Review on Superior Sasaki Takumi Japanese AUS-10 8-Inch Chef Knife: Premium Stainless Steel Blade with Locking Sheath, Enhanced Performance in Black by Paul Massey

This is a beautiful knife, incredibly sharp and well balanced. The center of gravity is where the black inlay ends on the handle. It feels almost weightless in your hand. The blade is terribly sharp. I almost dropped it the first time I took it out of the sheath. Hold the handle and then press the latch on the shell. The release is on the side of the blade. Damascus pattern is only visible on the part of the blade where there are no dimples. If you run your fingernail over the pattern you can feel the layers. The blade has some flexibility - with a lot of force (and care!) I was able to bend it about 1/2 inch and it broke immediately. I have knives that were bent, but not this one. For this price I expect obvious quality and it is. The scabbard covers the entire blade and has two ventilation/drainage holes at the end. Enough for some air circulation, but don't put the knife down wet. A polishing cloth is also included. As for the "insides". The AUS-10 is basically a Japanese version of the 440C but with slightly less stain resistance but better blade grip - it's the core of the knife. Damascus is made of "high carbon stainless steel”. - but no quality details. Full shank with a solid polished back. The bolster is smooth and contoured to the handle where the handle inserts perfectly - no gaps or seams. Because it's made of fiberglass, it's strong, lightweight, and stain-resistant. I don't know if Zyerl is Z10 or whatever, but the pattern is similar to Z10. A knife in the dishwasher is easy. not right. All in all a wonderful knife.