Made in Virginia 2012: Saba Knife Co. Cut Out Knife, Charlottesville

Saba Knife Co. Cut Out Knife

Saba Knife

The Cut Out Knife

Saba Knife is definitely on the cutting edge. The Charlottesville company is the brainchild of Les and Casey Gonda, a husband and wife team that specializes in producing stainless steel knives that are to ordinary kitchen cutlery what prime rib is to fast food hamburgers.

Saba makes all kinds of knives, including blades specially designed for heavy-duty chopping and vegetable cutting, but their signature piece is the Cut Out. This unusual-looking knife greatly eases hand fatigue and affords more control when slicing. “That’s because the blade is right under your hand instead of being forward of the handle,” says Casey.

A higher grade of steel is used for the handcrafted Cut Out, sharpened and polished to perfection.

It’s a “fairly difficult knife to make,” says Casey. The company can only produce around 2,500 a year in Saba’s small shop on Five Springs Road.

Says Casey: “Rather than produce something to attract big stores, we elected to make a quality product that is one of a kind.” Prices range from $150-$250.

SabaKnife.com