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DarkNitro by Friedr. Dick: exceptional knife craftsmanship for discerning professionals
8 Dec 2025
With the DarkNitro knife series, Friedr. Dick sets new standards in design, craftsmanship and cutting performance. Each knife is a unique piece – shaped by characterful oak wood, a distinctive hammered finish and innovative manufacturing technology. Awarded the German Design Award 2026, DarkNitro unites aesthetics, functionality and tradition in a truly exceptional way.
Reading time: 4 minutes
What sets DarkNitro apart
“DarkNitro is pure craftsmanship. Back to the roots, without frills, yet full of finesse and attention to detail,” says professional chef Matthias Gfrörer, admiring his new, trusted companions. In his “Gutsküche” at Gut Wulksfelde in Hamburg, he places great value on seasonal, nature-driven dishes, created and cooked with passion and a deep love for the culinary craft.
With the DarkNitro series, Friedr. Dick has deliberately focused on pure industrial design, placing its understated yet characterful aesthetic at centre stage.
With the DarkNitro series, Friedr. Dick has deliberately focused on pure industrial design, placing its understated yet characterful aesthetic at centre stage.
At first glance, the uniqueness of the series becomes clear: the anthracite-coloured blade with its hammered texture, combined with the carbon-look finish and a robust oak handle, turns each knife into a truly distinctive piece. This diversity, quality and passion have shaped the company’s guiding principles from the beginning.
Functionality meets design
The anthracite-coloured blade is dyed using a special, environmentally friendly process. Its finely ground, slim and sharp profile transforms cutting into an almost “weightless” experience. The hammered finish also creates tiny air pockets that reduce food adhesion.
For the DarkNitro series, Friedr. Dick uses a special martensitic, stainless and nitrogen-alloyed steel – a unique combination that offers exceptional edge retention, a high hardness of 61 HRC and outstanding corrosion resistance.
To achieve an optimal material structure, DarkNitro knives are forged using a specialised process and then ice-hardened at temperatures as low as –100 °C. The resulting extremely fine microstructure allows for easy resharpening and ensures a razor-sharp cutting edge.
The clear design language and meticulously crafted surface give the knife a striking presence that makes its quality and craftsmanship immediately tangible.
The clear design language and meticulously crafted surface give the knife a striking presence that makes its quality and craftsmanship immediately tangible.
A distinctive oak handle
The oak handle symbolises durability, strength and resilience. Its flowing, clean lines accentuate the knife’s elegant design language. Friedr. Dick uses carefully selected, robust oak wood for each handle.
Harmony between blade shape, bolster and handle is essential. Outstanding cutting ability, an ergonomic grip and the bevelled bolster make DarkNitro knives first-class tools that meet the highest demands of professional chefs and ambitious home cooks. Each knife is perfectly balanced and sits comfortably in the hand.
Unique craftsmanship appreciated by professionals
Shaped and polished by expert hands at Friedr. Dick, each handle becomes a unique piece with its own natural colour nuances and individual grain. Thanks to the distinctive finish of both blade and handle, every knife is truly one of a kind. The refined, perfectly formed handle ensures a secure and comfortable grip.
The combination of the dark blade and the high-quality wooden handle gives the knife a distinctive presence that immediately catches the eye.
The combination of the dark blade and the high-quality wooden handle gives the knife a distinctive presence that immediately catches the eye.
Chef and restaurateur Matthias Gfrörer praises the high level of craftsmanship and the harmonious interplay between the dark, hammered blade and the elegant oak handle. “Ultimate craftsmanship, striking yet beautifully shaped lines, quality and outstanding cutting performance describe every knife in the series. But the knife I currently use most intensively is the chef’s knife. I look forward to working with it every day. The sharpness, the handle – everything about this knife is simply a joy.”
Award-winning design – German Design Award 2026
Friedr. Dick has been honoured with the German Design Award 2026. The DarkNitro knife series has been named a “Winner” in the category Excellent Product Design – Kitchen.
The “Winner” distinction recognises outstanding design achievements that are considered trendsetting within their category. This places the DarkNitro series among the best design products of the year – a clear statement of innovation, craftsmanship and functionality, made by Friedr. Dick with over 240 years of heritage.
The jury praises “the powerful combination of a distinctive hammered blade and a characterful oak handle”. Its impressive sharpness and subtle elegance make each knife a compelling statement piece for discerning culinary aesthetics – whether in the hands of professionals or passionate home cooks.
“The award underscores our aspiration to unite function, quality and design in perfect harmony – creating products that convince in every respect. “
Choosing the right knife for every task
The forged DarkNitro series includes four different knives and a honing steel.
Paring knife 12 cm
Small, agile and sharp – the paring knife is an indispensable, versatile tool in the kitchen. Ideal for peeling, fine cutting tasks and decorative work.
Chef’s knife 21 cm
The classic and the heart of every professional kitchen. The essential all-rounder for cutting herbs, vegetables, meat and fish.
Santoku knife 18 cm
The Santoku is the staple of Asian cuisine. Its name, meaning “knife of three virtues”, refers to its versatility in preparing meat, fish and vegetables. The pointed tip also makes it ideal for decorative cuts.
Bread knife 26 cm
The pronounced serrated edge glides effortlessly through both soft and hard crusts and ensures even, clean slices.
Honing steel, oval, 30 cm
To keep knives beautifully sharp, they must be regularly honed. Sharp knives cut better – and are safer.
The honing steel features a special surface with high abrasion, making it particularly suitable for hard steels such as the DarkNitro blades. Its oval shape ensures broad contact with the edge, delivering highly effective results. The pear-shaped handle sits comfortably and securely in the hand.
The honing steel presents itself in a robust build and a clean, refined form – a reliable tool for the precise care of hard blades.
The honing steel presents itself in a robust build and a clean, refined form – a reliable tool for the precise care of hard blades.
Friedr. Dick: a brand with over 240 years of craftsmanship
Since 1778, Friedr. Dick has been dedicated to the pursuit of sharpness – a success story that began in a small file workshop in Esslingen, southern Germany, and has evolved into a renowned manufacturer for chefs and butchers. Strict quality criteria and high design standards characterise this traditional brand trusted by professionals.
Every Friedr. Dick knife is crafted from premium steel and features perfectly balanced blades and ergonomic handles for exceptional cutting performance. With centuries of tradition and expertise, the company continuously develops innovative new products – such as the award-winning DarkNitro series.
