VG10 Rosewood Yuzo Tsuchime 17cm Japanese handmade santoku knife

The santoku knife is a multi-purpose knife, the Japanese version of our Western chef's knife! With its efficient cutting edge, you can make a wide variety of cuts: slice your vegetables, chop your meat or chop your herbs with ease! Just be careful not to use it on foods that are too hard, such as bones or frozen foods.

This Japanese santoku knife has been handcrafted by the Kanetsugu brand in the town of Seki. This Japanese town is famous as a mecca for cutlery. Founded several decades ago, Kanetsugu has inherited the know-how and experience of the craftsmen of yesteryear. Today, it forges top-quality knives!

A high-performance blade for this handcrafted Japanese knife

This Japanese kitchen knife features a San Maï blade (meaning "3 layers"), a typically Japanese technique. This method consists of forging a core of rigid steel, then covering it with two layers of softer steel, thus forming the three distinctive layers.

The core of this blade is made from Japanese VG10 steel, a renowned alloy produced by the renowned Takefu Special Steel. This steel contains a high carbon content of up to 1%, which increases the blade's hardness. With a hardness of 60HRC on the Rockwell scale, your knife offers excellent edge retention and efficient cutting performance.

VG10 steel also contains around 15% chromium, guaranteeing greater resistance to oxidation. However, your Japanese knife must be carefully maintained to avoid any risk of corrosion.

To complete the San Mai, a softer layer of stainless steel is added around the core for optimum protection. This layer also adds suppleness, making the blade less brittle and balancing out its hardness. You can see the superimposition of the steels along the edge, where a fine wave of random patterns emerges.

The cutting surface of this blade has been polished for an elegant look. To add a further aesthetic touch, this knife has been finely hammered. In addition to its visual appeal, this hammering is practical as it acts like dimples to prevent your food from sticking to the blade when cutting. It is this hammering that gives the Tsuchime range its name.

The Yuzo knife with elegant handle

The handle of this handcrafted Japanese knife is made from rosewood, an exotic species known for its strength and durability. Traditionally, magnolia wood is used to make handcrafted knives, but rosewood is chosen here for its greater resistance to humidity. This wood features warm nuances for a warm visual appearance, and a grain that is unique to each Yuzo knife!

The handle is completed by a bolster in quince wood, an equally solid wood. The bolster is joined to the rest of the handle by a thin white ring, adding a touch of refinement and contrast to your Japanese kitchen knife.

The handle is octagonal in shape to suit the hands of all cooks, left- or right-handed. It offers an ergonomic grip for comfortable use and assured handling, particularly during prolonged use in the kitchen.

Finally, wood putty has been placed where the blade joins the handle to fill any small gaps. This makes the whole unit watertight and prevents small food items from slipping inside.

To care for your handcrafted Japanese knife, wash only by hand with a soft sponge, avoiding getting the handle wet. Once washed, dry immediately with a clean cloth to remove all moisture and store in a dry place. Do not use the dishwasher or leave the knife to soak in the sink.

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