Hitohira Ashi Swedish Stainless Petty 150mm Ho Wood Handle

Ashi Hamono, a legendary company based in Sakai. Famed for their mono style and convex grind, Ashi Hamono knives are synonymous with smooth cutting performance. Ashi produces blades from a single piece of steel, known as mono steel knives. It makes for very reliable and strong knives with a very solid feeling. It is true that mono steel knives cannot be hardened to the levels of a San Mai (core-steel w/ cladding construction) knives but Ashi makes up for that with their first-class heat treatment and their superior convex sharpening. Convex sharpening is where the bevels are more rounded instead of flat, minimizing contact between product and blade. This grind, and especially on Ashi level, ensures a smooth cutting performance even when the edge gradually dulls.
In short, Ashi knives are like laser workhorses with surprisingly good edge retention and are a joy to sharpen.
They come in White #2 carbon steel and Swedish stainless steel. Stainless is easier in use, White is slightly more affordable and sharpens the best.

Petty knives (Utilty) have a similar profile as the Gyuto but smaller, commonly ranging from 12 to 15cm. A shape most often used next to any larger all-purpose blade (gyuto & santoku) although there are many households where this is the go-to knife. Very suitable for the smaller cutting tasks such as cleaning, portioning and peeling fruits and vegetables and cleaning smaller cuts of meat or fish. 

Pairing knives are more used for in-hand tasks such as peeling, trimming, scoring and cleaning and fruit or vegetable. 

Stainless steel gets its name from the inclusion of chromium (10-13%) in the alloy, which forms a protective film that helps prevent rust and corrosion by acting as a barrier between the metal and oxygen.
While stainless steel knives are practical, functional, and easier to maintain than carbon steel, they are not completely maintenance-free. With improper care, they can still rust or develop pitting—after all, "stainless" does not mean "stain-free."

The level of corrosion resistance varies depending on the type of stainless steel used, but the basic principles of care are similar to those for carbon steel knives.

To maintain your knife, store it clean and dry, avoid air-drying after washing, never use the dishwasher, and steer clear of cutting extremely hard items like frozen food or bones.
The key advantage of stainless steel over carbon steel is a greater margin for error—its rust resistance is higher, making it easier to maintain with less worry.

Remember, not all stainless steels are the same. Just like with carbon steels, each stainless steel alloy has its own unique properties and performance characteristics, and should be judged individually.