7.5" Santuko

[jo_smith]

Here is an order that I am about to finish up. It is 7.5" santoku with an octagon handle. The blade is Takefu shiro 2 core with the layers cladding. The forging of this steel is unreal. At the right temp it is like putty. I enjoy working this steel better than anything I have ever used before. The spine is about 1/8" and the edge is down to .010". The handle is buffalo horn for the cap, rosewood and nickel silver.

 

The trickiest part of these type knives is getting the taper of the wa handle correct. Luckily I have access to a Japanese chef that was truly classicly trained in Japan. She is an amazing wealth of information about knives and how they should feel.

[Wes Detrick]

That is a pretty kitchen knife Jo, and I love that steel. Why your preference for that steel?

[jo_smith]

I have been using Takefu steel for 5 years now and the main reason I use it is because it is very clean, easy to HT and get a great cutting edge. Forging at the right temps is amazing. The steel will move very well and so you use less heats to get what you want out of forging. One of the best things about it is the flexability and ability of being able to straightening the blade if it takes a set.

[Kenneth Mauldin]

Beautiful blade