The best knife gift is one they'll reach for every single day. For most cooks that's a hand-forged Damascus chef's knife. For the person who loves to host or already owns a decent knife, it's a full Damascus chef knife set. Every knife we make includes free engraving, so the gift carries a name, a date or a few words that matter.
Below you'll find our picks for every kind of cook on your list, from the everyday home chef to the one who lives at the grill. Or go straight to all kitchen knife gifts.
Shop by gift level
- Everyday Gifts: hand-forged chef's knives, cleavers, bread and paring knives. Easy to give and used every day.
- Signature Gifts: Japanese-style Gyuto, Santoku and Bunka knives, Serbian cleavers, smaller Damascus sets and full-grain leather. A clear step up in craft.
- Heirloom Gift Sets: complete 5-piece hand-forged Damascus chef knife sets. The gift that gets passed down.
For the home chef: a Damascus chef knife set
If they cook most nights, a matched set is the gift that changes how they cook. One set covers every job on the board, from dicing onions to carving the Sunday roast, and it looks like an heirloom from the day it's unboxed.
What to look for:
- A mix of blade shapes: a chef's knife for everyday prep plus smaller and heavier blades for detail work and chopping
- Handles they'll love seeing on the counter: pakkawood, rosewood, mahogany, buffalo horn or resin
- Hand-forged Damascus steel, where the layered pattern means no two sets are alike
Our picks:
- Mahogany Reserve 5-Piece Damascus Chef Knife Set: warm mahogany handles and a classic look
- Twilight 5-Piece Damascus Chef Knife Set: violet pakkawood handles for the cook who likes a little colour
- Shadowhorn 5-Piece Damascus Chef Knife Set: dark buffalo horn handles with a bold, understated look
Browse every set in Heirloom Gift Sets or all gifts for the home chef.
For the BBQ lover: a brisket slicer, cleaver and leather
For the person who owns the grill every weekend, a long brisket slicer is the knife they'll show off when the smoker opens: one clean stroke per slice, bark intact. A heavy hand-forged cleaver handles the rest, from portioning ribs to chopping herbs for a chimichurri. Add a full-grain leather apron or knife roll to finish the gift.
Our picks:
- Texas flag Damascus brisket slicer: a 12-inch Damascus blade with a red, white and blue handle, made for Texas-style brisket
- Carving knife and fork set: a black hammered slicer and two-tine fork for brisket, the holiday turkey and Sunday roasts
- Serbian Hammered Forge Cleaver, Buffalo Horn Handle: a rustic, hammered-finish statement cleaver
- Mosaic Damascus Butcher Cleaver, Blue Resin Handle: Damascus pattern on a big blade
- Forged Bread Knife, Olive Wood Handle: for the brioche buns and the crusty loaf
- Full-Grain Leather BBQ Apron and Full-Grain Leather Chef's Knife Roll
See all brisket slicers or every gift for the BBQ lover.
For the steak lover: a steak knife set
For the friend who hosts steak night or the family that gathers for the holidays, a matched steak knife set upgrades every place at the table. Ours have straight edges that cut cleanly instead of sawing, and every set comes in a leather roll with a gift box option.
- Damascus steak knife set: hand-forged hammered Damascus with rosewood handles, so no two blades are alike
- Compare all steak knife sets in sets of 6 to 16, including black hammered blades with rosewood or stag handles
For their first real chef's knife
For the new grad, the first apartment or the cook who has made do with a block-set knife for years, one great knife beats a drawer full of average ones. Pick the shape that matches how they cook:
- Classic chef's knife: a curved belly for rocking through herbs and vegetables. The safest excellent choice.
- Gyuto: the Japanese take on the chef's knife, lighter and finer-edged. Read our Gyuto guide.
- Santoku: shorter and flatter, built for straight push-cuts in a smaller kitchen. Read our Santoku guide.
- Bunka: a Santoku-sized blade with an angular tip for precise detail work. Read our Bunka guide.
Shop the First Real Chef Knife collection, or compare shapes on our Shop by Shape guide.
Not sure what they'd choose? Give a gift card
If you don't know their style, or they're particular about handles, a Northbound Blade gift card lets them pick the knife themselves. It's delivered by email, so it's a good last-minute gift too.
Make it personal with free engraving
Every knife we make includes free engraving: a name, a date, initials or a short message on the blade (up to 20 characters), or on the leather sheath. Engraving adds about 2 business days before your order ships, and engraved pieces are final sale, so double-check the spelling. How free engraving works.
Buying for a wedding party, a team or clients? Tell us what you need on our Meet the Maker page, where you'll find the custom and bulk order form.
Shipping
We ship across Canada, the US and Europe, with free shipping on orders over $150 in Canada and the US. For holiday gifts, order early so there's time for engraving.
Gift guide FAQ
What is the best knife gift for someone who loves to cook?
A hand-forged chef's knife if they need one great everyday blade, or a Damascus chef knife set if they cook often and love to host. Add free engraving to make it personal.
Is a Damascus knife set a good gift?
Yes. It's used every day, lasts for decades with simple care, and the layered pattern makes every set one of a kind. Include a copy of our Knife Care guide so it stays beautiful.
What's a good gift for someone who smokes brisket?
A 12-inch brisket slicer. It's long enough to cross a whole brisket in one stroke, so every slice keeps its bark. See our brisket slicers, or add the matching fork with the carving set.
Can I engrave a knife as a gift?
Yes. Engraving is free on every knife: up to 20 characters on the blade, or on the leather sheath. It adds about 2 business days, and engraved items are final sale.
What if I don't know which knife they'd like?
Choose a gift card and let them pick their own shape and handle.
Shop all kitchen knife gifts →
Shop Heirloom Gift Sets →
Shop gifts for the BBQ lover →