Yoshihiro Mizu Yaki Blue High Carbon Steel #1 Black Forged Petty Kiritsuke Japanese Utility Knife Shitan Handle (6'' (150Mm) & No Saya) Review

Our handmade Yoshihiro Mizu Yaki Kurouchi Series are unparalleled in their performance. Mizu Yaki is a meticulous process of pure water quenching that draws out the hardness of refined steel while infusing it with enough resiliency to perform consistently in the most exacting of conditions. The Black Forged 'Kurouchi' finish consists of the carbonized coating created during heat treating and provides for a characteristic look and a rustic aesthetic to the blade. With a hardness on the Rockwell scale of 63-64, the inner core of Blue High Carbon Steel #1 is prized for its high edge retention. It is sandwiched in between carbon steel in the traditional Warikomi style to add to its durability and ease sharpening. It takes a very high degree of skill to create knives of such exceptional performance and exquisite beauty with a steel of this caliber and is a testament to the extraordinary skill of the artisans. Sometimes called a utility knife, the Petty Kiritsuke is a smaller version of a chefs knife but is bigger than a Paring knife. The Petty Kiritsuke fits in small places that require more dexterity than bigger chefs knives while handling bigger jobs than a Paring knife can take care of. The Petty Kiritsuke will soon become the go-to knife in your kitchen. The difference will be felt right away when a hand-forged Japanese Petty Kiritsuke knife of incomparable sharpness is used for smaller precision. Proudly made in Japan and not mass produced. This knife is complimented with a traditional Japanese Wa-style handcrafted Octagonal Handle that is lightweight and ergonomically welds to the hand for seamless use. An optional and recommended protective wooden sheath called a Saya can be purchased together, which protects the knife and adds to its appearance when not in use. Every knife from Yoshihiro is handcrafted by master artisans creating a unique one-of-a-kind work of art. Traditional Japanese knife making values a sharp edge, which requires attention and care. Sharpening and honing should be done with only water whetstones. Hand wash and dry only, and do so immediately if working with acidic ingredients. Do not use on objects such as bones, nutshells, and frozen foods. Carbon steel can oxidize if not properly maintained. Keep dry and oil regularly to prevent oxidation.