DESCRIZIONE
The present invention relates to a cutting blade such as a kitchen knife blade. The cutting blade comprises a cutting edge, a spine and opposite side surfaces. A tapered portion of the blade extends longitudinally and adjacent to the cutting edge in which a thickness of the blade defined as a transverse distance between the opposite side surfaces tapers towards the cutting edge. The cutting blade includes one or more broad recesses provided in one or more side surfaces of the blade, wherein at least one of the broad recesses is bounded at vertically opposite sides by the tapered portion and the spine and at longitudinally opposite sides by narrow supporting elements extending from the spine to the tapered portion. Embodiments of the cutting blade have a substantially reduced average wedge thickness which reduces cutting resistance to due to the wedging effect. Embodiments of the cutting blade provide a reduced total surface area of the one or more sides surfaces in contact with an item being cut by the blade which reduces cutting resistance due to friction between the side surfaces of the blade and the item. The present invention also provides for methods of forming a cutting blade, such as by near-net or additive manufacturing techniques.