Japanese Utility Knife 15cm Sakai Takayuki Kashi Urushi VG10 Damascus

Sakai Takayuki is located in the Japanese town of Sakai and has been in business since the 1950s. The company's many years of experience in the cutlery industry have given it a wealth of expertise. Centuries ago, Sakai was a region renowned for the katana-making skills of its blacksmiths. The company has inherited this authenticity in the art of knife-making. Today, Sakai Takayuki offers traditional knives with a modern twist.

An Universal knife is versatile and can be used for a wide range of cuts! With its small blade, it's ideal for precision work. With it, you can prepare fruit and vegetables with ease! Just be careful not to use it on hard foods such as squash or bones.

A quality VG10 damascus blade

This knife features a damascus blade, a typically Japanese structure. The blade's core is forged from rigid steel, then surrounded by several layers of softer steel to create optimum balance. Thanks to this process, the core is protected and becomes more supple, so that the blade is less brittle in the face of micro-shocks.

In addition to these technical features, damascus is an aesthetic asset! All along the blade, you can see the superimposed layers of steel forming elegant patterns, unique to each piece.

Japanese VG10 steel is used to forge this blade. This is a high-grade alloy enriched with approximately 1% carbon: the essential element for increasing the hardness of a steel, since high hardness means excellent edge retention. On the Rockwell scale, its hardness is 60HRC, which means that the cutting edge retains its sharpness for a long time.

The VG10 alloy also contains 15% chromium, an element that provides resistance to corrosion. Please note, however, that this blade is enriched with carbon and therefore requires careful maintenance to avoid oxidation.

On top of this core, 33 softer layers of steel are added to form the damascus. These reinforce the core's protection and give it greater strength.

Finally, the blade of your Japanese knife has been polished to a mirror-effect finish for added elegance. It has also been hammered to add contrast and authenticity to your knife. What's more, hammering prevents food from sticking to the sides of your knife when cutting, a bit like honeycombing.

A poetic oak handle

The handle of this Universal knife is made from oak, a durable and solid wood. In fact, this wood is resistant to humidity and condensation, so it won't warp even when subjected to shocks or vibrations.

It has an original design because it is lacquered in the Urushi style, an ancient technique that is very popular in Japanese art, and is used in particular for decorative objects. It's a natural, non-toxic varnish that's highly durable. The black varnish contrasts with the rest of the lighter oak, and gold dots have been added to give a refined, starry-night effect. This is a knife with many contrasts in the handle and blade, representing day and night.

The handle is octagonal in shape to suit all cooks, right- or left-handed. It offers an ergonomic, comfortable grip for optimal handling, especially during prolonged use.

Where the blade meets the handle, wood putty has been added to fill the small gaps. This makes the whole unit watertight, preventing small foodstuffs or water from getting inside.

To care for your knife, wash it by hand with a sponge and mild detergent. Once washed, dry it immediately and store it in a dry place. Do not soak it in the sink, and do not use the dishwasher.

Discover the Sakai Takayuki brand on KnifeLeader.eu!