Kanetsugu Zuiun steel SPG2 damascus 24cm Japanese sujihiki knife

The Kanetsugu brand was created in 1918 by Matsujiro Kawamura, descendant of the Japanese sword maker Kanetsugu.

So, for almost 100 years, Kanetsugu has been offering you high-performance, long-lasting knives to make your everyday cutting easier. To celebrate the brand's centenary, the Kanetsugu Zuiun knife series is born!

It perfectly combines modern technology with the traditional techniques of sword smiths.

Zuiun means "the cloud that appears as a happy omen", a fitting name to celebrate the brand's 100th anniversary.

This 24cm sujihiki knife lets you slice large pieces of meat or fish into thin slices. It's the equivalent of the yanagiba knife, but without the beveled blade. The tip of the blade has an original, marked angle. It's this detail that makes it strongly resemble a traditional sword, and adds to its authenticity.

The blade has a core of powder-metallurgy SPG2 steel (as opposed to solid steel). To design a powder steel, it is necessary to master a technical process involving the grinding of metal particles and the gentle addition of other alloying elements. The whole is then compacted using hydraulic presses, then sintered (high-temperature heat treatment) to consolidate the whole. The resulting steel is more homogeneous in composition, which is an advantage for the durability of the part.

This core contains 1.3% carbon, which considerably increases the hardness of the cutting wire. Thanks to this characteristic, you can sharpen it with precision, as the alloy can withstand hard work to obtain a razor-sharp edge. Reaching a hardness of -+63 HRC on the Rockwell scale, the blade retains a sharp edge over the long term.

The core is then surrounded by softer steels to protect it (as it is porous and therefore more sensitive to humidity): the blade is thus damascened. This gives the knife a slight suppleness (so it's less brittle when you use it). What's more, damascus is very aesthetic, and you can admire the random waves on the cutting surface, unique to each knife.

Next comes the Sub-Zero treatment: the method consists of heating the steel to a temperature of -70C° in the space of a few seconds. The purpose of this tempering is to increase the blade's rigidity and perfect its cutting edge, which can more easily be brought to a razor-sharp finish.

The knife's cutting edge is Hamaguri-ba finished, i.e. shaped like that of a Japanese sword. It guarantees impeccable cuts. You can see its shape in the diagram below:

The handle is made of Pakkawood, a robust composite material of laminated wood and resin, hot-pressed together. The result is very similar to wood, and you can see the original veins created by the blend of materials.

A unique rivet with a magnificent mosaic logo is visible at the end of the sleeve. The black bolster ties in with the superb damascened blade.

The handle's originality is enhanced by its unusual shape: it is cut on 7 facets. It fits perfectly into the palm of your hand.

The knife comes in a beautiful, light, polished paulownia wood box, with a traditional Japanese design on the top. So you can easily give it as a gift to an enthusiast, or treat yourself!

Care: wash the knife by hand and wipe dry immediately with a soft cloth, before storing away from moisture.

We offer several ranges of Kanetsugu knives here!