Hitohira TD SLD Tsuchime Bunka 170mm Walnut Handle

The Hitohira TD series consists of sturdy handmade knives from Sanjo, Niigata. All the knives we carry in the TD series are hand forged which makes for a noticeable improvement in steel quality. Very good prices for hand-forged knives. They come in kurouchi, tsuchime, nashiji and sometimes migaki finished stainless cladding on either Blue #2 or SLD core steel. Like many Sanjo made knives, they have spines that are somewhat thicker towards the neck, making for a nice grip and a little more weight. Very well made and dependable knives.

An equally all-round knife as the gyuto but more orientated to homestyle cooking. Incredibly versatile on its own, easy to use, nimble and suitable for a wide variety of cutting tasks. The bunka is a version of the santoku but with a Kiritsuke tip. This style tip will excel in more delicate work while it still retains the all-purpose functionality of the santoku. 

This is a stainless steel knife. It becomes stainless due to a certain amount (10-13%) of chromium and/or nickel in the alloy, it forms a film layer which acts as a barrier between metal and oxygen. Stainless steel is easy, practical and functional but not completely maintenance free. With very bad maintenance it can rust or show pitting, after all it’s called stainless not stain-free steel. The corrosion resistance varies with each stainless steel. In my opinion the same rules apply here as with carbon steel (non-stainless).

Store your knife dry and clean, never let it air-dry after washing, no dishwasher and avoid extremely hard products like frozen foods or bones ect. But a big difference to carbon steel is that your margin of error is much bigger, the rust resistance is much greater and thus easier and more worry free to maintain.

Please note that there are many different stainless steels, just like carbon steels, each with its own properties and characteristics. Each should be judged individually.