Masashi Yamamoto Santoku Aogami #1

Santoku with a 16.5 cm blade.

Steel: Aogami#1 with iron cladding (not stainless)
Hardness: 64-65 HRC
Finish: Black kurouchi with a smooth finish. 
Edge length: 167 mm
Blade height: 51 mm
Thickness at spine base: 4 mm
Thickness at mid-spine: 1.8 mm
Weight: 162 grams
Octagonal zebrano handle with buffalo horn bolster.

Masashi Yamamoto is a highly respected blacksmith from the city of Sanjo in Japan. His knives are forged entirely by hand and are of very high quality.

The spine has a well-balanced taper and the knife cuts exceptionally well. The blades have a generous height and the edges are very thin and delicate. Around the Aogami#1 steel core is a cladding of black-oxidized iron. This makes the knife very easy to sharpen, especially for those who want to polish it to a beautiful kasumi finish. The edge comes razor-sharp as Masashi is also a passionate knife sharpener. No additional sharpening is needed for these pieces. 

Something that stands out particularly in Masashi's forging is the flat profile with a very long flat spot. This provides very precise cuts, but the knife may struggle with a rocking cutting technique. 

This is a truly fine and high-performance knife that we highly recommend. Read more about Masashi, and see pictures from our visit to his forge, September 2019.

NOTE: Carbon steel is not stainless! Always wipe the knife dry after use to prevent rust. Over time, the carbon steel will develop a patina in various tones. This is completely normal but can be polished away with polishing paste if desired.