Tojiro Shippu Black Nakiri
Tojiro Shippu Black Nakiri
FD-1598
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The nakiri bōchō (菜切り包丁), “knife for cutting greens,” is a traditional Japanese vegetable knife. Though similar in appearance to a cleaver, it could hardly be more different—with a unique shape and balance that set it apart from other types, this handsome knife is ideal for vegetables and a must-have for anyone who loves cooking with them.
Function
Unlike the santoku and gyuto (chef’s knife), which have narrow tips intended for cutting meat, the nakiri has a square tip and broad blade that maximize chopping power along the full length of the knife. The straighter edge ensures full contact with the cutting board, helping to cut through tough vegetable skins that a rounded edge can miss, while the rounded corner facilitates rock-chopping. Like other Japanese knives, the nakiri has a thinner blade and more acute edge than European knives, so it can effortlessly make straight cuts and doesn’t break stiff vegetable slices.
Form
Damascus steel was first developed in India over 2,000 years ago and quickly established a reputation not only for its beauty, but also as one of the greatest metallurgical innovations in history. Swords forged in Persia and sold in the Syrian city of Damascus inspired legends of their ability to slice through a gun barrel or part a hair falling across the blade. Although the ancient technique was lost to history around 1900, modern metallurgists have succeeded in reproducing the effect with state-of-the-art alloys to bring performance to the next level.
Tojiro Shippu and Shippu Black blades are forged from 63-layer (all larger knives) or 37-layer (paring, peeling, and petty knives) Damascus steel, which is made by repeatedly folding and forge welding two stainless steels with different carbon contents. The resulting material bears the elegant, wavelike pattern produced by its many fine layers—a testament to its strength, flexibility, and durability. This Damascus envelops a core of harder VG-10 cobalt alloy steel, a high-carbon stainless steel developed in Japan. Hardened to a Rockwell hardness of 62, it accommodates a long-lasting, razor-sharp edge.
Shippu Black blades are additionally treated with a black oxide conversion finish, which anodizes a microscopic layer of metal on the surface to chemically stable magnetite (Fe3O4). Often used on medical implements, this treatment improves the steel’s resistance to saltwater and is popular on boats or in coastal areas.
The handle is crafted from lightweight chestnut wood, which provides a secure grip without upsetting the knife’s balance. The wood is fire-blackened, enhancing its durability and water resistance, and secured with a ferrule (collar) of polypropylene resin. Its D-shaped shinogi profile maximizes comfort and ease of control.
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Specifications
Length
165 mm (6.5") blade, 305 mm (12.0") overall
Weight
140 g (4.9 oz)
Blade
63-layer Damascus with VG10 cobalt alloy core and black oxide conversion finish
Edge
Double bevel
Handle Material
Fire-blackened chestnut wood with polypropylene resin ferrule
Handle Shape
D-shaped (shinogi)