This Zakuri 270mm Blue #1 Takobiki is a double-beveled knife. The Ho wood handle is octagon shaped and has a water buffalo horn ferrule. This knife is amazingly thin and makes a great slicer. The blue #1 steel takes a very good edge and holds it a pretty long time. This knife is carbon, so it can rust if not cared for properly.
Knife Type: Takobiki
Steel Type: Blue #1 Carbon
Handle Type: Octagonal Ho Wood
Construction Type: Carbon Clad
Hand Orientation: Ambidextrous
Handle Length: 141mm
Handle Height: 24.47mm
Handle Width: 19.83mm
Handle to Tip Length: 291mm
Heel to Tip Length: 277mm
Width of Spine at Middle: 1.91mm
Width of Spine 1cm from the Tip: 1.65mm
Width of Spine at Handle: 3.16mm
Width of Spine above Heel: 2.91mm
Blade Thickness 1/2 way between the Spine and Edge: 2.33mm
This Zakuri 270mm Blue #1 Kurouchi Gyuto is a truly unique knife. The handles are larger than handles I have seen on other gyutos, though not prohibitively large so as to be uncomfortable for smaller hands (as long as a pinch grip is used). What does this mean? Well, better balance for one. Not necessarily weight balance, though it does help a little, but more bulk balance. The handle matches the blade, so to speak. The blade is a more robust shape. This is a knife just begging to get some serious use. Blue #1 is a great steel for knives. It has a very high carbon content, great ability to get sharp, and very good edge retention. Not too many knife makers use Blue #1 because it can be difficult to forge. This knife is not stainless will patina with use. If not cared for properly, it may rust. The kurouchi finish on this knife partially protects the blade from rust.
Knife Type: Gyuto
Steel Type: Blue #1 Carbon
Handle Type: Octagonal Ho Wood
Construction Type: Carbon Clad
Hand Orientation: Ambidextrous
Handle Length: 153mm
Handle Height: 30mm
Handle Width: 24mm
Handle to Tip Length: 296mm
Heel to Tip Length: 276mm
Width of Spine at Middle: 2.63mm
Width of Spine 1cm from the Tip: 1.00mm
Width of Spine at Handle: 3.94mm
Width of Spine above Heel: 3.95mm
Blade Thickness 1/2 way between the Spine and Edge: 2.69mm
This Zakuri 270mm Blue Super Kurouchi Gyuto is a truly unique knife. The handles are larger than handles I have seen on other gyuto, though not prohibitively large so as to be uncomfortable for smaller hands (as long as a pinch grip is used). What does this mean? Well, better balance for one. Not necessarily weight balance, though it does help a little, but more bulk balance. The handle matches the blade, so to speak. The blade is a more robust shape. This is a knife just begging to get some serious use. The Aogami Super edge takes a very sharp edge and holds it for quite some time. Aogami Super is, in my opinion, the best balance of sharpness and edge holding in a high carbon steel today. This knife is not stainless will patina with use. If not cared for properly, it may rust. The kurouchi finish does, however partially of the blade from rust.
Knife Type: Gyuto
Steel Type: Blue Super Carbon
Handle Type: Octagonal Ho Wood
Construction Type: Carbon Clad
Hand Orientation: Ambidextrous
Handle Length: 166mm
Handle Height: 32mm
Handle Width: 26mm
Handle to Tip Length: 291mm
Heel to Tip Length: 276mm
Width of Spine at Middle: 2.75mm
Width of Spine 1cm from the Tip: 1.75mm
Width of Spine at Handle: 4.75mm
Width of Spine above Heel: 4.5mm
Blade Thickness 1/2 way between the Spine and Edge: 2.5mm
The Zuiun series by Seki Kanetsugu has the powdered stainless steel SG2 at its core, with soft stainless damascus cladding. These are relatively easy to sharpen and take great edges while having an emphasis on edge retention. The Zuiun has nice convexity throughout the blade and will be nice for food release, but are still thin at the edge. The handles are a 7-sided laminated brown pakkawood handle with an off-white spacer separating it from a black pakkawood ferrule, and each knife comes with an attractive black lacquered saya. These are great knives for people looking for knives that will stay sharper for longer periods of time and beautiful aesthetics on a Japanese handle. Seki-city's heat treatment of SG2 tends to be less brittle than regions like Sakai, Sanjo, and Echizen.
Knife Type: Petty
Steel Type: SG2 Stainless
Handle Type: Pakkawood 7-Sided
Construction Type: Mono-Steel
Hand Orientation: Ambidextrous
Handle Length: 120mm
Handle Height: 25.70mm
Handle Width: 17.88mm
Handle to Tip Length: 161mm
Heel to Tip Length: 157mm
Width of Spine at Handle: 1.71mm
Width of Spine above Heel: 1.72mm
Width of Spine at Middle: 1.48mm
Width of Spine 1cm from the Tip: 0.83mm
Blade Thickness 1/2 way between the Spine and Edge: 1.57mm