Yoshimi Kato Kiritsuke

Kiritsuke/Chef's knife with a 212 mm blade.

The knives in this series are forged from SG2 stainless powdered steel, a fine-grained steel that takes a very sharp edge and can withstand very low angles. Knives of this style are often described as "lasers" where their cutting properties impress, especially when slicing thicker ingredients like carrots and potatoes. The sides of the blade are adorned with a unique hammered pattern, subsequently polished to a mirror finish for both beauty and optimal food release.

The knives are forged by Yoshimi Kato, a highly regarded knifemaker with a strong international reputation. He represents the third generation of the renowned Kato forging family and works in Takefu/Echizen – the heart of Japanese knife craftsmanship. Here, he shares a forge with masters such as Shiro Kamo and Hideo Kitaoka in the famous Takefu Knife Village. Yoshimi's uncle, Hiroshi Kato, was one of the founders of this forging village, which today serves as a creative meeting place for some of Japan's most skilled blacksmiths.

Yoshimi Kato primarily works with double-beveled blades and always adheres to his unique forging technique – a method he has refined over many years. The result is knives with exceptional balance, sharpness, and personality, produced by a craftsman who is as pleasant as he is skilled.

Weight: 162 gr
Thickness at heel: 1.8 mm
Thickness at middle of spine: 1.8 mm
Blade height at heel: 48 mm
Edge length: 212 mm
Steel: SG-2 powdered steel, stainless with hardness 62-63 HRC.
Finish: Highly polished hammered finish.
Handle: Octagonal ebony handle.

NOTE: Measurements and weight may vary slightly as the knife is hand-forged.