18cm Naoki Mazaki WS2 polished japanese craft Utility knife

A top-of-the-range authentic Japanese blade

This Universal knife features an 18cm blade with a structure called San Maï. This is a Japanese design whose words mean "3 layers" in French, which clearly shows how the blade is composed. The blade has a core of rigid steel, surrounded by a layer of softer steel folded on either side. This construction gives the blade optimum balance while protecting its core.

Naoki Mazaki has crafted the blade's core fromShirogami #2 steel, a Japanese alloy also known as White Steel 2 and much appreciated by chefs. It is produced by the world-famous steel manufacturer Hitachi, which supplies many blacksmiths. This steel is renowned for its high purity: its highly uniform structure can be observed under a microscope. It is considered the closest steel to tamahagane, used to forge traditional swords. The steel remains easy to sharpen, offering the possibility of obtaining an extremely precise cutting edge. With a carbon content of between 1.2% and 1.4%, it achieves a hardness of around 62 HRC.

The blade's rigid core is enveloped bya layer of softer steel that forms a sandwich by being folded on either side. This top layer adds suppleness to the core while protecting it. The knife is therefore more resistant to impact and breakage when cutting. The various superimposed layers of steel are visible along the cutting edge, creating an elegant random wave pattern.

Elegant kanji are engraved on the front and back of the blade, giving it an authentic character. The blade has also been hand-polished to an elegant mirror finish.

As the blacksmith is also a master sharpener, he himself has sharpened the knife on various whetstones to give it a perfect edge. We recommend sharpening your knife with a stone whenever necessary.

A comfortable laurel handle

This Japanese kitchen knife features an octagonal handle, making it comfortable and suitable for all cooks, whether left- or right-handed. This shape ensures ideal handling and is ideal for long cutting sessions.

The handle is made from laurel wood, a species characterized by subtle veining and a light hue. Laurel is a wood that is both easy to work with and resistant, making it a perfect choice for creating knife handles. What's more, its soft touch is very pleasant. A black buffalo horn bolster has been added to the handle, creating harmony with the blade and bringing balance to the whole.

Finally, the space where the blade fits into the handle is filled with wood pulp, making it perfectly watertight. This prevents water from cleaning and food from entering the handle.

Caring for this traditional Japanese knife

Your top-of-the-range knife has been crafted from top-quality materials, making it a precious item that needs to be maintained with the utmost care.

As the blade contains a lot of carbon, it's important to wash it exclusively by hand, never putting the knife in the dishwasher or letting it soak in your sink. Use a mild soap and a non-abrasive sponge, taking care not to wet the knife handle. After cleaning, dry the knife immediately to remove all traces of water, then store it in a dry place.

Please note that even with the utmost care, it is natural to notice a slight change in the color of the blade over time. This is due to the presence of carbon in the alloy, which makes the blade highly reactive to external elements such as the acidity of certain foods or humidity in the air. To protect the blade, a small amount ofoil can be applied from time to time.

A few words on Naoki Mazaki's work

The Universal knife was created by Naoki Mazaki, a young Japanese blacksmith. He practises his craft in his workshop in Niigata province, Japan. When he was young and unsure of his future career, he traveled all over Japan by motorcycle to find his way! When he arrived in Sanjo, Niigata province, he was fascinated by the work of the local blacksmiths, and it was then that he decided to make blacksmithing his profession.

After five years' training with the Yoshikane brand, Naoki Mazaki decided to launch his own workshop, focusing on traditional techniques. Today, he forges his knives using mainly Aogami and Shirogami 2 steels, which he shapes with a traditional finish. This approach gives his creations an authentic look that is particularly close to his heart.

Naoki Mazaki san is so renowned that the average waiting time for one of his knives is 2 years! This testifies to the exceptional quality of his craftsmanship.

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