Masakage Kumo 16,5cm 63-layer damascus japanese nakiri knife

Masakage Kumo knives are handcrafted by master blacksmith Katsushige Anryu san and his successor Takumi Ikeda. They are made in the Takefu Knife Village, which is home to a large number of artisan blacksmiths. Gathered in the same place, they share their know-how and experience with each other. That's why it's a prime location for apprentice blacksmiths, who can be taken in hand by a master who will teach them everything they need to know!

Katsushige Anryu san has been forging knives for over 50 years. He began his apprenticeship in the 60s, working with his father, himself a blacksmith, to continue the family tradition (Katsushige Anryu currently represents the 4ᵉ generation). It is with this long experience that this Japanese blacksmith now offers you exceptional knives that will delight every cook!

When it came time to retire, he didn't know where to turn to bequeath his workshop. For him, Japanese tradition is important: he would like to pass on his forge to his eldest son, but he only had daughters. So he chose his nephew: Takumi Ikeda.

Ikeda san began training in the early 2000s to succeed his uncle. His apprenticeship lasted around 15 years, during which he learned his mentor's know-how. In 2021, Takumi Ikeda took over the forge, for which he will continue to work assiduously to ensure its continued existence.

Right: Takumi Ikdeda. Left: Katsushige Anryu.

A high-quality Japanese knife for your collection

The Masakage Kumo nakiri knife lets you cut all kinds of fruit and vegetables! With its wide blade, you can make a variety of cuts: cubes, slices, sticks and more. Be careful not to use it on hard foods such as squash or frozen foods.

Its forged blade features a core of VG10 Japanese steel, an alloy much appreciated by Japanese blacksmiths for its many advantages. VG10 steel contains around 1% carbon, giving it a hardness of 60/61 HRC on the Rockwell scale. The result is a rigid wire that can withstand further sharpening to a razor-sharp edge! The VG10 also has the ability to retain its edge for a long time, making it practical for spacing 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 enveloped by several superimposed layers of softer steels: this is called damascus. Your Masakage knife has a 63-layer damascus (31 layers folded into 2 on the core + the latter, which is counted in the calculation). To create such an effect of nuances, the blacksmith has used a stainless steel and a nickel steel. It's the superposition of the steels that creates the unique ripples on the cutting surface. The stainless steel has the advantage of increasing the steel's corrosion resistance, while the nickel steel will give it greater impact resistance. The contrasting colors add character to your knife.

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

The brand name has been engraved by hand on the cutting surface, for even greater authenticity. It blends seamlessly with the various damask colors, and remains discreet.

A sturdy wooden handle for your handcrafted knife

The handle of your Japanese kitchen knife is made of sandalwood, a fine-grained wood that is pleasantly light. Its octagonal shape hugs your palm for optimum grip, 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 wood pulp, making the whole assembly watertight and preventing small debris and cleaning water from seeping into the handle.

To care for your handcrafted Japanese knife, wash it exclusively by hand with a non-abrasive sponge, avoiding wetting the handle. Then wipe with a soft cloth to remove all traces of moisture from the blade and wooden handle. Never put in the dishwasher or leave to soak in the sink.

The knife comes in a sober, traditional blue box.

Discover a wide range of handcrafted Japanese knives on Knifeleader.eu!