such, Sabatier knives can hold a fine edge through moderately hard use and can also be easily maintained with a honing steel between sharpenings.

The handle is made from black POM (polyacetal), valued for its hardness, rigidity, and dimensional stability. The black scales are secured to the full-tang blade with three stainless steel rivets.

Wash your knife by hand with warm water, soap, and a soft sponge or dish towel. Avoid prolonged exposure to heat or moisture. Remember—there's no such thing as a dishwasher-safe knife!

To prevent edge chips, avoid impacts with hard surfaces. Don't chop bones, shells, or frozen food, and cut only on a wood or bamboo cutting board. Don't leave your knife where the edge might come in contact with something hard, such as in a sink or a drawer with other knives.

Store your knife so that the edge is protected from abrasion and impact. We recommend a magnetic stand, but you can also use a knife block with horizontal slots. If you must keep it in a drawer, use an edge protector. See our storage options here.

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All Nakiyo, Tojiro, Sabatier, and SeaCut products sold by Seattle Cutlery are covered by our lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. If you follow our care and maintenance advice and your knife ever fails during honest use, we will gladly repair or replace it. Our warranty does not cover regular wear and tear or damage due to misuse, but we may still be able to help in some cases.

Any item in original, unused condition may be returned within 30 days for any reason. Shipping charges are non-refundable. Read our full refund policy here.