How Hot Do These Ladies Get? A Peek Into Heat Treating

Ever wondered what gives our kitchen knives their strength and edge retention?

This part of the process is where the steel transforms from raw potential into a hard-working everyday tool. Each blade is carefully heated to an exact temperature (we’re talking over 1,000°C) and then cooled in a controlled environment. This controlled heat-and-cool cycle hardens the steel, setting the foundation for strength and longevity.

But we don’t stop there. After the initial hardening, every lady is tempered — a gentle reheat at a lower temperature to relieve internal stress and bring just the right balance of hardness and toughness. Too hard and she’ll be brittle; too soft and she won’t hold her edge. We want that just right sweet spot — durable, reliable, and ready to take on whatever the kitchen throws her way.

This is part science, part instinct. Every single blade is treated one at a time, not in a factory line or a furnace full of clones. There’s a bit of magic in the process, and a whole lot of intention.

Because at Lady Made, we believe a kitchen knife should feel like an extension of you — dependable, beautiful, and built to last. And it all starts with a solid foundation.

So next time you're slicing tomatoes or conquering a crusty sourdough, just know there’s a whole fiery process behind the scenes that gave your Lady her edge — literally.