Of all Portland’s many proud cultural exports — craft beer, comic books, quirky airport carpet — there’s one product that cuts particularly deep. You’ll find it in kitchens across the country, often the prized possession of star chefs from Chicago to Austin, and everywhere in between.

STEELPORT Knife Co. produces handcrafted, premium culinary knives right here in the City of Roses, where sharp residents are particularly in tune with the inner workings of the local food scene. The kind of people who frequent more than one farmers' market and whip up five-course feasts for friends and family on a weekly basis.

In the cluttered cutlery drawer that is the knife industry, STEELPORT has carved out a particular niche, offering American heirloom craftsmanship scaled up to make trusted tools that are approachable for home cooks and professionals alike. In fact, some of the most memorable meals you can have in town are prepared with a STEELPORT Chef Knife.

Multi-James Beard Award-winning chef Gabriel Rucker of Le Pigeon and Canard said, “STEELPORT is the perfect knife for me. It handles all of my duties at work, yet it’s durable enough to use at home with the family — a knife that embodies a true work-life balance.” Katy Millard, chef and co-owner of Coquine, added her take. “They’re obviously well-made. The handle is super comfortable. The wood is really soft, which I think just feels good in my hand. It feels really nice to hold this knife. I think they’re beautifully designed. Period.”

Their sentiments are echoed by other big hometown names who use STEELPORT knives, like Bonnie Morales (Kachka), Ryan Roadhouse (Nodoguro), Peter Cho (Han Oak, Jeju), Earl Ninsom (Eem, PaaDee, Langbaan), Tyler Malek (Salt & Straw), as well as culinary leaders from farther afield, like Paul Kahan, Chris Bianco, Aaron Franklin, Rick Bayless, and more.

STEELPORT is an employee-owned company with a pedigree of established quality; the CEO, Dr. Ron Khormaei, also started FINEX Cast Iron Cookware here in Portland, and Bladesmith Eytan Zias brings more than 25 years of culinary and knife expertise to the table. Many of the thoughtful details, from each blade’s “finger groove” to the handle’s smooth, rounded spine, stem from his know-how.

The duo leads a small team of 12 that takes US-made, 52100 carbon steel billets through 134 steps. There’s hammering, grinding, and a proprietary heat treatment process that creates a cutting edge of 65 on the Rockwell hardness scale, meaning the blade will stay sharper longer.

Other unique touches imbue each product with a sense of place. STEELPORT soaks its knives in coffee to create a protective patina layer on the steel — much like how you season a cast iron pan. The handles are made from Oregon Big Leaf Maple burl wood, stabilized in resin to withstand tough kitchen environments. Swirling designs in the material make each knife a one-of-a-kind piece.

While STEELPORT knives are available to order online for chefs and home cooks around the country, Portlanders have the unique opportunity to shop in person directly at the STEELPORT Factory at NE 36th and Sandy Blvd. There, not only can you pick out a knife or knife set that best suits you (there are also innovative cutting boards, sheaths, and other accessories), tours are available Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., where you can see the manufacturing in action. You can also bring any STEELPORT knife in for free sharpening for life. And on the last Saturday of every month, a different guest chef hosts a free demo to teach visitors a new knife skill.

Quarterly marketplaces featuring fellow makers are another reason to stop by. The next one will be Saturday, June 13 — just in time for Father’s Day —  where you can buy a gift so dad can slice and dice with the best of ‘em. Custom engraving can add an even more personal touch.

Portland is home to more knife companies than any other city in America, earning it the nickname Knifetown USA in large part thanks to major utility and outdoor knife brands. But for home cooks who care about their craft, want to use the best tools, and shop local, STEELPORT is the Portland handcrafted heirloom kitchen knife that will elevate any kitchen and every meal.