Masakage Kumo 15cm 63-layer damascus japanese honesuki handmade knife

Masakage kitchen knives are traditional knives, each hand-crafted by master blacksmiths Katsushige Anryu san and Takumi Ikeda. These masters have their own workshops in the Takefu Knife Village, home to many traditional blacksmiths. Gathered in the same place, they can share their know-how with each other. That's why it's such a popular area for apprentice blacksmiths, who can be taken in hand by a master who will teach them every step of the knife-making process!

Katsushige Anryu san has been forging knives for over 50 years. He began his training in the 60s with his father, himself a blacksmith, in order to carry on the family tradition (Katsushige Anryu currently represents the 4th generation of the family in the same profession). Drawing on this extraordinary experience, this traditional blacksmith now offers knives with character that will delight the most uncompromising of cooks.

Now that he's retired, Katsushige doesn't know who to leave his forge to. He wished to preserve the Japanese tradition of passing on his forge to his eldest son, but he had only daughters. So he chose his nephew Takumi Ikeda, to whom he would teach everything.

Takumi Ikeda began his apprenticeship with his uncle in the 2000s: his training lasted some fifteen years, during which he learned the most meticulous techniques to become a master blacksmith. It was in 2021 that he finally took over his uncle's forge, continuing to bring it to life through the Japanese values he had been taught.

Katsushige Anryu is on the left and Takumi Ikeda is on the right.

The Honesuki Masakage Kumo 15cm knife is a typically Japanese knife. In Japan, it is mainly used as a boning knife, which is why it has a rather short blade. Its triangular shape is perfectly suited to poultry.

Blade :

Its forged blade has a core of Japanese VG10 steel, an alloy much appreciated by blacksmiths for its many advantages:

- VG10 contains 1% carbon, for example, enabling it to achieve a Rockwell hardness of around 60/61 HRC. The result is a rigid wire that can withstand further sharpening to a razor-sharp edge.

- The VG10 also has the ability to hold its edge longer, so you space out sharpening sessions.

- Finally, thanks to its high chromium content, it is also more resistant to corrosion than other carbon steels.

The VG10 core is then surrounded by several superimposed layers of softer steels: this is damascus. The Masakage Kumo knife features a 63-layer damascus (31 layers folded in 2 on the core + the core, which is counted in the calculation). To create such a nuanced effect, Takumi Ikeda san used a stainless steel and a nickel steel. It's the variation in steels that creates the unique waves rippling across the cutting surface. The stainless steel has the advantage of increasing the steel's corrosion resistance, while the nickel steel gives it greater mechanical strength. The contrast in color brings a great deal of originality to the knife. The mix of steels can also be seen on the back of the knife.

Finally, the brand name has been engraved on the cutting surface, for added authenticity. It blends in well with the various damascus colors and remains discreet.

Kumo means "cloud" in Japanese, and this range is aptly named, as the random patterns of the damascus are reminiscent of clouds blending together in the wind just before a storm.

Handle:

The handle is made of Sandalwood, a pleasantly light, grit wood. Its octagonal shape follows the contours of your palm, so it's comfortable to hold, whether you're right- or left-handed. A black Pakkawood bolster (a moisture-resistant, antibacterial composite material) links the blade to the handle.

The junction between the blade and the bolster is filled with a wood paste that seals the whole, preventing small scraps and cleaning water from penetrating the inside of the handle.

General :

The knife can be maintained by hand. You can use a mild soap and run it under lukewarm water, without using an abrasive sponge.

Then wipe with a soft cloth to remove all traces of moisture from the blade and wooden handle. It comes in a sober, traditional blue box.

Find out more about Masakage knives here!