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Hitohira

Hitohira Kikuchiyo Ren Blue #2 Santoku 180mm Ho Wood Handle

Regular price
$154.87 USD
Regular price
Sale price
$154.87 USD
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What kind of knife is this?

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. 

Care Instructions

This is a carbon steel knife. That means this knife is made of non-stainless steel. There is no or an insufficient amount of chromium and/or nickel to protect this steel against oxidation. Steel such as this will react to moisture and oxygen. That on itself is not a bad thing, you might even argue it’s a great thing. The knife will form a wonderful patina, it will sharpen easily and the edge life will not disappoint.

The care for a carbon steel knife such as this is not very elaborate, and very comparable to any other knife. Always store your knife clean and dry, no dishwasher, don’t let it air-dry and avoid extremely hard products like frozen foods or bones. With carbon steel you want to dry your knife also during cooking, never leave it moist or wet for too long. Often a quick wipe a dry cloth or towel is more than enough. A carbon steel knife can rust if not taken care of properly. Rust can removed but it is of course something we want to avoid.

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

“Ren” is the alias for an apprentice sharpener in Sakai. He is under the tutelage of one of the most famous and influential sharpeners in this region. The skills of this young sharpener have grown tremendously over the last two years, the consistency, the fit and finish and polish have all improved and his personal style is developing more with every batch. He is on his way to become on of the best double bevel sharpeners in Sakai. The prices reflect his skill level and are kept low to support him in training. I’m very impressed by the work Run does on these high quality forged knives, damn good deal!

Detailed Spec

Brand: Hitohira ひとひら (一片)
Smith: Kikuchiyo 菊千代
Producing Area: Sakai-Osaka/ Japan
Profile: Santoku
Size: 180mm
Steel Type: Carbon Steel
Steel: Yasuki Blue (Aogami) #2, Soft Iron Clad
Handle: Ho Wood & Buffalo Horn Ferrule Octagonal
Total Length: 318mm
Edge Length: 167mm
Handle to Tip Length: 183mm
Blade Height: 48mm
Thickness: 2.7mm
Handle Length: 132mm
Weight: 135g
Hand Orientation: Ambidextrous
Update: January 3, 2022