SPECIAL VALUE Authentically Japanese in design, each knife features 101 layers of steel—50 layers clad on each side of the Cryodur-hardened SG2 microcarbide steel core—forming a delicate Damascus pattern with a Rockwell hardness of 63.

Each blade in our Birchwood collection is hand-honed using a traditional three-step honbazuke process. It’s sharpened twice on whetstones with custom grits, followed by mirror polishing on a leather wheel.

The genuine hamon edge—a visible line where flexible outer layers and incredibly hard core layer meet—is reminiscent of legendary Japanese swords. A hamon edge is a sign of superior craftsmanship.

The D-shape of the natural Masur birch handle creates a comfortable grip and ensures tireless cutting, even with frequent use. Handle features an intricate mosaic center pin, red detailing, and engraved endcap.

This elegant, efficient santoku knife works well with a forward and backward stroke or straight-down chop. The name translates roughly as “three uses”—it’s for slicing fish, cutting meat, and chopping vegetables. 7”''''blade. Hand wash. Sharpen with Miyabi sharpening stones. Limited lifetime warranty. Made in Japan. Catalog, website and select stores. .Features Hide
A core of SG2 microcarbide steel is clad on each side with 50 layers of stainless steel
* This forged 101-layer construction results in an elegant, unique Damascus pattern with a Rockwell hardness of 63
* Blades go through a special Cryodur process to ensure ultimate hardness, initial sharpness, cutting edge retention, and the best possible corrosion resistance and flexibility of blade
* Sharpened to an optimal 91/2° to 12° angle on both sides, these blades deliver scalpel-like precision
* Master craftsmen hand finish knives using a classic honbazuke honing technique
* Blades are sharpened twice on whetstones with custom grits, followed by mirror polishing on a leather wheel
* The D-shape of the natural Masur birch handle creates a comfortable grip and ensures tireless cutting, even with frequent use
* Handle features an intricate mosaic center pin, red detailing, and engraved endcap
* The visible line where flexible outer layers and incredibly hard core layer meet is reminiscent of legendary Japanese swords
* A hamon edge is a sign of superior craftsmanship
* This elegant, efficient santoku knife works well with a forward and backward stroke or straight-down chop
* The name translates roughly as “three uses”—it’s for slicing fish, cutting meat, and chopping vegetables